Actor Andy Whitfield dies at 39

WhitfieldAndy Whitfield, the 39-year-old star from the cable series "Spartacus: Bloodstream and Sand," has died.Manager Mike Maydew states Whitfield died Sunday of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sydney, Australia.Inside a statement, Whitfield's wife Vashti known as her husband a "beautiful youthful warrior" who died on the "sunny Sydney morning" within the "arms of his loving wife."Whitfield -- who had been born in Wales and resided around australia -- would be a virtual unknown when he was cast because the title hero in "Spartacus," popular original series for that Starz network that made waves using its graphic violence and sexuality.Whitfield was planning for that second season when he was identified 18 several weeks ago.Inside a statement, Starz prexy Chris Albrecht known as Whitfield "an inspiration to most of us.InchInchI was fortunate to possess labored with Andy in 'Spartacus' and found realize that the guy who performed a champion on-screen seemed to be a champion in the own existence," Albrecht stated, adoring the "courage, strength and sophistication" the actor introduced to his public fight the condition.In The month of january the network introduced that another Australian actor, Liam McIntyre, would dominate the role. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com