Brief

Bob Mackie's death ruled a subarachnoid hemorrhage after fall

The death certificate shows Mackie's September 14 death resulted from a stroke and head injury, not pneumonia as first reported.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:32:05 GMT

Iconic costume designer Bob Mackie died on Sept. 14 at age 87 in Palm Springs, and a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly lists a subarachnoid hemorrhage and blunt head trauma as the causes, correcting earlier reports of pneumonia.

What happened

On Sept. 11, Mackie fell at the home of his longtime design director Joseph McFate. He was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center, where he died three days later. The certificate notes he was cremated on Sept. 17 and his ashes scattered off San Diego.

What the reports add

The Los Angeles Times article notes that Mackie's publicist initially told the Associated Press the cause was pneumonia, but the certificate, reviewed by the outlet, shows a stroke‑type bleed and head trauma. The Mayo Clinic definition of a subarachnoid hemorrhage is included for context.

What was said

“A healthcare professional was with him when he fell,” the designer’s representative told the outlet. Tom Ford, quoted from a 2019 email to The Times, praised Mackie's influence on modern red‑carpet gowns.

How it came about

Felo News first reported Mackie's death on Sept. 14 (Bob Mackie, Iconic Costume Designer, Dies at 87). This follow‑up clarifies the medical cause after the death certificate became public.

Key facts

Bob Mackie died on Sept. 14, 2026, at age 87 in Palm Springs. (latimes.com)
The death certificate lists subarachnoid hemorrhage and blunt head trauma as causes. (latimes.com)
Mackie fell at Joseph McFate's home on Sept. 11 and died days later. (latimes.com)
He was cremated on Sept. 17 and ashes scattered off San Diego. (latimes.com)