Sad, sad, sad. Rest in peace.
When you hear about someone young and in Hollywood dying early, oftentimes it’s from the snare of their own vices. Drugs, alcohol, violence – you don’t ever expect it to happen to someone in their 30’s from cancer. Sadly, it’s what happened to Andy Whitfield. He wasn’t just an actor, the native Welshman was educated as an engineer and starred in several series in Australia before making the jump to stardom in Starz’s series Spartacus. He was a relative unknown when he was cast, but became such an integral part of the show, production was suspended while he went to get treatment for his Hodgkin’s lymphoma – and by all accounts he was a warrior.
But eighteen months in, surrounded by his friends and family – he passed. Far too young. The man was talented, by all accounts exceedingly good-natured, and didn’t take himself too seriously, as evidenced by stunts done on YouTube channels.
Starz’s CEO Chris Albrecht released a statement.
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. Andy was an inspiration to all of us as he faced this very personal battle with courage, strength and grace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. He will live on in the hearts of his family, friends and fans.
The afterlife got more ass-kicking. He was 39.
His death is on some level more heartfelt and ironic given his on screen persona. But that perhaps is the pathos of being an entertainer, that the roles we excel in on the big screen are sometimes not the roles we can become as much as we will it in reality, but then again such things as cancer know no rhyme or reason, which is why Andy Whitfield’s death is perhaps even more startling given the legacy and aura that he commanded on screen and of course off screen, and perhaps even more so now….
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2011/09/spartacus-hunk-andy-whitfield-loses-battle-with-cancer-at-age-39/
Andy, because of your battle both on spartacus and in reality against cancer i have found more ambition, courage, and strength in myself to continue moving forward no matter the outcome.. RIP