Bob Mackie, designer for Cher, Ross, Turner and Burnett, dies at 87
Bob Mackie, the costume designer whose gowns dressed Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Carol Burnett, has died at 87.
His death was announced in a statement posted on his Instagram account, Variety reported on 14 September 2026.
Mackie was known as the “Sultan of Sequins”. Sequins are small, shiny discs sewn onto fabric to catch the light. The title reflected a career built on beading, glitter and outfits made to read clearly from the back row and from a television camera.
He was 87.
He created looks for Cher and Diana Ross. Those long working relationships helped shape how both singers appeared on stage and on screen. A stage look in this context is the full outfit planned for performance, down to headpiece and trim. It has to work under bright lights and in motion, night after night.
He also designed gowns for Tina Turner. Her performances were physical and fast-moving. The dresses had to dance with her and still hold their shape for the audience at the back.
On television, Mackie created the designs worn by Carol Burnett on her eponymous sketch show. Eponymous simply means the programme carried her name. The show was built from sketches, meaning short comic scenes with new characters and situations each week. Each change meant a new costume, often built quickly and made to get a laugh as soon as Burnett walked on.
The industry recognition was extensive. Mackie received three Oscar nominations. The Oscars honour film, and a nomination means a place on the final shortlist.
In television, he amassed more than 30 Emmy nominations and won nine times. The Emmys are the main awards for American television. A win follows a nomination, so that tally reflects decades of shortlisted work as well as final victories.
In 2002, he became the first costume designer inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, Variety reported. The Hall honours people whose work behind the camera shaped American television. No costume designer had received that honour before him.
What makes this stand out is range. One career crossed music, variety and comedy. Few designers dressed so many defining performers across so many years.
