When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This is an original Associated Press wire photo of Bob Mackie and Linda Gray following Mackie\'s win of the second annual Fashion Achievement Award in 1985.
It measures about 8.5 x 7 inches.Note: Wire service photos from the 1970s/1980s/1990s are *not* traditional glossy photos. They were transmitted electronically to magazines and newspapers around the world and then printed out on special thermal paper printers in the newsroom. Associated Press wire photos of this era have a sepia tone to them due to the chemicals used in printing; the image converts to a nice black and white when scanned. United Press International wire photos are whiter and brighter; the thermal paper they’re printed on is thinner than the crisper AP paper stock, almost like fax paper. They scan nicely, too. Any questions, just ask!BACKGROUND
Linda Ann Gray (born September 12, 1940) is an American actress, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, the long-suffering wife of Larry Hagman\'s character J.R. Ewing on the CBS television drama series Dallas (1978–1989, 1991, 2012–2014). The role also earned her a nomination for the 1981 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series[2] as well as two Golden Globe Awards nominations.
Gray began her career in the 1960s in television commercials. In the 1970s, she appeared in numerous TV series before landing the role of Sue Ellen Ewing in 1978. After leaving Dallas in 1989, she appeared opposite Sylvester Stallone in the 1991 film Oscar. From 1994 to 1995, she played a leading role in the Fox drama series Models Inc., and also starred in TV movies, including Moment of Truth: Why My Daughter? (1993) and Accidental Meeting (1994). She went on to reprise the role of Sue Ellen in Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996), Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998), and in the TNT series Dallas (2012–2014), which continued the original series.
On stage, Gray starred as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate in the West End of London in 2001, then on Broadway the following year. In 2007, she starred as Aurora Greenaway in the world premiere production of Terms of Endearment at the Theatre Royal, York and stayed with the production when it toured the United Kingdom. After the second Dallas was cancelled in 2014, Gray again took to the stage, this time in the role of the Fairy Godmother in a London production of Cinderella.[3][4]
Early life
Linda Gray was born in 1940[1] in Santa Monica, California. She grew up in Culver City, California, where her father, Leslie, who was a watchmaker, had a shop.[citation needed]
Before acting, Gray worked as a model in the 1960s and began her acting career in television commercials, nearly 400 of them[5]—and also made brief appearances in feature films, such as Under the Yum Yum Tree and Palm Springs Weekend in 1963.[6]
Career
Gray began her professional acting career in the 1970s with guest roles on many television series such as Marcus Welby, M.D., McCloud, and Switch, prior to signing with Universal Studios in 1974. She also appeared in the films The Big Rip-Off (1975) and Dogs (1976). In 1977, she was cast as fashion model Linda Murkland, the first transgender series regular on American television,[7] in the television series All That Glitters.[8] The show, a spoof of the soap-opera format, was cancelled after just 13 weeks. Gray was then cast as suspicious wife Carla Cord in the 1977 television movie Murder in Peyton Place.
DallasLinda Gray with Larry Hagman in 2009
Gray achieved stardom for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, J.R.\'s long-suffering alcoholic wife, in the CBS drama series Dallas (1978–1989, 1991).[6] Initially a recurring guest role for the five episodes (credited as the first season) in the original series, Gray became a series regular in the second season (1978-1979) and remained with the show until her departure in 1989. Her character was well-received by television critics. The Biography Channel stated \"Who could ever forget Dallas with the vodka-swilling Sue Ellen Ewing, replete with shoulder pads long before Dynasty, staggering around Southfork Ranch with a permanently tearful expression as she suffered the brunt of J.R. Ewing’s evil ways?\"[9] The Boulevard stated \"It may be 2009 and seventeen years since the primetime drama Dallas went off the air, but memories of the Ewing family still linger. Corruption and betrayal, lies, greed, affairs and scandal—all were just part of another day at the Southfork Ranch. At the center of it all was one of our favorite Ewings, the person we couldn\'t help but root for each week as she drank and slept her way through one ordeal after another. This, of course, was the tortured and (sometimes) villainous Sue Ellen Shepard Ewing, former Texas beauty queen and trophy wife of the womanizing rogue J.R. Ewing, played to perfection by actress Linda Gray.\"[10] Gray was nominated for two Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance on Dallas.[citation needed] She also received numerous international awards including Germany\'s Bambi Award, Italy\'s Il Gato and she was named Woman of the Year by the Hollywood Radio & Television Society in 1982.[11]
Gray speaking at the 2014 Arizona Ultimate Women\'s ExpoAfter Dallas
After Dallas, Gray appeared in the 1991 comedy film, Oscar with Sylvester Stallone and then made guest appearances in British drama Lovejoy (starring her co-star and love interest from her final season on Dallas, Ian McShane). She also starred in several made-for-TV movies, including 1991\'s The Entertainers (with Bob Newhart), Bonanza: The Return (1993), Moment of Truth: Why My Daughter (1993), and Accidental Meeting (1994). In 1994, she made several guest appearances on the Fox prime time soap opera Melrose Place, starring as Hillary Michaels, the mother of Amanda Woodward (Heather Locklear). She continued the role in the Melrose Place spin-off Models Inc.,[12] where her character Hillary ran a modelling agency, but the show was cancelled after one season.Gray appeared in the Dallas reunion television movies Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996) and Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998), but in the following years did not appear in movies or on television.
Gray and Patrick Duffy at the PaleyFest 2013 forum for Dallas
In 2001, Gray portrayed Mrs. Robinson in the West End theatre production of Charles Webb\'s The Graduate.[13] This brought her full circle, as her legs (not Anne Bancroft\'s) had appeared in the poster for the 1967 film version of The Graduate, showing Mrs. Robinson\'s legs being admired by Dustin Hoffman.[14] She also briefly played the role in the Broadway production, when she filled-in for Kathleen Turner in September 2002. Gray made her theater directing debut with the play Murder in the First, and other stage acting work includes: Terms of Endearment, The Vagina Monologues, Agnes of God and Love Letters.[11]
Recent years
Gray returned to television in 2004 as a guest star in five episodes of the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, playing Priscilla Kelly.Gray starred in several independent films, including the award-winning drama Reflections of a Life (2006), where she played the best friend of a woman undergoing treatment for breast cancer; Expecting Mary (2010); The Flight of the Swan (2011); and Hidden Moon (2012).
In 2008, Gray appeared in The CW series 90210, which, like Melrose Place and Models Inc. before it, is a spin-off from the original Beverly Hills, 90210. Gray has now appeared in three of the five series in the franchise, though her role in 90210 was not Hillary Michaels, the character she played on Melrose Place (1992) and Models Inc.
In 2012, Gray reprised her role as Sue Ellen Ewing in the TNT drama series Dallas, a continuation of the original series.[15] In 2013, she was listed as one of the fifty best-dressed over 50s by the Guardian.[16] In April 2013, she was listed in People magazine\'s annual Most Beautiful Woman list.[17]
Over Christmas 2014, she performed in pantomime in London, playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.[18] In 2015, she starred in the Hallmark Channel film A Perfect Wedding, and was cast as grandmother in The CW summer comedy series, Significant Mother.[19] She also appeared as Joanna Winterthorne in the soap opera web series Winterthorne.[20][21][22]
Gray at the 2015 Texas Book Festival
On 17 August 2016, it was announced that Gray would join the cast of the British Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, as Tabitha Maxwell-Brown, the mother of recently established character Marnie Nightingale, played by Lysette Anthony. Gray made her first appearance as Tabitha on 15 November 2016, and departed on 22 November 2016. It was later announced that Gray had signed a contract with Hollyoaks in order for her to appear on the soap opera for a longer period of time. The character of Tabitha returned on 27 February 2017 before departing again on 28 February 2017.
In 2017, Gray joined the cast of Amazon Studios drama series, Hand of God, starring opposite Ron Perlman and Dana Delany.[23]
On 3 October 2023, it was announced that Gray would feature in the Lifetime film, Ladies of the \'80s: A Divas Christmas. According to the official synopsis, the movie follows five soap opera divas readying for a reunion show who take on playing cupid during Christmas to bring together their director and producer as they all learn the meaning of true Christmas spirit. The ensemble cast is made up of Gray, Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Mills, and Nicollette Sheridan.[24]
Personal life
Gray was married from 1962 to 1983 to Ed Thrasher,[25] an art director and photographer.[26] The marriage resulted in two children: Jeff Thrasher and Kehly Sloane (an actress who appeared in the original Dallas as Sue Ellen\'s secretary when she ran Valentine Lingerie); Jeff died of leukemia in November 2020.[25] Gray has two grandsons.[27] Her younger sister, Betty, died from breast cancer in 1989.[28] She resides in Los Angeles, California.[29]
Robert Gordon Mackie (born March 24, 1939)[1] is an American fashion designer and costumier, best known for his dressing of numerous entertainment personalities for television, movies, concerts, and live stage shows. He was the costume designer for all of the performers on The Carol Burnett Show during its entire eleven-year run, and the creator of memorable ensembles for Cher and Elton John.
He is referred to alternatively as the \"Sultan of Sequins\", the \"Rajah of Rhinestones\" or the \"Guru of Glitter\" for his sparkling and imaginative designs.[2][3] Mackie has said, \"A woman who wears my clothes is not afraid to be noticed.\"[4][5]
Mattel partnered with him to produce outfits for collectable Barbie dolls, and he introduced cultural diversity to their features and outfits to reflect the heritage of real-life women.
Mackie has received nine Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his work. In April 2023, Mackie was awarded with the inaugural Giving Us Life-time Achievement Award by RuPaul at the RuPaul\'s Drag Race Season 15 finale.[6]
Early life
Mackie was born March 24, 1939, in Monterey Park, California, to Charles Robert Mackie and Mildred Agnes (née Smith) Mackie.[7][8] His father worked at Bank of America.[9] He has an older sister.[1][10]
Mackie was raised in early childhood by his maternal grandparents in Alhambra, California because his parents divorced. By high school he moved to Rosemead, California and lived with his father.[7] He attended Rosemead High School.
Mackie continued his education at Pasadena City College and one-year study at Chouinard Art Institute but left without earning a degree from either school.[7][11] At Chouinard, Mackie studied under Eva Roberts, the head of the fashion design department.[12] He left Chouinard early because he got his first job sketching for Frank Thompson at Paramount Studios.[7] Between 1960 and 1963, Mackie worked as a novice designer and assistant under designer Ray Aghayan at Paramount Studios.[13]
Professional career
In 1961, while he was working at Paramount Studios, costumer Edith Head found Mackie.[14] He said \"Edith Head taught me not so much about designing as how to handle producers, directors, and actors. Her public relations were superb.\"[15]
Bob Mackie designs for Cher and Farrah Fawcett on
The Sonny & Cher Show (1976)
In Mackie\'s early career he worked as a sketch artist for French haute couturier Jean Louis, who is noted for crafting stage gowns worn by actress Marlene Dietrich during her career as a cabaret singer. As one of his first assignments, he drew the original sketch of Marilyn Monroe’s dress worn in 1962 at President John F. Kennedy\'s birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York.[16]
In 1966, Mackie was hired by Mitzi Gaynor to design her new stage show at the Riviera in Las Vegas. Gaynor was the first star client for whom Mackie designed an entire show. During her second network special, she wore a form-fitting \"nude illusion\" gown made from a knit fabric called soufflé, which influenced gown construction worn by many entertainers throughout the years.[17] He would continue to design for her television specials and live stage shows for the next 50 years. He won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for Music-Variety for Gaynor\'s TV specials Mitzi...Roarin\' in the Twenties (1976) and Mitzi...Zings into Spring (1977).
In 1969, Mackie was hired to design costumes for Diana Ross, the Supremes, and the Temptations in the television special G.I.T. on Broadway.[17] In 1972, he and Aghayan were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Lady Sings the Blues, starring Ross.[13] Mackie and Ross continued their collaborative efforts well into the 21st century, with Mackie designing stage costumes for Ross\' 2010 More Today Than Yesterday: The Greatest Hits Tour.[18]
Mackie designed costumes for the Las Vegas Strip–based burlesque shows Hallelujah Hollywood, which was inspired by the Ziegfeld Follies and ran at the MGM Grand (now Horseshoe Las Vegas) from 1974 to 1980, and Jubilee!, which ran from 1981 to 2016.[19][20] Both productions involve intricate, elaborate costumes. Images of many of Mackie\'s design drawings for these productions are available for viewing online in the Donn Arden papers archive from the UNLV Libraries Digital Collections.[21]Elton John\'s iconic Donald Duck,[3] sequined Los Angeles Dodgers,[22] and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart concert costumes were designed by Mackie.
Cher wearing Mackie outfit during 2019 tour
Mackie designed the exotic ensemble worn by Cher at the 58th Academy Awards in March 1986: black stretch pants, a bejeweled loincloth, knee-high boots, a black chainlink top, and a huge feathered Mohawk headdress that was one and a half times taller than her head. Introduced by Jane Fonda with the words, \"Wait\'ll you see what\'s gonna come out here\".[23] \"As you can see,\" said Cher, \"I did receive my Academy booklet on how to dress like a serious actress.\"[24]
Mackie designed costumes for Whitney Houston, especially splashy evening gowns which she wore for many years during concert tours and award shows. He has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards for his designs, and he has been nominated three times for an Academy Award.[25]
In 1981, Mackie guest-starred as himself on two episodes of the television series The Love Boat.[26] In 2002, Mackie was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.[27]
In more recent years, Mackie has been mainly known as the costume designer for Cher\'s elaborate outfits during her latest tours, including the Here We Go Again Tour. He created the costumes for Cher’s 2008–11 Las Vegas Cher residency at Caesars Palace, as well as for her 2017 Classic Cher shows in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.[28] Mackie won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical for his work on The Cher Show in 2019.
In 2020, Mackie\'s dresses were featured and worn by television hostess Vanna White over the week of April 27 in the long-running syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune as part of honoring the San Francisco Bay Area.[29]
On January 24, 2026, the Palm Springs Art Museum honored Mackie at its Art Party 2026 Gala.[30] In connection with the Gala, the Museum exhibited Reflections of Glamour: Bob Mackie, an exhibit featuring 5 of his gowns, and sketches of his work from 1970s to 2000s.[31]
The Carol Burnett ShowThe curtain dress, worn by Carol Burnett in \"Went with the Wind!\" on The Carol Burnett Show, a parody of Gone with the Wind.
Mackie created all of the costumes, including evening gowns, character outfits and dance clothing for guests during the run of The Carol Burnett Show, including the famous curtain dress from the \"Went with the Wind!\" sketch,[32] which was donated to the Smithsonian Institution.[33] Brent D. Glass, the museum\'s director, praised his creativity: “Mackie’s design represents an iconic reimagining of Scarlett O’Hara’s curtain dress, and it exists as a worthy reminder of the designer’s unique contribution to a golden era in American comedy...It was his spirit of innovation that made ‘Went with the Wind’ a symbol of this country’s rich comedic history.”[33]
Carol Burnett credited him with coming up with other comedic touches for the show\'s various characters, such as the tight-legged skirt for Mr. Tudball (Tim Conway)\'s secretary, Mrs. Wanda Wiggins (Burnett). She told Mackie the skirt was too baggy in the back for her physique, but he told her to stick her bottom out to fill it, resulting in the character\'s distinctive posture and walk. In a 2003 interview with Terry Gross, Burnett said Mackie would put rice in the “older woman” undergarments, where typically cotton would’ve been used, to make the saggy breasts have weight and movement as the characters walked or danced, such as when Burnett portrayed Norma Desmond or Chiquita (Charo)\'s mother.[34] Burnett estimated that Mackie had created 17,000 outfits for the show, and said his costume work added more humor to some of the skits she felt were weaker than others.[35] She praised him by saying “There are fashion designers, but they can’t do costumes...And then there are costume designers that don’t do fashion. But Bob does it all. He’s the whole ball of wax.”[36]
Collaboration with Mattel
Mattel, manufacturer of Barbie dolls, approached Mackie in the late \'80s to design clothes for a Barbie. The first limited-edition doll he designed had a gold outfit with a sequined skirt, feather boa, and long ponytail, and made its debut in 1990. The doll\'s appearance foreshadowed a similar look taken by Madonna in concert during her Blonde Ambition World Tour.[36]
While other designers had created fashions for Barbies, Mackie was the first to also be involved with changes to the face and hair. Mackie said at that point in time, all American dolls had blonde hair, but changing the length and color allowed Barbie to be whoever and whatever she wanted to become. A closed-mouth smile became known as the \"Mackie sculpt\" and was popular with collectors.[36]
Mackie created outfits that were glamour or fantasy-related, instead of traditional work uniforms. Other outfits echoed his creations for television shows or specific clients like Cher. The details had to be proportionally scaled down and embroidery, beading and other details were in some cases done by hand.[36]
Part of the innovation Mackie brought to the dolls was insisting on having different ethnicities and traditional garb represented. He drew on his experiences with the many women he worked with in fashion shows and felt the dolls should be as varied as the real women that were in the world.[36]
Other notable clientsThis section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this Ball
Diahann CarrollCarol ChanningMiley CyrusDoris DayMarlene DietrichBarbara EdenLola FawcettJudy GarlandJulia Midler[37]Liza MinnelliThe Osmonds[40]Dolly PartonPink[37]Barbra StreisandDonna SummerTina Turner[37]Dottie WestOprah lifeOn March 14, 1960, Mackie married LuLu Porter (née Marianne Wolford), a singer and actress, and later an acting teacher.[41][15] The couple divorced in 1963. They had a son, Robert Gordon Mackie, Jr. (known as \"Robin\").[14] Robin, a makeup artist, died in 1993 at the age of 33 of an AIDS-related illness, predeceasing his in 1963, Mackie\'s significant other was costume designer Ray Aghayan, whom Mackie worked with as an assistant. The two worked together through the 1970s, as well as having separate clients. They remained together until Aghayan\'s death in 2011.[13]
In popular culture- Daffy Duck (Jeff Bergman) in \"It\'s a Handbag\", episode 9 of season 2 of The Looney Tunes Show explains that he\'s wearing a Bob Mackie jumpsuit in a photo of himself.[45]
- Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright) in episode 18 of season 5 of The Simpsons (\"Burns\' Heir\") offers Milhouse Van Houten (Pamela Hayden) the blazer he is wearing, stating it is a \"Bob Mackie original\". Milhouse responds \"Wow! A Bob Mackie!\" before declining the offer.[46]
- Mackie is a character in the jukebox musical The Cher Show.
- Referenced in Netflix\'s GLOW.[47]
- Referenced in episode 20 of season 10 of Modern Family (\"Can’t Elope\")
- Referenced in Netflix\'s AJ and the Queen.
- In Christopher Guest\'s 2000 film Best in Show, upon seeing what his rival Christy Cummings (Jane Lynch) is wearing, Stefan Vanderhoof (Michael McKean) exclaims, \"Bob Mackie, where are you when we need you?\"[48]
- In \"Ode to Barbra Joan,\" episode 20 of season 1 of The Nanny, C.C. Babcock (Lauren Lane)\'s father Stewart (Robert Culp) spoils Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) by taking her shopping for designer outfits. Fran comments \"All I said was that I was in the mood for a Big Mac, and you got me a Bob Mackie!\"[49]
- In HBO\'s Girls season 5 episode 6 \"The Panic in Central Park\", Marnie Michaels (Allison Williams) tries on a slinky glittery red sleeveless gown and refers to herself as a \"Bob Mackie Barbie doll\".[50]
Awards and nominationsAcademy AwardsThe Academy Awards are awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Mackie has received 3 nominations.
YearNominated workAwardResult1973Lady Sings the BluesBest Costume DesignNominated1976Funny LadyNominated1982Pennies from HeavenNominatedAmerican Choreography AwardsThe American Choreography Awards honored outstanding choreographers in the fields of feature film, television, music videos, and commercials. Mackie has received 1 honorary award.
YearNominated workAwardResult2001HimselfGovernor\'s AwardHonoredCostume Designers Guild AwardsThe Costume Designers Guild Awards are awarded annually by the Costume Designers Guild for costume designers in motion pictures, television, and commercials. Mackie has received 1 honorary award.
YearNominated workAwardResult1999HimselfDisaronno Career Achievement in Television AwardHonoredEmmy AwardsThe Emmy Awards are presented at one of the numerous annual American events or competitions that each recognize achievements in a particular sector of the television industry. Mackie has received 1 honorary award and 9 competitive awards from 32 nominations.[51]
YearNominated workAwardResult1966Wonderful World of Burlesque IIIndividual Achievements in Art Direction and Allied Crafts - Costume DesignNominated1967Alice Through the Looking GlassWon1969The Carol Burnett ShowOutstanding Individual Achievement in the Visual ArtsNominated1970G.I.T. on BroadwayOutstanding Achievement in Costume DesignWon1972The Sonny & Cher Comedy Achievement in Costume Design for Music - VarietyNominatedMitzi...Roarin\' in the 20\'sWon1977An Evening with Diana RossNominatedThe Sonny & Cher ShowNominated1978Mitzi...Zings into SpringWon1979Cher... and Other FantasiesOutstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series or SpecialNominated1980Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie GirlsNominated1983Mama\'s FamilyOutstanding Costume Design for a SeriesNominated1984Won1986Neil Diamond...Hello AgainOutstanding Costume Design for a Variety or Music ProgramNominated1987Mama\'s FamilyOutstanding Achievement for Costuming in a SeriesNominatedFresnoOutstanding Achievement for Costuming in a MiniseriesNominated1988The 60th Annual Academy AwardsOutstanding Individual Achievement - Special EventsNominated1990Julie & Carol: Together AgainOutstanding Costume Design for a Variety or Music ProgramNominated1991Cher... at the MirageNominatedCarol & CompanyWon1992The Carol Burnett ShowOutstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Variety or Music ProgramNominated1993The Carol Burnett Show: A ReunionNominated1994GypsyOutstanding Costume Design for a Miniseries or SpecialNominated1995Men, Movies & CarolOutstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Variety or Music ProgramWon1997Mrs. Santa ClausOutstanding Costume Design for a Miniseries or SpecialNominated1998Blue Suede Shoes - Ballet Rocks!Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music ProgramNominated2000Cher: Live in Concert – From the MGM Grand in Las VegasOutstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music ProgramWon2002HimselfTelevision Hall of FameHonored2003Cher: The Farewell TourOutstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music ProgramWon2006Once Upon a MattressOutstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a SpecialNominatedRuPaul\'s Drag Race AwardsRuPaul\'s Drag Race is a reality competition program hosted by American drag queen RuPaul. The show periodically highlights and celebrates pop culture icons that have influenced LGBTQIA+ culture over the years with their Giving Us Life-time Achievement Award. Mackie has received one honorary award.[6]
YearNominated workAwardResult2023HimselfGiving Us Life-time Achievement AwardHonoredTony AwardsThe Tony Awards are presented annually by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League. Mackie has received 1 award from 1 nomination.[52]
YearNominated workAwardResult2019The Cher ShowBest Costume Design in a MusicalWonTV Land AwardsThe TV Land Award generally commemorates shows now off the air, rather than in current production. Mackie has received 1 honorary award.
YearNominated workAwardResult2005The Carol Burnett ShowLegend AwardHonored
