Sharon Tate's wedding dress sells at auction for $56,000

Written by Jack Guy

An anonymous buyer has bagged a ghoulish piece of movie memorabilia after winning an auction for actress Sharon Tate's wedding dress. A winning bid of $56,250 secured the dress, which comes with a tragic back story.

The ivory silk moiré mini wedding dress was the height of style in 1968, when Tate wore it for her wedding to director Roman Polanski in London.

Then 24 years old, Tate was known as one of the most promising actors in the world after her performance in the 1967 movie "Valley of the Dolls," now a cult classic.

But just 18 months after her wedding, Tate's life was ended by one of the most notorious criminals in US history.

Polish film director Roman Polanski and the late American actress Sharon Tate at their wedding. Credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In August 1969, four members of Charles Manson's "Family" gang broke into Tate and Polanski's home in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and murdered the actress and four friends.

Manson, who masterminded the killings, was subsequently convicted on seven counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The sentence was eventually modified to life imprisonment.

Tate was heavily pregnant and due to give birth to her first child with Polanski when she was killed at the age of 26.

Next summer will mark the 50th anniversary of her death, and the auction is part of a growing wave of interest in her story.

The story of her death will be told in upcoming Quentin Tarantino movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."

Australian actor Margot Robbie will play Tate, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Lena Dunham, with the film scheduled for release in July 2019.

Tate's wedding dress was auctioned by Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles Friday along with other pieces of memorabilia from her estate. The auctioneer has so far not responded to CNN's request for comment.

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