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.

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