Tommy Cooper’s robe sold at auction to David Copperfield

A robe worn by the late comedy legend Tommy Cooper in his ill-fated final performance has been snapped up by famed American illusionist David Copperfield.

Cooper wore the red silk robe for the show at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London on 15 April 1984.

The comedian suffered a heart attack on stage during the televised ITV performance, watched by 12 million people, and was later pronounced dead at Westminster Hospital, aged 63.

The US magician purchased the robe for £8,500 – more than double the base of the £4,000 to £6,000 pre-sale estimate.

Cooper, born in Caerphilly, Wales, in 1921, was known for combining intentionally disastrous magic tricks with slapstick humour, as well as his famous catchphrase “just like that”.

Kegan Harrison, from the North Yorkshire auction house Tennants, said Copperfield, renowned for illusions such as making the Statue of Liberty ‘disappear’, bought the robe for his museum in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, which is not open to the general public, also holds other items from famous names such as Harry Houdini.

Copperfield also purchased one of Cooper’s suits at the same auction, paying £1,400, just below the estimated sale price of £1,500 to £2,000.

Mr Harrison said there was already a section in the museum dedicated to Cooper.

“He is an absolute legend in the field and so potentially for any sort of fellow entertainer or magician it could well be something that would resonate very much with them.”