Campaign for Spartacus actor Andy Whitfield to be made into Madame Tussauds waxwork
Andy Whitfield, who died of cancer two years ago - has been suggested by a German film fan to be immortalised in a hall of fame.
The father of Spartacus actor Andy Whitfield has backed calls for his son to be honoured as a waxwork figure in Madame Tussauds.
The 39-year-old actor from Amlwch, Anglesey died two years ago in Sydney, Australia where he lived, after losing an 18-month fight with cancer.
Now film fan Norbert Suess, from Schwardorf, Germany has started an online petition to ask Madame Tussauds in Sydney to fashion a waxwork figure in his memory.
The petition, published at the GoPetition website, was published in March and has already attracted 7,519 names from 75 different countries including Wales, Russia, Spain and the US, but needs 10,001 for the museum to consider it as possible.
One of the signatories is Christine Donlevy, from Amlwch.
In his citation, Mr Suess said: “Andy Whitfield's enormous passion for the role and inspirational man he was, on and off the big screen, has inspired a world-wide fan base that believes he should be immortalised at the museum.
“His courageous real life inspirational battle touching the lives of so many to live in the moment with his core values of love, hard work, passion and following one’s dreams both personally and professionally leaving a powerful legacy makes him the perfect candidate to be honoured with a wax figure at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.”
Andy’s dad Robert, who lives on Anglesey, said he wasn’t aware of the petition until contacted by the Daily Post.
He said: “I have had a look at the web site and can see the passion embedded in it.
“If it provides inspiration to those wishing to remember Andy as Spartacus then I can see no problem with the concept.
“However as a family we already remember Andy the real person and son.”
Fellow fans Paola and Inés, from Seville, Spain, added: “We would like Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Sydney to honour the legacy of Spartacus portrayed by this amazing, beautiful actor.
“We have thought that many people in Wales would also support and sign this petition if they would know about it, because we are sure many people there admire and love him as much as we do.”
Dad-of-two Andy was described as a “beautiful young warrior” in a tribute from his wife Vashti after he died in her arms.
Andy studied engineering at Sheffield University and worked in London before moving to Sydney in 1999 where he worked as an engineering abseiler examining buildings such as the Sydney Opera House for potential problems.
After taking an acting course, he became a face in adverts and landed the lead in gothic action thriller Gabriel in 2006. He still remained a virtual unknown when he was cast as Spartacus in the Roman drama.
He was found to have non-Hodgkin lymphoma during a routine check-up in 2010 – on the eve of filming the second series of US television series Spartacus: Blood And Sand, which made his name. He was given the all-clear by doctors in June 2010, but the cancer returned in September that year.
Adapted from article by Hywel Trewyn at http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/campaign-amlwch-spartacus-actor-andy-4283492
Photo: Andy Whitfield