Love Nuke

Actor Andy Whitfield, who starred in the title role in the Roman-era period series “Spartacus,” passed away in Australia on Sunday, the 11th of September, at the age of 39.

Celebrity News: Snuffed out in his Prime

Andy Whitfield, the muscle-bound actor best remembered for playing the slave-gladiator Spartacus, lost the battle of his life to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a kind of blood cancer. The diagnosis had been confirmed in March 2010, as reported by some newspapers.

Andy Whitfield, aged 39, passed away on September 11, 2011

Andy Whitfield was born in Wales on July 17, 1972. He completed his education at the University of Sheffield, graduating with a degree in Engineering, and worked in that line for some time. In 1999, Andy Whitfield moved to Australia where he felt the calling of ashow-biz career; to that end, he attended Sydney’s Screenwise Film & TV School for Actors. Andy Whitfield went on to star in several Australian television serials, such as Opening Up, All Saints, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters and McLeod’s Daughters.
Whitfield first came to be noted for his performance in the Australian supernatural-themed movie Gabriel. His most memorable role came in the 2010 television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, shot in location in New Zealand. He played the title role of the historical figure Spartacus, a warrior forced to be a gladiator in the Roman arenas and who ultimately leads an uprising against his Roman masters (the Third Servile War).

After being diagnosed with the fatal disease last March, Whitfield underwent treatment in New Zealand; though this disrupted the production of the second season of the show, producers were quick to conceive and shoot a six-part prequel, which featured Whitfield in a brief voice-over. After an apparently successful course of treatment that led to his being declared cancer-free a few months after treatment, he suffered a relapse later in 2010 that forced him to quit the show.

His wife, Vashti, issued a statement on Sunday confirming the unfortunate demise of Andy Whitfield and thanking fans and well-wishers for the love and support that carried him through the eighteen-month long struggle with lymphoma.

Starz Network, the cable network that airs ‘Spartacus’ released a statement by CEO Chris Albrecht expressing sorrow, commending the stellar work done by Andy Whitfield and offering condolences to the bereaved family.

Andy Whitfield is survived by his wife Vashti and their two children.

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