Andy Whitfield, Star of ‘Spartacus’ Series, Dies at 39

The following article excerpt for Andy Whitfield, Star of ‘Spartacus’ Series, Dies at 39, was taken from The New York Times, written by Sarah Maslin Nir:

Andy Whitfield, who starred in the television series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” died on Sunday in Sydney, Australia. He was 39.

The cause was non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, his wife, Vashti, said in a statement.

Mr. Whitfield, who was from Wales but lived in Australia, was a relatively unknown actor until he was chosen for the series, a sex- and blood-soaked version of the early life of the Thracian gladiator who led a slave rebellion against the Roman ruling class from 73 to 71 B.C.