‘Spartacus’ Star Andy Whitfield Dies At 39
September 12, 2011
Andy Whitfield, star actor of the popular cable series ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’ has died. The actor passed away on Sunday, September 11, 2011 after suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Whitfield died at the age of 39.
The actor who died in Sydney, Australia, had been diagnosed 18 months ago, his manager Sam MaydewAssociated Press. told the
‘On a beautiful sunny Sydney spring 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’, Whitfield’s wife Vashti said in a statement.
‘He passed peacefully surrounded by love. Thank you to all his
fans whose love and support have helped carry him to this point. He will
be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and
husband he was’, she continued.
Whitfield gained his first prominent role in the Australian supernatural film Gabriel
but it was his role as the legendary Thracian slave in ‘Spartacus’ that
turned him into a global star. The series which revolved around
violence and sexuality became very popular and so did Whitfield as he
appeared in all 13 episodes of the first season that aired in 2010. He
was preparing to shoot the second season when he was diagnosed with
cancer.
‘No words to express the depth of such a loss. You will be deeply missed, my brother’, Steven DeKnight, the creator of Spartacus, said.
‘We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and
colleague, Andy Whitfield’, Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht said
in a statement Sunday night. ‘We were fortunate to have worked with Andy
in ‘Spartacus’ and came to know that the man who played a champion
on-screen was also a champion in his own life’.
Whitfield was married twice and has two children.
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