Bob Mackie died on September 14, 2026, at age 87, according to a statement shared by his verified official Instagram account. The announcement said he had spent his life doing the fashion and costume design work he wanted to do. It did not state a cause of death.
Mackie’s career reached far beyond red carpets. His costumes shaped television comedy, variety shows and specials for decades, while his film work earned three Academy Award nominations. He also won nine Emmys, entered the Television Academy Hall of Fame and later received a Tony Award for The Cher Show.
Bob Mackie: quick facts
- Age: 87.
- Major TV work: The Carol Burnett Show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, Cher, Mama’s Family and numerous television specials.
- Emmys: Nine wins from 32 nominations.
- Television Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2002.
- Academy Award nominations: Lady Sings the Blues, Funny Lady and Pennies from Heaven.
- Tony Award: Best Costume Design of a Musical for The Cher Show in 2019.
He started as a Hollywood sketch artist
Mackie began his professional career in 1961 as a sketch artist. His official biography says he worked for film costume designers including Edith Head and Jean Louis. He also worked with Ray Aghayan on television projects, including The Judy Garland Show, before his own name became closely tied to variety television.
Mitzi Gaynor hired Mackie to create costumes for her Las Vegas revue and television specials in 1966. Carol Burnett and producer Joe Hamilton saw Gaynor’s show and then hired him to design the wardrobe for the first season of The Carol Burnett Show.
The Carol Burnett Show became an 11-year collaboration
Mackie remained the costume designer for the full 11-season run of The Carol Burnett Show. The weekly sketch format required clothes for recurring characters, celebrity guests, movie parodies and fast changes between scenes. His work had to support the joke, fit the performer and read clearly on television.
He also helped establish the look of characters that continued beyond the original show. The Television Academy credits him with the original appearance of the family later featured in Mama’s Family, and his Emmy record includes a 1984 win for that spinoff.
The curtain-rod dress became a television comedy landmark
One costume remains closely associated with both Mackie and Burnett: the green velvet dress from “Went with the Wind,” the show’s Gone with the Wind parody. Burnett enters wearing curtains with the rod still stretched across her shoulders. The costume makes the visual joke clear before the scene moves on.
Mackie discussed the dress in his Television Academy Foundation interview, which also covers the practical demands of designing for Burnett’s quick changes and large weekly cast. The Television Academy later highlighted the costume in its Hall of Fame tribute to him.
His work with Cher developed on television
Mackie’s collaboration with Cher grew through The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, Cher and later concert specials. Television gave him a recurring stage for beading, dramatic silhouettes and costumes designed around movement and camera framing. The same partnership continued for decades in live performance.
Two of his later Emmy wins came from Cher programs: Cher: Live in Concert from Las Vegas and Cher: The Farewell Tour. His official awards record also lists earlier nominations for Cher, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and Cher… and Other Fantasies.
Nine Emmy wins covered almost four decades
The Television Academy records 32 nominations and nine wins for Mackie. His first win came in 1967 for Alice Through the Looking Glass, shared with Ray Aghayan. Mackie’s official awards history identifies it as the first Emmy awarded for costume design.
His other winning programs included G.I.T. on Broadway, Mitzi… Roarin’ in the 20’s, Mitzi… Zings Into Spring, Mama’s Family, Carol & Company, Men, Movies & Carol and the two Cher concert productions. The credits show how much of his career was built specifically for television rather than only for celebrity appearances.
Three films brought Academy Award nominations
Mackie received three Oscar nominations for Best Costume Design. Lady Sings the Blues earned a 1973 nomination shared with Ray Aghayan and Norma Koch. Funny Lady followed in 1976, shared with Aghayan, and Pennies from Heaven brought his third nomination in 1982.
Those projects placed his work in period dramas and musicals built for the large screen. Readers can browse more current film coverage in Pixel Twelve’s Movies section, while the TV section follows the programs and performers continuing that screen-costume tradition.
The Cher Show brought a Tony Award in 2019
Mackie returned to material from his long collaboration with Cher for the Broadway musical The Cher Show. The production opened in 2018, and the Tony Awards list Mackie as the 2019 winner for Best Costume Design of a Musical. His official biography also records Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for the production.
Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion covers six decades of work
The authorized documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion follows Mackie’s career through interviews with the designer and people who worked with him or drew inspiration from his costumes. The official production page lists Cher, Carol Burnett, Mitzi Gaynor, RuPaul, P!nk, Miley Cyrus and Tom Ford among its participants.
The film connects his early Hollywood sketch work to the television costumes, film credits, stage designs and later artists who kept his work visible. It also preserves Mackie explaining the craft in his own words, alongside collaborators who wore or performed in the clothes.
No cause of death was announced
The September 14 statement from Mackie’s verified account confirmed his death and age. It did not provide a cause, location or further medical details. Any claim beyond the information in that announcement would be unconfirmed.
Follow Pixel Twelve’s latest TV coverage, Movies coverage and entertainment news.
Bob Mackie FAQ
How old was Bob Mackie?
Bob Mackie was 87 when his death was announced on September 14, 2026.
What did Bob Mackie design for television?
His major television credits included the full 11-year run of The Carol Burnett Show, Cher and Sonny & Cher programs, Mama’s Family and numerous variety shows, concerts and specials.
How many Emmys did Bob Mackie win?
The Television Academy records nine Emmy wins from 32 nominations. His wins stretched from Alice Through the Looking Glass in 1967 to Cher: The Farewell Tour in 2003.
Which movies earned Bob Mackie Oscar nominations?
He was nominated for Best Costume Design for Lady Sings the Blues, Funny Lady and Pennies from Heaven.
Was a cause of death announced for Bob Mackie?
No. The official statement confirmed his death and age but did not announce a cause.
