RIP Andy Whitfield Spartacus

I really loved the 1st Season of Spartacus:Blood and Sand on Starz, and was saddened to learn last year, Andy had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. This morning, I read he passed away from the disease after an 18 month fight. 39 years old. Brilliant actor.

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni15252464/

On the same day as Cliff (Uncle Ben) Robertson

I heard about this last night. Very sad indeed. I greatly enjoyed him as Spartacus. Wonderful actor gone too soon.

He's the only reason I watched Spartacus for a while in the first place. So sad.

What a shame. I tuned into Spartacus the night it first aired because I figured, "Even if it's awful, it looks like it'll be a fun, bloody 300 pastiche." But like many viewers, I was blown away by the magnificent performances (I honestly think this show was Lucy Lawless' best role ever).

Above all, Andy Whitfield brought a heart and earnestness to the role that elevated the show above its sensationalist roots. What a shame we lost such a presence so soon after we first met him.

At the same time that I heard Andy Whitfield was sick I heard that they were going to recast Spartacus too. I wonder if the powers to be will go through with it now or not. BTW that's part of the reason I stopped watching because I was enthralled with Whitfield's Spartacus and I didn't want to get hooked on the show only to see him be replaced.

They did go through with replacing him, but they did hold the second season for a year, making a 6 episode prequel series that did not have Andy in it. When, for a brief time, it looked like Andy had beaten the sickness, they were ready to start again, they wanted him back. But, alas, his battle began again, and it became more and more obvious he was loosing. So, they made the very hard choice to re-cast. it had to be a very difficult choice to make. Filming is well underway, and the show returns in 2012. I hope the new actor is fantastic in the role, and Spartacus is a big success, that would be the greatest tribute to Andy.

mysterylad wrote:

What a shame. I tuned into Spartacus the night it first aired because I figured, "Even if it's awful, it looks like it'll be a fun, bloody 300 pastiche." But like many viewers, I was blown away by the magnificent performances (I honestly think this show was Lucy Lawless' best role ever).

Above all, Andy Whitfield brought a heart and earnestness to the role that elevated the show above its sensationalist roots. What a shame we lost such a presence so soon after we first met him.

Agreed. I, too, was initially in it for the blood and action, but something happened on the way to the arena... I got hooked on the show because of him. As you so said, the heart and earnestness as well as the dignity portrayed brought so much to the character.