According to The New York Times, the actor succumbed to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer with which he was diagnosed in March 2010.

Whitfield was born in Wales, but made his home in Australia, where he first came to attention after stints in a number TV shows, including All Saints and Packed to the Rafters.

The sometime model had his biggest breakthrough, though, when he was cast in the Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, in which he played the title role of a soldier who leads a rebellion against the Roman Empire.

The series was an instant hit thanks to his turn in the classic role that had previously been filled by such screen icons as Kirk Douglas.

After his di ... Read more »