Auction of Darth Vader actor’s private Star Wars collection to benefit Alzheimer’s Research UK

David Prowse died with Alzheimer’s disease in November last year

A treasure trove of rare and never-before-seen Star Wars memorabilia owned by the late Darth Vader actor David Prowse is up for auction, with a percentage of proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Around 600 lots have been catalogued for sale, 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.

Over 400 signed photographs will be sold, 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.

The former professional bodybuilder was also the face of road safety in Britain, playing the role of 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.

The auction, which is being conducted by East Bristol Auctions, opens online today. People will have a chance to bid until May 4 – known around the world as Star Wars Day – before it switches to a live auction format.

David died in November last year following a short illness. He had been living with Alzheimer’s disease for around a decade before his death, aged 85.

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.”

“David Prowse is a movie icon who introduced the world to one of the most enduring screen villains of all time. It’s an honour that Alzheimer’s Research UK will benefit from this auction, which will undoubtedly generate a huge amount of buzz in the Star Wars community. “We can’t thank Norma and the family enough for using the auction as a way of supporting the search for breakthrough dementia treatments.” To see all the lots and register to bid, visit www.eastbristol.co.uk