The iconic red lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader in two “Star Wars” films sold at auction for $3,654,000 on Thursday, according to the auction site, Propstore.
Bidding for Vader’s famed lightsaber began Thursday at 10 a.m. PT, where the prop was expected to sell for anywhere between $1 million and $3 million.
The “original screen-matched, hero dueling lightsaber prop” was used in both “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” making this the galactic weapon used in what is perhaps the most famous scene of the “Star Wars” franchise, when Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker, “I am your father.“
It was used by both David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, and by stunt actor Bob Anderson.
“This is the primary dueling prop created for Vader’s character in both Empire and Jedi,” Propstore wrote in the item’s listing. “It saw extensive use during the filming of both movies and is one of the most memorable film props from the original trilogy.”
According to the listing, the lightsaber shows signs of wear, “as expected from a prop that saw extensive usage.” The back of the shroud has a crack, and one of the grips is broken. But “these marks serve as compelling evidence of the lightsaber’s direct involvement in the action,” Propstore wrote.
The lightsaber was one of many famed movie and television props included in Propstore’s three-day entertainment memorabilia live auction in Los Angeles.
Other lots included in the auction include the suit worn by Michael Keaton in “Batman,” the whip used by Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” and hazmat suits worn by both Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in “Breaking Bad.”