Bob Mackie’s Death Certificate Lists Head Trauma and Hemorrhage, Not Pneumonia
A death certificate obtained by Us Weekly states that Bob Mackie died from a subarachnoid hemorrhage and blunt head trauma, after his representative had initially cited pneumonia. The documents say the 87-year-old designer fell at the home of his longtime design director, Joseph McFate, three days before his Sept. 14 death. Mackie was cremated and his remains were scattered at sea, while Carol Burnett and others paid tribute to him.
Us Weekly obtained documents showing Mackie’s immediate cause of death as a subarachnoid hemorrhage and blunt head trauma. The 87-year-old fell three days before his Sept. 14 death at the home of Joseph McFate, his design director for many years; a medical professional was there. His representative later said he had also been treated for pneumonia before and after being hospitalized.
Mackie was cremated on Sept. 17, and his ashes were released into the ocean near San Diego County. Carol Burnett, whose variety show he costumed across all 11 seasons, paid tribute, as did Cher, a friend of more than four decades. Law Roach also sought a Met Gala honor for him.
The corrected cause-of-death account may shape how fans and fashion historians remember Mackie, moving attention from pneumonia to a fall and brain injury. Tributes from Burnett, Cher and peers could renew interest in his costume work and television fashion legacy. For older adults and caregivers, the story may prompt reflection on fall risks, though it remains a private loss.