Andy Whitfield, the star of Spartacus: Blood and Sand has passed away, aged 39.
The Welsh-born Australian actor had been fighting non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma but died on Sunday in Sydney, Australia.
Whitfield, who rose to fame as the titular warrior in Spartacus: Blood & Sand, was originally diagnosed with the disease in March 2010 and despite being given the all-clear after two months of treatment in September, a remission forced the star to quit the show in order to continue treatment.
Chris Albrecht, CEO and President of Starz, said: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Andy Whitfield. 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 as he faced this very personal battle with courage, strength and grace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He will live on in the hearts of his family, friends and fans."
