Andy Whitfield was a Welsh actor most known for portraying the titular character in the first season of the Starz series ‘Spartacus’, titled ‘Spartacus: Blood and Sand’. His untimely death in 2011 due to non-Hodgkin lymphoma is especially tragic because it happened right after he found international recognition for the show. A native of the Isle of Anglesey, Whitfield relocated to Australia in 1999 and worked as a construction labourer. He had always been interested in acting. In 2004, he made his screen debut in an episode of the Australian medical-drama series ‘All Saints’. His first cinematic appearance came three years later in the supernatural action-drama ‘Gabriel’, in which he starred as the eponymous angel. In the next few years, he guest-starred in several TV shows before being cast as Spartacus. He was diagnosed with cancer in March 2010 and subsequently began his treatment in New Zealand. As a result, Whitfield had to leave the show. In September 2011, he passed away at the age of 39.