From Suicide to Silver Screen
Depression and suicide continue to ravage Utah youth, but another survivor shares his success and journey from self-destruction to celebration.
APRIL 27, 2015, SALT LAKE CITY: Actor, singer/songwriter, model, author, public speaker, pro skier, visual artist, international educator... “Years ago, from inside of my hospital room in Provo, I would never have guessed all this were possible. I was too busy trying to destroy myself,” admits local actor Andy Fernuik while getting camera-ready on set of the new Rob Reiner film Being Charlie, written by son Nick Reiner and Matt Elisofon.
“This is a surprise dream come true, both for the role and for the chance to work with renown filmmakers at the top of our craft.” Andy recalls meeting one of his boyhood heros Cary Elwes at the table read and on set. “I can’t believe I’m in a film with him! His characters inspired me to train in sport fencing, which served me in part to counter my early depression.”
Andy plays Thaniel, a British indie rocker with a musical distaste for economic politics in Being Charlie. He was cast last month in the new Michael Winnick film Code of Honor, starring Steven Seagal. Last year he was cast alongside another of his childhood heros Kevin Sorbo in Mythica: The Darkspore. Andy also appears in numerous international and national campaigns, the TV series Granite Flats and dozens of independent films.
In 2003, as a young student and returned missionary in Utah, Andy was consumed by suicidal depression and was often hospitalized for weeks, even undergoing extensive rounds of Electro-convulsive Therapy (ECT). “Back then, my dreams caused more pain than hope,” he recalls. “But now I see that was the beginning to discovering new and better dreams I couldn’t yet imagine.”
Andy uses his creative artistry to encourage others who are trapped in self-destructive cycles. “It seems I’ve been given a unique perspective of the depression and suicide problems in our state, in our neighbors’ homes. I find new levels of healing as I share what hope I have found with those who feel hopeless, swallowed by the darkness.” He performs and speaks regularly throughout Utah and beyond.
Andy Fernuik was raised in Pampa, TX, but has lived off and on in Utah since 1999. He served two years as a full-time volunteer missionary in Italy, is an alumnus of The University of Utah and of Brigham Young University. Andy is busy writing his second book In Absence of the Cross and completing an original music release. He mentors local students of all ages in auditioning, acting, music and performance. From New York City to New Zealand and across Europe, Andy’s background in entertainment, linguistics, spirituality, and professional skiing has taken him around the world.
For more information, please visit www.andyfernuik.com.
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model: andyfernuik; photographer: samantha mitchell; courtesy of corbis images, nyc.