shipperx: (GOT: Dany)
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Spartacus: Blood and Sand star Andy Whitfield has died. He was 39.

Whitfield died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Sydney on Sunday, his manager, Sam Maydew, told The Associated Press. In a statement, Whitfield's wife, Vashti, called her husband a "beautiful young warrior" who died in the "arms of his loving wife," according to the AP.


Whitfield, a Welsh actor who lived in Australia, was virtually unknown to American audiences when he was cast in the lead of the graphically violent and sexual Starz series. Whitfield was preparing to shoot the second season of Spartacus when he received his original diagnosis.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Andy Whitfield," Starz President Chris Albrecht said in a statement. "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. Andy was an inspiration to all of us as he faced this very personal battle with courage, strength and grace."

Series creator/executive producer Steven S. DeKnight tweeted: "No words to express the depth of such a loss. You will be deeply missed, my brother."

And Whitfield's co-star, Lucy Lawless, said he "left an indelible mark on all of us in the Spartacus family." In a statement, she added: "He was a gentle man who never said a bad word about anyone, a gifted photographer, engineer (no really!) and a brilliant actor. Andy's incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him."

Date: 2011-09-12 04:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lk737.livejournal.com
oh wow, that is so horrible. i just found that show this year, and this is such a loss. he was such a good actor. i always wondered why the series continued without him. and it is so heartbreaking for his family to know this is the reason why.

thank you so much for posting this. my thoughts and prayers will go out to his family and friends. <333

Date: 2011-09-12 06:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shipperx.livejournal.com
If I remember correctly, it was why they delayed Season 2 and did the prequel, hoping that he'd get better. However, at some point he told them that they needed to recast because he couldn't return.

Date: 2011-09-13 12:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chrisvee.livejournal.com
Sad news.

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