{"id":881686,"date":"2026-10-14T06:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/881686\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T06:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:12:08","slug":"bob-mackies-surprising-cause-of-death-is-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/881686\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob Mackie’s surprising cause of death is revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The cause of death for iconic fashion designer Bob Mackie<\/a> wasn\u2019t pneumonia after all. <\/p>\n

Mackie, known widely as the King of Camp, who adorned superstars including Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Beyonc\u00e9 and Miley Cyrus with fringe and sparkles, died on Sept. 14 in Palm Springs. He was 87. His publicist initially told the Associated Press<\/a> that the renowned designer died of pneumonia, but a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly paints a different picture. <\/p>\n

The certificate lists Mackie\u2019s cause of death as a subarachnoid hemorrhage and blunt head trauma. The Mayo Clinic<\/a> says a subarachnoid hemorrhage is a type of stroke that involves bleeding in the space between the brain and the tissues that cover the brain.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 11, the designer fell at the home of his longtime design director Joseph McFate, according to the outlet, and he died days later at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. The designer\u2019s rep further shared that Mackie was staying at McFate\u2019s house at the time of his fall, and that he was battling pneumonia at the time. \u201cA healthcare professional was with him when he fell,\u201d the rep said. <\/p>\n

According to the death certificate, Mackie was cremated on Sept. 17, and his ashes were scattered off San Diego.<\/p>\n

\u201cCostume designers have long been overlooked for the importance of their work in creating and influencing mainstream contemporary fashion,\u201d fellow fashion designer Tom Ford told The Times<\/a> in a 2019 email. \u201cBob Mackie\u2019s work has influenced fashion in a dramatic way, in that many of the body fitting, seemingly transparent and heavily beaded gowns that are worn on red carpets today are derivative of his work for stars like Diana Ross and Cher. The images of his costumes and gowns for these women have become a part of the landscape of fashion from the \u201960s, \u201970s, and \u201980s and in my case become part of my hard-drive of references.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis famous quote that his clothes are \u2018for the woman who is not afraid to be noticed,\u2019 \u201d Ford added, \u201cis one of my mantras.\u201d <\/p>\n

Stars dressed by Mackie posted tributes to the designer after his death. Elton John said he was saddened by the news of Mackie\u2019s death, writing<\/a>, \u201cEvery time I put something on that Bob made, I felt very, very special. His costumes were works of art, and he will go down as one of the most legendary designers ever in Hollywood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cher also weighed in, posting<\/a> a tribute to Mackie on X that read, \u201cBob has gone up to heaven. Knowing him, he\u2019s bringing Sequins, Beads, & his sketch pad. Good nite sweet Prince.\u201d<\/p>\n