He was only on screen for a matter of minutes but the character he brought to life – the Star Wars bounty hunter Boba Fett – achieved cult status.
From May the 4th – a nod to the franchise’s saying “May the force be with you” – fans will be able to bid for memorabilia collected by Jeremy Bulloch, the late British actor who played the character in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Among the more than 1,000 items on offer is a lifesize Boba Fett statue, estimated at between £8,000 and £12,000, that Bulloch modelled for in the 1990s and stored in his attic for almost 30 years.
There is also footage that appears to show test-filming of Ewoks, the furry creatures that help the rebels in Return of the Jedi, which is expected to fetch up to £5,000, and a replica Boba Fett helmet (estimate £600-£800) that Bulloch sometimes wore for interviews.
The auction follows Bulloch’s death in 2020 at the age of 75 from complications relating to Parkinson’s disease. Part of the proceeds from the auction will go to the charity Parkinson’s UK.
His widow, Maureen Bulloch, said that as well as collecting souvenirs from when the films were made in the early 1980s, her husband amassed memorabilia from fans when attending Star Wars conventions. “Jeremy loved and appreciated every single item,” she said.
The sale is being held by East Bristol Auctions, who on the same date last year auctioned off hundreds of items collected by the Bristolian Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy.
A Darth Vader helmet sold then for £2,200, more than five times the top estimate, and a signed picture of Alec Guinness in his Obi-Wan Kenobi robes was snapped up for £3,100, treble what was anticipated.
One of the curiosities being auctioned this time is a picture from Carrie Fisher to Bulloch reading: “Jeremy – thanks for the nite of hot monkey love.” The story behind the joke has been lost in the mists of time, but the item is estimated at between £500 and £800.
The auctioneer Andrew Stowe said: “Jeremy was quite clearly an avid collector – he didn’t just star in the films, he enjoyed them as much as any other fan.
“Not only that but he was regarded as one of the most approachable and friendly actors, so fans adored him – and he amassed many gifts wherever he appeared. His collection is remarkable, and completely unique.”
