Actor Andy Whitfield, star of the TV series Spartacus: Blood and Sand star has died of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma it was confirmed today. The actor who was born in Amlwch, Wales but moved to Sydney in 1999 lost his 18 month battle with the disease on a 'sunny Sydney morning in the 'arms of his loving wife [Vashti],' she said in a statement.
The actor was diagnosed with stage 1 of the disease in March 2010, but was declared cancer-free two months later after beginning treatment in New Zealand immediately. However, the cancer returned in September of that year and he was advised to resume 'aggressive treatment' for the illness.
Whitfield's wife Vashti paid an emotional tribute to her husband, she 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 help carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was.'
Whitfield was a virtual unknown when he was cast as the legendary Thracian slave in Spartacus, a role made famous by Kirk Douglas in the 1960 Stanley Kubrick film. The series proved a breakout hit for the Starz network. Whitfield appeared in all 13 episodes of the first season that aired in 2010, and was preparing to shoot the second when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Spartacus director, Steve DeKnight, took to Twitter to express his pain. 'No words to express the depth of such a loss. You will be deeply missed, my brother,' he wrote. The actor's Spartacus co-star, Lucy Lawless, also paid tribute to him on her website saying he was a 'gentle man who never had a bad word about anyone.' Lawless went on to say that Whitfield was a brilliant actor and a gifted photographer and engineer.
'Obviously, Andy Whitfield left an indelible mark on all of us in the Spartacus family,' she said. 'Andy's incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him. 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.'
Whitfield is survived by his wife Vashti and his two children.
The actor was diagnosed with stage 1 of the disease in March 2010, but was declared cancer-free two months later after beginning treatment in New Zealand immediately. However, the cancer returned in September of that year and he was advised to resume 'aggressive treatment' for the illness.
Whitfield's wife Vashti paid an emotional tribute to her husband, she 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 help carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was.'
Whitfield was a virtual unknown when he was cast as the legendary Thracian slave in Spartacus, a role made famous by Kirk Douglas in the 1960 Stanley Kubrick film. The series proved a breakout hit for the Starz network. Whitfield appeared in all 13 episodes of the first season that aired in 2010, and was preparing to shoot the second when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Spartacus director, Steve DeKnight, took to Twitter to express his pain. 'No words to express the depth of such a loss. You will be deeply missed, my brother,' he wrote. The actor's Spartacus co-star, Lucy Lawless, also paid tribute to him on her website saying he was a 'gentle man who never had a bad word about anyone.' Lawless went on to say that Whitfield was a brilliant actor and a gifted photographer and engineer.
'Obviously, Andy Whitfield left an indelible mark on all of us in the Spartacus family,' she said. 'Andy's incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him. 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.'
Whitfield is survived by his wife Vashti and his two children.
