“But the reality is, I miss him badly. Sometimes I wear his pajamas and aftershave to bed, or I cry and hug the tree I dedicated to him. But I must let go of all that and focus on what I want in life, not what I no longer have.”
— Vashti Whitfield
Andy’s tree.
Parklands in Sydney NSW, Australia
photo courtesy of Vashti Whitfield.
BHN
Hello all!
How’s this for some amazing and meaningful street art!?
Via Vashti:
Home in Sydney in 48 hrs -
A quick peek at the most amazing surprise created for me as an early birthday present - my very own Andy tree at Venice Beach, and the story of my tattoos - the Lioness and the Butterfly - brought to life in some amazing LA wall art, designed and drawn by a buddy.
Will fill you in on the details when I get back.
BHN
xx
Hello all!
Vashti is currently here in sunny Los Angeles, California, to view the rough final edit of the documentary we are all waiting for - Our Champion’s story through his diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma entitled “Be Here Now”.
Here is a short video of Vashti, sharing how she is feeling about this particular moment in time and of Andy’s legacy, as she is going to view the film for the first time since actually living it with him back in 2010 - 2011.
Enjoy, and if you’d like to express your sentiments remember you can post on maybemcqueen.com and to Vashti via Twitter.
Gratitude.
BHN
Hello friends!
As you are well aware, the saga of Spartacus has come to an end - a saga that began with Our Champion Andy. Here are three behind-the-scenes photos of Andy from the production of “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”
In photo one, we have Andy checking his cell phone while on break between takes; in photo two, Andy and his good friend Jai Courtney (Varro) are being made camera-ready. In the third photo, Andy is joined by Nick Tarabay (Ashur) and John Hannah (Batiatus) on the set of Andy’s last episode in ‘Spartacus’ - the season one finale entitled, “Kill Them All.”
Hope you enjoy.
You can head over to http://t.co/yQmWJmI75t for a profile on filmmaker Rob Tapert and the production journey of ‘Spartacus’, in photos.
Gratitude.
BHN
Apologies for the lack of posts! Hope you are all well and in good-spirits. Are you keeping up with Vashti on maybemcqueen.com, on Twitter and on Instagram?
Please continue to support Andy’s friends by watching ‘Spartacus: War of the Damned’ premiering on January 25th, 2013 on Starz. (US only)
For all continued updates on the status of Our Champion Andy’s documentary film “Be Here Now”, please visit beherenowfilmcomingsoon.com
Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!
BHN
A Champion Remembered - Part 4 of 4
“The Mission”
8:00 AM (Sydney, Australia Time)
Vashti Whitfield, via her blog, Maybe McQueen:
“Maybe McQueen is a homage to my beautiful husband Andy, who died of cancer in September 2011, aged just 39.
Andy’s dream role would have been to play Steve McQueen. He was fascinated by the extraordinary, complicated and complex ‘film star’ and all that he was.
So my blog is inspired by Andy and the legacy he leaves all of us to be courageous, creative, curious and compassionate and to look for where adventure is possible in unexpected places. Whether it’s through becoming a father, not knowing how you will pay the rent, or being knocked back again and again and crawling your way back up, it is about making something happen when everyone tells you it’s not possible.”
And so to conclude this day of remembrance in honor of Mr. Andy Whitfield, there is only this left to be said:
What will you do?
What will you accomplish, with the only life you’ve got?
What will you leave behind for the people who knew and loved you to marvel at, long after you’re gone…
What will your legacy be?
You don’t have to be television star, you don’t even have to wind up famous - so this is not a question of “how many people will know my name?” There is a famous quote by poet Maya Angelou: “…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did…but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Andy firmly believed in making the absolute best of the only life you’ve got, and he made the most of his time here, even to the absolute end.
And so the invitation is at hand, to anyone reading this…
Maybe McQueen…you only get one life…so what will you do with yours?
BHN. xx
A Champion Remembered - Part 3 of 4
“The Message”
8:00 A.M - 9/11/2012 (California Time)
”’Be Here Now’ is all about being present, and not fearing what you don’t know.”
- Andy Whitfield
When Andy was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2010, he naturally had every intention of fighting as hard as he could to overcome and beat it.
And he did.
Then came the second blow, when he and Vashti learned that the cancer had come back. Andy was well on his way to begin filming season two of ‘Spartacus’, but had to ultimately bow out of the role in order to focus on his health.
Rather than wallow in self-pity and anger, Andy decided that he wanted to share his struggle with the world, in the hopes that his story could make a difference to someone, somewhere. He allowed cameras into his private life, which followed him through the intense battle against his cancer. This footage was compiled by Oscar-nominated director Lilibet Foster into a feature-length documentary entitled “Be Here Now”, which is set to release sometime next year.
It will be the fullfilment of Andy’s dream, and a true and crystal-clear testament to who he was as a man and human being - tenacious and relentless in making some beauty grow out of even the most dire of situations.
Be Here Now is Andy’s legacy, one that will continue to grow even as the years grow long. I have tried to illustrate that here by using an old photo of Andy himself, as a child (on the bike) to represent the past, while his son, Jesse Red (behind little Andy) represents the future.
To learn more about the film, please visit http://beherenowfilmcomingsoon.com
A Champion Remembered - Part 2 of 4
“The Man”
12:00 A.M. - 9/11/2012 (New York time)
Andy was a man, no different from any other in that regard. He was a human being, with flaws and ambitions, dreams and aspirations, just as you and I. He was a son, and a father; a husband, and cherished friend.
He was so many things to so many people, but most of all, he was who he was, and he was sure of who he was, and he shared that enormous presence as much as he could with the world, SO magnificent and so unassuming - this much is apparent, and for that, we thank you, Andy.
Stay tuned for parts 3 and 4, as we continue to remember Our Champion Andy.
A Champion Remembered - Part 1 of 4:
“In Memory”
8:00 A.M. - (Sydney, Australia Time)
Today is September 11th, 2012.
Today marks the one-year anniversary since the world lost one of its brightest gifts - a man who loved and was loved by so many, most of whom he never knew.
I am, of course, referring to Andy Whitfield, also known as “The Bringer of Rain, the Champion of Capua, the Slayer of the Shadow…Spartacus.”
As his dear and wondrously incredible wife Vashti has stated on occasion, today is not a day to be marked with grief. The tears will fall, of course, but today we should choose to remember all that Andy was,the amazing generosity of good that he put out into the world, and the legacy that he left behind of love, compassion, and fearlessness, a legacy that continues to grow and grow, triumphing over the loss of such a beautiful human being.
Stay tuned for parts 2, 3 and 4, as we take this moment in time, this day, to remember Andy Whitfield - Father, Son, Husband, Friend, Hero, and Champion.
If you were watching the ‘Stand Up 2 Cancer’ telethon, you may have noticed that due to technical difficulties, Lucy’s and STARZ’s piece on Our Champion Andy unfortunately was not aired properly.
Here is the piece again for those who may have missed it, and for those who would just like to see it again and continue to spread Andy’s message far and wide, in loving memory of this brilliant man, who was beautiful in every way a person can possibly be.
Be Here Now
via Entertainment Tonight Online:
Lucy Lawless is remembering her Spartacus: Blood and Sand co-star Andy Whitfield in this moving tribute created for the Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon.
Whitfield lost his battle with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on September 11th, 2011, but is clearly fondly remembered by both the cast and crew of the hit STARZ series.
You can watch Stand Up 2 Cancer Friday, September 7th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on both STARZ and ENCORE.
“No one is immune to cancer. It strikes unexpectedly, changing lives. We must stand united against this often devastating disease - a lesson the cast and crew of Spartacus learned, when we lost a dearly-loved friend far too early in his life.
Andy Whitfield was a true champion, an amazing man and he gave his all to every aspect of his life, and it was an honor to know him.
Stand with me, and take a moment to remember Andy Whitfield, loving husband and father, terrific actor, and an inspiration to us all.”
- Lucy Lawless
Be Here Now
Vashti Whitifeld, via her Twitter:
Many wonderful people passed away on September 11th, as will many more. Such is the cycle of life. For me September 11th is and always will be a day to celebrate life, living and the opportunity to Be Here Now!
So please - as the many very kind sympathy messages begin pouring in - please be mindful that I am making this a day of celebration, and I would love to inspire you to make that day one that absolutely makes you smile and very glad to be alive!
So as September 11th - aka Andy’s one-year mark - draws nearer and nearer, here is a kind reminder of everything Andy stood for in his last days on this Earth, the idea that life is both fragile and fleeting, and rather than fearing that, we should all celebrate it, and how blessed we are to be alive.
Mourning is a natural part of human nature, and so no one should feel wrong for doing so of Our Champion Andy…just remember he would have wanted us all to smile and celebrate his message of believing in yourself and chasing your dreams -
Be Here Now
Hey everyone!
via Vashti, on her Twitter:
“Ok people, there has been some SERIOUS etching, ink and tattoo work going on in our “Be Here Now/MMQ” community. Listen up.
Could you please take a high-res photo as beautifully shot as possible - with none of your naked bits showing - and e-mail in. No faces please!
May possibly be used somewhere at end of the doco….. Maybe!!!
So for all of you who have or are planning to get Andy/Spartacus/Be Here Now tattoos - please e-mail high quality photos of them to Lilibet Foster at lilibet@beherenowfilm.com, as soon as possible. Thank-you. :)
via Vashti Whitfield on her blog, Maybe McQueen:
“Andy’s dream role would have been to play Steve McQueen. He was fascinated by the extraordinary, complicated and complex ‘film star’ and all that he was.”
And so this is my personal homage to Andy and his dream - sadly a dream forever unfulfilled - on behalf of every single fellow fan and supporter of Our Champion and “Be Here Now.”
Coincidentally - and no doubt very fittingly - the film ‘Le Mans’, whose photo I’ve used in the above edits, was released in 1971 - the year Our Champion Andy was born.
I hope it is a reminder to all who follow Andy’s message of living for the now - and without allowing fear or regrets to paralyze us - to boldly chase whatever it is that we desire out of our lives.
“You only get one life.”
Remembering the late and great Andy Whitfield, our Champion.
Andy Whitfield was born on October 17th, 1971, in Amwlch, Wales. He became an engineer after graduating from the University of Sheffield, England, and worked in Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia as an engineer before settling in Sydney in 1999.
He married Vashti Whitfield and together they have two beautiful children, son Jesse Red, 7, and daughter Indigo Sky, 4.
Our Champion gained his first prominent role in the Australian supernatural film 'Gabriel'. However, his role as the Thracian rebel and warrior "Spartacus" in 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand' propelled him to stardom and into our hearts and minds, forever.
In March 2010, Andy was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer, and was given between 3-6 months to live if he did not receive treatment. He began undergoing treatment immediately in New Zealand.
Although declared cancer-free only two months later, Andy suffered a recurrence of the disease later in the year and was ultimately compelled to abandon his role as Spartacus.
Sadly, our Champion passed away in Sydney, Australia, on September 11th, 2011, 18 months after his initial cancer diagnosis. He was 39.
"On a beautiful sunny Sydney morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18-month battle with lymphoma cancer." - wife Vashti Whitfield, in a statement
Andy, even though you were only with us for a short time, the lessons and joy you brought and continue to bring so many will keep your close to our souls, close to our minds, and forever in our hearts.
"Be Here Now"
In June, a campaign was set up to fund "Be Here Now", a film by Oscar-winning director Lilibet Foster, which documents Andy's battle with NHL.
The campaign was a huge success, with just over $300,000 raised in total funds! Please visit http://beherenowfilmcomingsoon.com to stay up-to-date with the film's progress.
"'Be Here Now' is all about being present, and not fearing what you don't know." - Andy Whitfield
Vashti on Twitter: http://twitter.com/maybemcqueen
Lilibet on Twitter: http://twitter.com/magnifi7
'Be Here Now' Film on Twitter: http://twitter.com/beherenowfilm1
Vashti on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Maybemcqueen
'Be Here Now' Film FB Page - https://www.facebook.com/beherenowfilm
