--- title: "Bob Mackie, the 'Sultan of Sequins' and creator of Cher, Tina Turner, and Elton John's stage looks, dies at 87" description: "American costume designer Bob Mackie, who created stage looks for Cher, Tina Turner, and Elton John, has died at the age of 87. His representatives confirmed the master's passing; he had been nominated for the 'Oscar' three times." date: 2026-09-14T17:28:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/bob-mackie-costume-designer-dies-at-87 tags: [bob-mackie, costume-designer, fashion, hollywood, obituary] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Bob Mackie, the 'Sultan of Sequins' and creator of Cher, Tina Turner, and Elton John's stage looks, dies at 87 ![Bob Mackie, the legendary stylist and creator of stage looks for Cher, Tina Turner and Elton John, wearing a straw hat and glasses](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/15/umer-modeler-bob-maki/umer-modeler-bob-maki-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - American costume designer Bob Mackie has died at the age of 87, as announced by his representatives on Instagram. - Mackie was nominated for the 'Oscar' three times, won nine 'Emmys' and received more than 30 nominations for that award, and in 2002 became the first costume designer inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. - He shaped Cher's stage style and created looks for Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Elton John, and other stars. - The lists of clients in different publications differ: some sources add Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, and Taylor Swift, which is not confirmed by the official statement. The world of fashion and show business has lost one of the most recognizable costume designers of the 20th–21st centuries. American fashion designer and costume artist Bob Mackie, known in the industry as the 'Sultan of Sequins,' has died at the age of 87. The tragic news was confirmed by his representatives, who published a farewell message on Instagram. The statement noted that the master had been engaged in the work he dreamed of doing until the final years of his life, and that 'his genius and extraordinary creations will live on forever, continuing to bring beauty to this world.' ### Farewell to a Legend According to family and colleagues, Mackie 'lived his 87 years to the fullest, fulfilling his dream of becoming a fashion and costume designer — this is exactly what he always wanted to do.' He was born in Monterey Park, California, and grew up in Southern California. He began his career sketching designs for the renowned costume designer Jean Louis, and then worked as an assistant to the legendary designer Edith Head — one of the most decorated masters of Hollywood costume. It was this path that laid the foundation for a future in which Mackie became a symbol of glamorous, heavily decorated stage fashion. ### Television, Film, and Academy Recognition Particular popularity for Mackie came from his work for television and film. He created costumes for 'The Carol Burnett Show,' 'The Judy Garland Show,' and other popular projects. In total, the designer received more than 30 Emmy nominations and nine statuettes, and was also nominated for the 'Oscar' three times — for the costumes in the films 'Lady Sings the Blues,' 'Funny Girl,' and 'Pennies from Heaven.' In 2002, he became the first costume designer inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, cementing his status as a pioneer of the genre. ### Icons in His Outfits It was Mackie who helped shape Cher's recognizable stage style — with revealing silhouettes, shimmering fabrics, feathers, and an abundance of decorative details. Among his most famous works is the black midriff-baring ensemble with a mohawk-style headdress that the artist wore to the 1986 'Oscar' ceremony. His portfolio also includes Whitney Houston, Barbara Eden, Bette Midler, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, and Tina Turner, while in a later period his designs were worn by Zendaya, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and Miley Cyrus. He created stage looks for Elton John, The Jackson 5, and Robert Goulet. ### Contradictory Data At the same time, the lists of clients named by different publications do not match. The basis of the farewell statement and the primary text features Cher, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Elton John, and others, however a number of sources additionally mention Mackie's work with Madonna, as well as with Marilyn Monroe and Taylor Swift. These names are not confirmed in the official message from the designer's representatives, so the exact and comprehensive list of his collaborations varies from publication to publication and requires careful interpretation. Regardless of the details of his biography, Bob Mackie's contribution to the visual language of the stage and cinema is hard to overestimate: he turned the costume into the primary instrument of the stage image and left a legacy that, according to his colleagues, will 'live on forever.' ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Legendary designer Bob Mackie dies: he created looks for Cher and Tina Turner](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/stars/pomer-legendarniy-dizayner-bob-maki-vin-stvoryuvav-1789406721.html) - Основной источник: подтверждение смерти в 87 лет, цитата представителей, биография и награды. - [Fashion designer Bob Mackie passes away — he created outfits for Cher, Madonna, and Whitney Houston](https://v1.ru/text/world/2026/09/14/76642458/) - Подтверждает смерть; дополнительно упоминает Мадонну среди клиентов (не в первичном заявлении). - [Cher and Pink attend designer Bob Mackie's party in glamorous outfits (photos)](https://focus.ua/lifestyle/646575-sher-i-pink-v-glamurnyh-naryadah-posetili-vecherinku-modelera-boba-maki-foto) - Контекстный материал о карьере и связях Маки с Шер; не относится непосредственно к факту смерти. - [Legendary designer Bob Mackie, who worked with Cher, Marilyn Monroe, and Taylor Swift, dies](https://unn.ua/ru/news/umer-legendarnii-dizainer-bob-maki-rabotavshii-s-sher-merilin-monro-i-teilor-svift) - Подтверждает смерть; добавляет Мэрилин Монро и Тейлор Свифт в список клиентов — расхождение с первичным текстом. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Who was Bob Mackie and why was he called the 'Sultan of Sequins'? **A:** Bob Mackie was an American costume designer known for loading stage looks with sequins, feathers, and shimmering fabrics. For this signature glamorous style, he was nicknamed the 'Sultan of Sequins.' ### Q: At what age and under what circumstances did Bob Mackie die? **A:** He died at the age of 87. The news of his death was confirmed by the designer's representatives in an official message on Instagram. ### Q: For which works was Bob Mackie nominated for the 'Oscar'? **A:** Three times — for the costumes in the films 'Lady Sings the Blues,' 'Funny Girl,' and 'Pennies from Heaven.' He also won nine 'Emmys' and received more than 30 nominations for that award. ### Q: Which stars did Bob Mackie work with? **A:** Among the clients confirmed in the primary materials are Cher, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Elton John, The Jackson 5, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, and others. Some publications additionally name Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, and Taylor Swift, which is not confirmed by the official statement.