Actor Andy Whitfield (Flickr)

Andy Whitfield, star of the 2010 television series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand," passed away in Australia on Sunday at the age of 39.

His wife, Vashti, released a statement confirming his death “on a beautiful sunny Sydney morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife.”

Whitfield suffered from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for 18 months before he lost his battle with the cancer, reported Mtv.com.  

The actor/part time model was famous for his role as Spartacus, a soldier who led a rebellion against the Roman empire.  Whitfield also acted in the TV shows “All Saints”, “Packed to the Rafters”, “The Strip”, and “McLeod’s Daughters.”

Whitfield was born in Wales, where he worked as an engineer before moving to Sydney, Australia in 1999.  He gained fame in his first major role in the Australian supernatural film “Gabriel.”  

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague…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,” said Chris Albrecht, President and CEO of Starz, the cable network Whitfield worked with.  

Reach Reporter Madeline Morris here.

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