Bob Mackie, a renowned fashion designer who worked with celebrities like Cher and Elton John, died at age 87 due to pneumonia in Palm Springs, California. Known for creating elaborate costumes adorned with sequins, rhinestones, and glitter, Mackie's career spanned five decades and included designing iconic pieces such as Cher’s famous “naked dress” at the Met Gala. He won nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and received three Oscar nominations, including one for Barbra Streisand’s film "Funny Lady."
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
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Story summary
Bob Mackie, renowned fashion designer known for dressing stars like Cher, Diana Ross, and Elton John, died at the age of 87 on September 14, 2026, in Palm Springs, California, due to pneumonia. Known by nicknames such as "Sultan Of Sequins," "Rajah Of Rhinestones," and "Guru Of Glitter," Mackie's career spanned five decades, earning him nine Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. He was also nominated for three Academy Awards, including one for Barbra Streisand’s 1975 film "Funny Lady."
Mackie designed iconic outfits for numerous high-profile events, such as Cher's appearance at the 1974 Met Gala in a sheer beaded gown with white feathered sleeves and skirt. He also created memorable costumes for The Carol Burnett Show, including a famous "curtain dress" that now resides in the Smithsonian’s American History Museum.
Stars like Cher, Elton John, and Diana Ross paid tribute to Mackie on social media, acknowledging his significant impact on their careers and fashion history. His designs were not just glamorous but often humorous and theatrical, setting trends and turning heads at prestigious events throughout the decades. Mackie's legacy continues through his influence on contemporary designers and the enduring popularity of his creations in museums and collections worldwide.
Written for “Bob Mackie Dies Age 87” on 2026-09-15,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
Bob Mackie, the fashion designer who worked with stars including Cher and Elton John, has died aged 87.
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who → work → Cher
Mackie attended the 1974 Met Gala with Cher on his arm dressed in what is perhaps one of the most famous so-called naked dresses of all time.
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what → attend → time
His career spanned five decades and included designing a Barbie doll clothes collection.
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career → span → collection
Hollywood designer Bob Mackie, known for making stars such as Cher and Elton John sparkle, has died at 87.
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stars → know → 87
"He lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of being a Fashion and Costume Designer, which is all he ever wanted to do," a statement said on his social media accounts.
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statement → live → accounts
Mackie died in Palm Springs, California, from pneumonia, his publicist said.
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publicist → die → pneumonia
Dubbed the Designer to the Stars, Mackie won nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and was nominated for three Oscars, including one for Barbra Streisand's Funny Lady, in which she wore a sheer bat-wing gown.
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she → dub → gown
He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame in 2002.
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He designed gowns for Madonna, Streisand, Sharon Stone, Diana Ross and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and concert costumes for Pink.
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He → design → Pink
Mackie sketched the sheer, beaded gown Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang Happy Birthday at a fundraiser for President John F. Kennedy and the Democratic National Committee.
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she → sketch → Kennedy
More recently, Taylor Swift turned to some Mackie originals for the cover of her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl.
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Swift → turn → Showgirl
Mackie attended the 1974 Met Gala with Cher on his arm, dressed in what is perhaps one of the most famous so-called naked dresses of all time: a sheer beaded gown with white feathered sleeves and a white feathered skirt.
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what → attend → sleeves
She and the dress ended up on the cover of Time magazine.
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She → end → magazine
Looks such as the 1986 beaded spider web — worn with a complementary Mohawk — and the barely-there gown she wore for her Best Actress win in 1988 turned heads and set tongues wagging at the time.
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she → wear → time
The outfits are sometimes mistaken for fashion, but they're costumes like for a character in a play," Mackie said in 1999.
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Mackie → mistake → 1999
"I want people to have fun.
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people → want → fun
I want people to say 'Wasn't that interesting?' or 'Wasn't that wild?'''
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that → want → ?
Mackie had some retail success in the 1980s and '90s, launching a ready-to-wear line in 1982 that would ultimately land on the runway at New York Fashion Week, and he was an early partner of QVC.
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he → have → QVC
Mackie also created dozens of different Barbie dolls for Mattel, with a wide variety of face sculpts, body types and storylines.
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Mackie → create → sculpts
The documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion debuted in 2024.
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documentary → debut → 2024
A Mackie dress Cher wore in 1975 was auctioned off in 2024 for $US101,600 ($142,000), 25 times its original estimate.
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Cher → wear → US101,600
Elton John was among those paying tribute, writing on Instagram, "Every time I put something on that Bob made, I felt very, very special.
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I → pay → that
His costumes were works of art, and he will go down as one of the most legendary designers ever in Hollywood.''
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he → go → Hollywood
Actor Kristin Chenoweth called him a "legend", and designer Isaac Mizrahi wrote, simply, "heartbroken".
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Singer Sabrina Carpenter wrote on Instagram that she felt "so lucky to have met Bob.
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she → write → Bob
His one-of-a-kind creations have inspired and brought so much happiness and confidence to my world, and they will continue to always x Mackie girl forever."
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they → inspire → world
Actor Alyssa Milano called him "one of the best that ever was".
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that → call → best
The Aporia
