TV News: ‘Spartacus’ Actor Andy Whitfield Passes Away at 39

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CHICAGO – “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” star Andy Whitfield passed away yesterday morning after battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma since March 2010. Whitfield was 39 years old.

Whitfield, who starred as Spartacus in the Starz television series, was known by many of his colleagues as a fighter on screen and, more importantly, off screen. Chris Albrecht, president and CEO of Starz, gave sympathies and words of admiration for the actor in a statement yesterday:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Andy Whitfield,” Albrecht said. “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,” the statement continued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He will live on in the hearts of his family, friends and fans.”

The Welsh-born Whitfield had played Spartacus for the entire first season of the Starz series and was preparing to film a second season of the show when he was diagnosed with lymphoma, forcing him to drop out of the series. Whitfield passed away at his home in Sydney, Australia with his wife at his side.

Lucy Lawless, co-star of “Spartacus: Blood and Sand,” left a fitting goodbye for Whitfield on her website: “Obviously, Andy Whitfield left an indelible mark on all of us in the Spartacus family. Andy’s incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him,” Lawless said. “Andy’s two babies will always know that their Daddy cherished them and their mother, Vashti, above all things. How lucky we were to have him grace all our lives.”

By TIM MARTENS Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com tim@hollywoodchicago.com