‘Spartacus’ actor dies from cancer aged just 39

Welsh-born actor Andy Whitfield, star of the US television series Spartacus: Blood And Sand, has died at the age of 39.

Whitfield, who played the title role in the controversial swords-and-sandals drama, had been diagnosed with cancer. He was found to have non-Hodgkin lymphoma during a routine check-up last year.

Doctors said at the time that the cancer had been detected in its early stages and was “very treatable”. Whitfield’s manager, Sam Maydew, said he died in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday.

In a statement, Whitfield’s wife, Vashti, described her husband as a “beautiful young warrior” who died in the “arms of his loving wife”.

“On a beautiful sunny Sydney spring morning, surrounded by his family, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18-month battle with lymphoma cancer,” she said in a statement.

Spartacus, also starring Scot John Hannah, featured scenes of orgies and extreme violence.