Originally published June 19, 2017. This article preserves One Sixth Society’s original reporting and images; product availability, pricing, and opinions reflect the original publication period.
Losing an actor we grew up watching can be heartbreaking. In this 2017 article, I looked at the figures of Carrie Fisher, Bill Paxton and Adam West, and the prices I was seeing after their deaths. These are personal observations, not a rule about how collectible values change.
The three actors discussed here are personal favorites whose work shaped my love of film. Looking at collectible prices after their deaths feels uncomfortable, but it reveals how nostalgia can influence demand.
The Princess
The moment I found out about Carrie Fisher’s passing, I was devastated. This is a woman that not only is known to millions as both a Princess and a General, but to many as a bastion of mental health awareness. Her existence was a beautiful one, and it was cut far too short. I had just gotten her new book for a Christmas present, and I was brought to tears while I read it.
After I finished the book, I put it in my DETOLF beside my Hot Toys Princess Leia. I had bought the figure a month earlier using Sideshow reward points. After Fisher’s death, I noticed more collectors looking for figures of her. For me, the book and figure were a way to remember someone whose work meant a great deal.
The Soldier
Bill Paxton was an actor who was known for a slew of film roles. He is the only man to my knowledge to have been killed by a Terminator, a Predator, and an Alien. It is that last creature that gave Paxton a lot of his recognition. Private First Class William Hudson is one of my all-time favorite movie characters. This is a sentiment that I share with many others.
Hudson was one of Hot Toys’ early Aliens releases. I had been seeing examples around $250–$300 before Paxton’s death and had not noticed much change when I wrote this article. That observation did not tell me how many sold or why buyers chose them.
The Bright Knight
Batman is obviously one of the most popular characters in the modern canon. Of course it is hard to imagine if the world would be the same without Adam West’s portrayal of Batman. Would we have had Michael Keaton, Christian Bale or Ben Affleck if Adam West had not graced the screen with his campy presence prior? It’s hard to say, but I would say it is unlikely.
After Adam West’s death, I saw his Hot Toys Batman offered at around $300. It is one of my favorite Hot Toys figures, and I was glad it was already in my collection.
Closing Thoughts
Three childhood icons died within seven months, yet their work remains with me—in memory, on screen and on the shelf. Thinking about the inherent value of these figures is a bizarre thing. On one hand, it makes sense that a death might create more demand as people become nostalgic. On the other, the people who love and care about these icons likely already have these pieces in their collection.
An actor’s death is not a reliable buying signal. A figure can be a personal reminder of a favorite performance without becoming a rushed purchase based on an expected price increase.
