Celebrity Deaths
Carol Burnett, 93, Heartbroken Over Death of the Designer Behind Her Famous Curtain Dress: ‘I Loved Him Very Much’
Carol Burnett honors the late Bob Mackie, who designed for her show early in his career, calling him irreplaceable in a heartfelt tribute.
Legendary entertainer Carol Burnett has broken her silence over a devastating loss. Hours after the world learned that iconic fashion designer Bob Mackie had died, Burnett took to Instagram to pay tribute to him. “Sadness doesn’t come close to how I feel,” she wrote of the man who designed ensembles for The Carol Burnett Show for 11 years.
Burnett included an incredible photo in her Instagram post that showed her with Mackie during the early years of their careers. She noted, “I loved him very much.”
She continued, “As for his genius, there are fashion designers who don’t do costumes and there are costume designers who don’t do fashion. Bob did it all. There was no one like him.”
As People shared, Mackie worked with Burnett and her show from 1967 to 1978. He designed the costumes Burnett wore for the skits in her show, as well as the gowns for each episode’s opening.
In addition, Mackie designed ensembles for the dancers, guest stars, and other performers on The Carol Burnett Show. Burnett once estimated that Mackie created around 17,000 outfits for the show.
Of the 17,000 designs Mackie created for the show, one in particular still gets laughs now, more than 50 years later. Burnett wore what has been dubbed the “Curtain Rod Dress” in a 1976 episode of the show for a skit that spoofed Gone with the Wind.
In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Mackie talked about coming up with the idea for the dress at nearly the last minute. He tried a couple of less dramatic variations first, but determined they weren’t funny enough.
When Burnett walked down the staircase in the Curtain Rod Dress during the live taping, Mackie recalled, “I’ve never heard laughter like that in my life.”
Burnett’s Instagram post received a flood of love from fellow entertainers and fans.
Mary Steenburgen wrote, “I’m so sorry, Carol. He was brilliant and such a lovely man. We are sending you much love.”
Bonnie Hunt added, “You always celebrated and honored your brilliant and kind friend Bob…Love you, Carol.”
A fan shared, “What a blessing that you two were able to create unfettered magic together for so many years, inspiring all of us, compelling all of us towards greatness. What a gorgeous friendship and partnership.”
