British-born actor Andy Whitfield, star of the TV series ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’, has died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The star, 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, who was 39, was diagnosed with stage one of the disease in March 2010, but was declared cancer-free two months later after beginning treatment immediately in New Zealand. Whitfield’s wife Vashti paid an emotional tribute to her husband, saying: “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 helped carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was.”
