Bob Mackie's cause of death identified as fall and hemorrhage

A death certificate has clarified the cause of death for iconic fashion designer Bob Mackie, who passed away on September 14 at the age of 87 in Palm Springs. While his publicist initially attributed his death to pneumonia, the official document lists the immediate cause as a subarachnoid hemorrhage and blunt head trauma.

The injuries resulted from a fall on September 11 at the home of his longtime design director, Joseph McFate. Although a healthcare professional was present during the fall, Mackie died three days later at Desert Regional Medical Center. A representative noted that while the fall was the primary cause, Mackie had been suffering from pneumonia both before and after his hospitalization.

Known as the ‘King of Camp,’ Mackie was celebrated for his elaborate, sparkling designs for superstars such as Diana Ross, Cher, Dolly Parton, Beyoncé, and Miley Cyrus. Fellow designer Tom Ford previously noted that Mackie’s work significantly influenced contemporary red-carpet fashion, particularly through his use of body-fitting and heavily beaded gowns.