Bob Mackie, Legendary Designer of Marilyn Monroe, Cher and Diana Ross, Dies

Legendary Hollywood designer Bob Mackie, who created some of the most iconic outfits for the biggest stars in entertainment, has died at the age of 87.

According to People, the cause of death was pneumonia. Mackie died in Palm Springs, California. His death was announced by his team on Instagram.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Mr. Bob Mackie passed away today,” the statement read.

“He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of becoming a fashion and costume designer — exactly what he always wanted to do. His genius and extraordinary creations will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty into this world.”

Mackie was involved in creating the famous sketch for Marilyn Monroe’s legendary dress, which she wore in 1962 when she performed her iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” number for John F. Kennedy. The dress itself was designed by Jean Louis, but after Monroe asked for a figure-hugging, virtually “naked” gown for the gala evening, Louis asked Mackie to prepare the preliminary sketch.

However, Mackie rose to widespread fame primarily through the spectacular, revealing and lavishly embellished outfits he created for Cher. His love of sequins and sparkle earned him the nickname “The Sultan of Sequins.”

The Los Angeles native also worked with Carol Burnett, Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Ann-Margret and Bette Midler.

He designed evening gowns for Madonna, Sharon Stone and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, as well as stage costumes for Pink.

One of Mackie’s first major projects was The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978. It was there that he created one of his most famous costumes — Scarlett O’Hara’s dress with a curtain used as a train for a parody sketch of Gone with the Wind, titled “Went with the Wind.”

Burnett later recalled that Mackie essentially rescued her and many of the show’s comedy sketches by coming up with extraordinarily funny costumes for the characters. According to her, the outfits not only enhanced the scripts but sometimes even helped her understand the personality of the character she was portraying.

It was on The Carol Burnett Show that Mackie met Cher. Their meeting marked the beginning of one of the most prolific creative collaborations in show business.

In 1971, Mackie became the costume designer for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.

In 1986, Cher appeared in one of Mackie’s boldest creations at the Academy Awards, where she presented the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor to Don Ameche. The look consisted of black form-fitting trousers, a jewel-encrusted loincloth, knee-high boots, a black mesh top and a huge feathered headdress styled like a mohawk.

“Critics were saying, ‘Well, this isn’t fashion,’” Mackie recalled. “And it really wasn’t supposed to be fashion. She wanted to do it simply because she was having fun.”

Over the course of his career, Mackie received 32 Emmy nominations and three Oscar nominations.

Mackie’s influence can still be seen in contemporary fashion. His aesthetic is evident in the looks of Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, while his vintage creations are now worn by Anya Taylor-Joy, Miley Cyrus and Zendaya. Zendaya chose one of Mackie’s dresses for the ceremony honoring Cher’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2002, the designer was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Mackie always wanted his clients to stand out from the crowd.

“You want the audience to be surprised when she comes out on stage,” he said. “You want them to gasp, to be delighted, to applaud — all of that is important. It’s part of show business. It’s exciting.”

“If a woman is going to spend an hour and a half on stage and simply wear a little black dress, she’d better be Judy Garland. The audience comes to see her, not just listen to her. So there has to be a visual component.”

And another Mackie quote perfectly summed up his philosophy: “A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid of being looked at.”

In the 1980s and 1990s, Mackie also achieved some success in mainstream fashion. In 1982, he launched his own ready-to-wear line, which later made its way onto the runway at New York Fashion Week. He also became one of the first partners of the home-shopping network QVC.

In his personal life, Mackie was married to showgirl Lulu Porter from 1960 to 1963. Their son, makeup artist Robert Gordon Mackie Jr., died of AIDS at the age of 35. His longtime partner, costume designer Ray Aghayan, died in 2011.