Jai Courtney - Jai Courtney Stunned By Andy Whitfield's Death

The pair grew close while they worked together on the hit Tv show, and Whitfield became a mentor to the young actor as he pursued a career in Hollywood.

Courtney admits he was stunned to learn of his pal's battle with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, which eventually claimed his life at the age of 39 in 2011.

He tells the Sydney Morning Herald, "Being close with him on Spartacus had a lot to do with me coming out to Los Angeles in the first place, hearing about his experiences and how the town worked and what you need to do to get an agent, and he really helped guide me through all that, so when he got sick it was unbelievable.

"The guy was an image of health and it's pretty extraordinary when something like that happens and you can't seem to find a reason why. But I guess what I took away from that was just to live the way he did and get clear about your objectives and make it all count."