Andy Whitfield

October 17, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Andrew Whitfield was born on October 17, 1971. He was a famous and widely popular actor, especially known for his role portraying Spartacus in the Starz series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.” Although he worked as a construction laborer, he has always been found in performing arts. In 2004, he made a screen debut with a role in an episode of the Australian medical drama “All Saints.” Andy Whitfield was always consistent with pursuing his passion and we are honored to celebrate this passionate and talented actor with you today.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Andrew Whitfield

Nickname:

Andy

Birth date:

October 17, 1971

Death date:

September 11, 2011 (age 39)

Zodiac Sign:

Libra

Height:

5' 10"

Net Worth:

$5 million

Background

Andrew Whitfield was a household name in the entertainment industry. His contribution to the acting scene left an impactful mark. He was born in Amlwch, Anglesey, in Wales. He moved to England and enrolled in Sheffield Hallam University, where he studied engineering. Later on, in 1999, he moved to Australia and found a job as a construction laborer. In 2007, after his debut as an actor, he made his first-ever cinematic appearance, when he featured as an eponymous angel in “Gabriel,” a supernatural action-drama movie.

Whitfield started guest-starring in various television shows until he got cast for the role of “Spartacus”, which was being filmed in New Zealand. He also made an appearance alongside Tabrett Bethel in “The Clinic,” an Australian thriller shot in Deniliquin. In 2010, Whitfield came together with Freddie Wong to record a 2-minute YouTube video in which they dubbed “Time Crisis,” a soundtrack of the homonymous game series. Then he made a short and uncredited voice-only appearance in the prequel mini-series of “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” that came out in 2011. In 2015, a documentary known as “Be Here Now,” premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival, focused on the journey and the battles fought by Whitfield and the people close to him through his chemotherapy treatment.

In 2010, Whitfield was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While in New Zealand, he started treatment immediately and put aside his career. This led to the stalling of the production and the release of the second season of “Spartacus: Vengeance.” In June 2010, he was declared cancer-free, but in September of the same year, while undergoing a routine checkup, it was revealed that there was a relapse. 18 months after his first diagnosis, Whitfield passed on, surrounded by his loved ones.

Career timeline

1999

The Move to Australia

Whitfield moves to Australia and gets a job as an engineer.

2010

The Leading Role

Whitfield features in “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” playing the lead role.

2011

The Voice-only Appearance

Whitfield makes a short and uncredited voice-only appearance on the prequel, “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.”

2015

The Documentary Gets Released

A documentary about Whitfield’s journey and battles fought with chemotherapy treatment premieres at the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Why We Love Andy Whitfield

He was brave
After being diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Whitfield started treatment immediately in New Zealand and put aside his career. He was declared cancer-free shortly after and it took a relapse to compel him out of work.
He was passionate
Whitfield had a passion for acting and the performing arts. In 2004, he made a screen debut in an episode of the Australian drama “All Saints”.
He valued family
Whitfield was a family man and took care of them selflessly. He had two children who he adored and provided for every single day. He also loved his wife and had a good relationship with her.

5 Surprising Facts

He was a father
Whitfield was the father to two adorable children.
He brought out crucial sensitivity
In the role of Spartacus, he brought out a crucial sensitivity that only he could pull off.
He was loyal
Just as he was in the role of Spartacus, Whitfield was extremely loyal to his friends and especially his family.
He did his own stunts
Some of the slow-motion fight scenes needed him to add several of his own stunts and he did this effortlessly.
He was hesitant about the role
Initially, he was hesitant about the role of Spartacus, but his wife convinced him to take it.

Andy Whitfield FAQs

Who was the first Spartacus?

Andy Whitfield. He was best known for his leading role in “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.”

Was Andy Whitfield sick while filming “Spartacus?”

He probably was, as In September 2010, during a medical routine before filming the second series of “Spartacus,” the scan showed a small inflamed lymph node in his abdominal area.