Andy Whitfield, star of the Starz series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” died Sunday of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sydney, Australia. The ruggedly handsome actor was 39 years old.
Whitfield was a virtual unknown when he was cast as the title hero in “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” but his work helped establish the original series as a hit with critics and fans alike.
He was preparing for the second season of the show when he was diagnosed 18 months ago. In a statement, Whitfield’s wife Vashti called her husband a “beautiful young warrior” who died on a “sunny Sydney morning” in the “arms of his loving wife.” In January, Starz announced that another Australian actor, Liam McIntyre, would take over the role.
Jason Price founded the mighty Icon Vs. Icon more than a decade ago. Along the way, he’s assembled an amazing group of like-minded individuals to spread the word on some of the most unique people and projects on the pop culture landscape.
