Darth Vader costume from ‘Empire Strikes Back’ could fetch US$2 million at auction

Iconic costume, which has been stuck in a garage since the 1980s, includes the villain’s black helmet, cape and gloves

Reading Time:2 minutes

David Prowse as Darth Vader in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, possibly the most memorable scene from the whole series. Photo: handout

Published: 9:51am, 5 May 2019Updated: 9:54am, 5 May 2019

A rare, original costume of Darth Vader, one of the most iconic villains in film history, is set to be auctioned this month.

The suit – which includes Vader’s infamous black helmet, capes and gloves – was worn in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and is being sold on May 14 at the Los Angeles Bonhams auction house. It can be viewed by the public over two weekends starting on Saturday – as a treat for fans celebrating May the Fourth, also known as Star Wars Day.

A Christie’s employee with a different Darth Vader costume in London in 2010. Photo: AP

The costume is expected to get between US$1 million and US$2 million as part of the ‘Wonders of the Galaxy’ collection.

“The suit’s completeness, remarkable condition, and excellent provenance make it a true rarity in the memorabilia marketplace,” Catherine Williamson, director of entertainment memorabilia at Bonhams, said in a statement.

Bryce “Kermit” Eller, a computer engineer hired from 1977 to 1982 to impersonate Vader at film premieres, fan conventions and the 1978 Academy Awards, owns the suit. He’d kept it in his garage since his days pretending to be Luke Skywalker’s father.

Darth Vader costume from ‘Empire Strikes Back’ could fetch US$2 million at auction

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Iconic costume, which has been stuck in a garage since the 1980s, includes the villain’s black helmet, cape and gloves

Iconic costume, which has been stuck in a garage since the 1980s, includes the villain’s black helmet, cape and gloves