David Prowse’s private collection of ‘Star Wars’ memorabilia is set to be auctioned off to benefit Alzheimer’s Research UK.
David Prowse
The actor – who played the evil Darth Vader in the original trilogy of ‘Star Wars’ movies – passed away in November last year at the age of 85 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, and to honour his memory, the extensive collection of ‘Star Wars’ memorabilia he owned is going up for auction with a portion of the proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Around 600 lots have been catalogued for sale at the auction, which is being run by East Bristol Auctions, with items including one of David’s rehearsal scripts from the 1980 blockbuster ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and a piece from the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, which featured in ‘A New Hope’.
There will also be over 400 signed photographs going under the hammer, many of which have been dedicated to David.
Among them are personal messages from his Star Wars co-stars Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher.
For those who remember David as the face of road safety in Britain as the Green Cross Code Man, both his iconic green and white superhero suit and his robot sidekick Droid will also go to the highest bidder.
His friend and assistant Julian Owen spent two months sorting and researching items at David’s London home with his family’s help, while his theatrical agent Thomas Bevington organised the auction.
Julian said: “It’s been an honour to do this for the Prowse family. I worked with Dave for over 10 years and going through the collection has brought back a lot of great memories. We’re expecting a lot of interest from around the world.
“It was so hard to see Dave’s decline with Alzheimer’s disease. We worked together most weekends and every time I saw him there would be a little less of him there.
“Dave’s wife Norma said from the start that she wanted some of the money raised to go to Alzheimer’s Research UK. While nothing could be done for Dave, she knows just how important it is to support dementia research, to ensure future generations don’t have to go through the same heartbreak.
“Dave would be delighted to know some of what’s raised is going to help others.”
The auction opened online on Monday (19.04.21) and people have until May 4 – known around the world as Star Wars Day – to place their bids before it switches to a live auction format.