Spartacus actor Andy Whitfield dies aged 39
Sad news for TV fans, in particular viewers of Sky1′s Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Andy Whitfield, who plays the title character, has died at the young age of 39.
The Welsh actor was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2010 and was thought to have beaten the disease by the summer, but it returned and his condition worsened earlier this year. He passed away in Sydney at the weekend.
In a moving statement, Whitfield’s wife Vashti said: “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.
“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.”
The show’s director Steve DeKnight expressed his sorrow on Twitter, writing: “No words to express the depth of such a loss. You will be deeply missed, my brother.”
Spartacus, which also stars Brit John Hannah, will return for a second series with Whitfield’s part played by Australian actor Liam McIntyre. The show was once described by TV critic Charlie Brooker as “possibly the lustiest, goriest, most wilfully red-blooded drama series the law and human decency will allow”.
via Orange UK.
