Tracey Bregman Pays An Emotional Tribute to Cousin Bob Mackie After His Death at 87

The entertainment and fashion worlds are mourning the loss of legendary designer Bob Mackie, and The Young and the Restless star Tracey E. Bregman has shared a deeply personal tribute to the man she knew not only as a fashion icon, but as family.

Tracey Bregman Pays An Emotional Tribute to Cousin Bob Mackie After His Death at 87

Mackie died on Monday, September 14, at the age of 87. The legendary costume and fashion designer died of pneumonia in Palm Springs, California, according to his representative.

Bregman, beloved to soap fans as Lauren Fenmore on The Young and the Restless, revealed in an emotional Instagram post that Mackie was her cousin.

“The world certainly has less shimmer, glitter and shine today with the loss of my cousin,” Bregman began.

Her words were especially fitting for a designer whose name became virtually synonymous with sparkle, glamour and larger-than-life Hollywood fashion.

Tracey Bregman Remembers Bob Mackie Beyond the Glitter

While millions knew Mackie for the unforgettable costumes he created for some of entertainment's biggest stars, Bregman remembered another side of him — the artist who gave back and encouraged the next generation.

Bregman recalled serving on the board of Otis College of Art and Design and witnessing Mackie's generosity toward students and aspiring designers.

She also celebrated the costumes he created for Cher and Carol Burnett, designs that helped cement his place in entertainment history.

Mackie's relationship with Burnett stretched across the entire 11-season run of The Carol Burnett Show. His career ultimately brought him nine Emmy Awards, three Academy Award nominations and a Tony Award for The Cher Show.

A Family Memory Shows His Talent Started Early

One of the most touching parts of Bregman's tribute came from a story her mother shared about Mackie's childhood.

According to Bregman, her mother remembered Mackie as a young man living with his grandmother and creating an elaborate miniature opera stage, complete with costumes and lifelike doll figures.

It was a glimpse of the imagination that would eventually make Mackie one of the most recognizable costume designers in the world.

His fascination with dolls would even come full circle professionally. Mackie's career eventually included his famous collectible Barbie designs, bringing his extravagant approach to fashion to an entirely different kind of star.

Tracey Bregman Pays An Emotional Tribute to Cousin Bob Mackie After His Death at 87

Bregman Had the Chance to Wear Mackie's Designs

For Bregman, Mackie's work wasn't something she simply admired from afar.

The actress revealed that she had the opportunity to wear his costumes on a couple of occasions, and the experience clearly remained special to her. “I always felt special to be able to put on one of his dresses,” she shared.

Coming from an actress who has spent decades surrounded by glamorous wardrobes on daytime television, those words speak volumes about what wearing a Bob Mackie creation meant. Bregman ended her remembrance simply and lovingly: “Rest In Peace sweet Bobby.”

Bob Mackie's Unforgettable Legacy

Mackie's impact stretched far beyond traditional fashion.

His creations helped define the public images of performers including Cher, Carol Burnett, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Elton John and many others. His designs could be glamorous, outrageous, sexy, funny and theatrical — sometimes all at once.

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of Mackie's genius was Carol Burnett's famous curtain dress from the Went With the Wind! sketch, a costume so culturally significant that it became part of the Smithsonian's collection.

His collaboration with Cher produced some of the most instantly recognizable celebrity looks of the past half-century, while newer generations of performers continued to embrace and draw inspiration from his work.

But Bregman's tribute reminds fans that behind all those sequins, feathers and rhinestones was also a beloved family member whose creativity apparently began long before Hollywood knew his name.

For Tracey Bregman, the loss is personal.

And her description may be the perfect farewell for a man who spent his life making the world a little more glamorous:

The world has a little less shimmer, glitter and shine without Bob Mackie in it.

📢 Stay Connected with Daytime Soap Stop! 🎭

Love soaps? Follow Daytime Soap Stop on all platforms for the latest news, spoilers, and drama-filled discussions! 🫶

📸 Instagram: @daytimesoapstop

📘 Facebook: Daytime Soap Stop

🧵 Threads: @daytimesoapstop

🐦 X (Twitter): @DaytimeSoapStop

🌤 Bluesky: @daytimesoapstop.bsky.social

🎶 TikTok: @soapstop_8

💬 Join the Community!🔥 Y&R, B&B, and BTG Addicts Group: Connect with fellow fans, chat about drama, and get exclusive updates! Join here!

Come for the spoilers, stay for the drama, don’t miss out! 💖