Previously we had learned that Australian actor Liam McIntyre would be stepping up to replace Andy Whitfield as the star of Starz epic sword-and-sandal series Spartacus: Blood and Sand due to the latter actor's struggle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Now we are sad to report news from The New York Times that Whitfield passed away over the weekend due to complications from his cancer. It had always been the hope of Starz that Whitfield would recover and return to the series, but when the disease came back with a vengeance, Whitfield gave his blessing to be replaced on the series. Chris Albrecht, president and chief executive of Starz, said in a statement, “The man who played a champion on-screen was also a champion in his own life.” Our thoughts go out to Mr. Whitfield's friends and family in this difficult time.