Actor Andy Whitfield has died after losing his battle with cancer. He was 39.
The Spartacus: Blood And Sand star passed away at home in Sydney, Australia on Sunday (11Sep11) after succumbing to non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, according to his manager Sam Maydew.
His devastated wife Vashti paid tribute to the star, calling him a "beautiful young warrior" who died on a "sunny Sydney morning" in the "arms of his loving wife."
The British-born actor moved Down Under in 1999 and was a virtual unknown when he landed the lead in the gladiator TV drama series, which became a huge hit.
He was preparing to shoot a second series when he was struck down with the disease in 2010. He was replaced by Liam MCIntyre.
Whitfield had previously appeared in several Aussie TV shows, including All Saints and MCLeod's Daughters.