Andy Whitfield, the 39-year-old star of the New Zealand-filmed series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, has died. His manager Sam Maydew says Whitfield passed away on Sunday of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Sydney. Whitfield – who was born in Wales and lived in Australia – was a virtual unknown when he was cast as the title hero in Spartacus, an original series for the Starz network that made waves with its graphic violence and sexuality. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Andy Whitfield,” said Starz president and CEO Chris Albrecht. “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. He will live on in the hearts of his family, friends and fans.” New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless, one of the co-stars of Spartacus, also paid tribute to Whitfield: “Andy’s incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him. Andy’s two babies will always know that their Daddy cherished them and their mother, Vashti, above all things.” Whitfield was preparing for the second Spartacus season when his illness was diagnosed 18 months ago and he began treatment in New Zealand. In January the network announced that another Australian actor, Liam McIntyre, would replace Whitfield in the title role.