Line #20 Creator/AndyWhitfield


1	[[quoteright:251:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/andy_whitfield_1_7993.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:251:'''[[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand HE. IS. SPARTACUS!!!]]''']]
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4	Andy Whitfield (17 October 1971 - 11 September 2011) was a Welsh Australian actor. He was best known for his leading role in the Creator/{{Starz}} television series ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand''.
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6	Whitfield was born in Amlwch, Anglesey, Wales. He studied construction at Sheffield Hallam University, England and worked in Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia as an engineer before settling in Sydney in 1999. He appeared in several Australian television series, such as ''Series/OpeningUp'', ''Series/AllSaints'', ''Series/TheStrip'', ''Series/PackedToTheRafters'', and ''Series/McLeodsDaughters''.
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8	Whitfield gained his first prominent role in the Australian supernatural film ''Film/{{Gabriel\|2007}}''. He also starred in the 2010 television series ''Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand'', which was filmed in New Zealand. He portrays a version of the historical Spartacus, although in this retelling he is a conscripted soldier [[CondemnedContestant condemned to death who defeats all four of his executioners]] and is thereby [[MadeASlave recycled as a gladiator]]. The actual Spartacus, like this fictional version, was destined to lead a rebellion against the Romans (the Third Servile War). Whitfield also appeared in the Australian thriller ''Film/TheClinic'' starring opposite Creator/TabrettBethell (of ''Series/LegendOfTheSeeker'' fame) which was shot in Deniliquin.
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10	In March 2010, Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and began undergoing treatment immediately in New Zealand. This [[DevelopmentHell delayed production]] of season two of ''Spartacus: Vengeance''. While waiting for Whitfield's treatment and expected recovery, the network [[RealLifeWritesThePlot produced a six-part prequel]], ''Spartacus: Gods of the Arena'', with only a brief uncredited voiceover from the actor. The prequel mini-series premiered on January 21, 2011. Although declared cancer-free in June 2010, a routine medical in September 2010 revealed a relapse and Whitfield was compelled to abandon the role. Creator/{{Starz}} then had Australian actor Creator/LiamMcIntyre [[TheOtherDarrin recast as Whitfield's successor]]. His battle with the disease and [[FaceDeathWithDignity eventual acceptance of his coming death]] was documented in the film ''Be Here Now''.
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12	In August 2010, Whitfield teamed up with [[Creator/RocketJump Freddie Wong]] and created a 2-minute WebSite/YouTube video named "VideoGame/TimeCrisis", based on the game with the same name.
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14	Whitfield died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Sydney, Australia, on September 11, 2011, 18 months after his initial cancer diagnosis.
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16	!!Andy Whitfield and his works provide examples of:
17	* BaritoneOfStrength: He used his very deep, guttural voice to impressive effect as the physically powerful hero Spartacus.
18	* BillingDisplacement: Bizarrely enough, he was the protagonist of ''{{Film/Gabriel 2007}}'', but is billed after Erika Heynatz. She plays the supporting role of Lilith but was more recognisable at the time for winning ''It Takes Two''.
19	* DiedDuringProduction: He died before completing the entire ''Series/{{Spartacus}}'' series, specifically prior to filming the second season.
20	* DyeHard: Naturally brunet, early in his modelling career, he had bleach blond hair.
21	* FriendshipOnTheSet:[[invoked]] He and Creator/JaiCourtney were as close off screen as their characters in ''Spartacus'' were on it, and the latter was named godfather to both his children.
22	* IAmNotSpock: Due to his untimely passing, Spartacus is the role he's best remembered for.
23	* InMemoriam: ''Series/{{Spartacus}}'' honored him during its second season premiere and GrandFinale.
24	* OlderThanTheyLook: He was nearly 40 by the time of his death, but looked more like he was in his mid-20s.
25	* PlayingAgainstType:[[invoked]] Usually cast as a WideEyedIdealist and strong man, he played a rude businessman in ''Packed To the Rafters''.
26	* ProtagonistTitle: ''Gabriel'' and ''Series/{{Spartacus}}''.
27	* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The ''Series/{{Spartacus}} series'' higher-ups were forced to write a {{Prequel}} mini-season before producing the actual second season to give him time to recover. He did recover, but the illness resurfaced shortly which forced the recasting of the title character.
28	* RealitySubtext: Due to him portraying a formidable gladiator who opposes tyranny on-screen, and then trying to fight Cancer in RealLife shortly after, fans and his co-stars in ''Spartcaus'' dub him as badass.
29	* ShortLivedBigImpact: Despite only appearing in the inaugural season [[note]] Two if you count flashback cameos in the prequel [[/note]] of ''Series/{{Spartacus}}'', he is considered the star of the show by pretty much everyone, co-stars and audiences of the show alike, and his strong and critically-acclaimed performance in said season guaranteed the show to complete its run even after his demise. Even [[TheOtherDarrin his successor]] humbly stated that he hated the fact that he had to replace him.
30	--> (His InMemoriam in the show after its 2nd Season premiere) '''A champion on screen, a legend in our hearts.'''
31	* SoMyKidsCanWatch: A weird example, since ''Gabriel'' is not a child-friendly film, but his wife urged him to take it to give his son something he could be proud of years later.
32	* StarMakingRole: ''Series/{{Spartacus}}'' gave him international recognition.
33	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:[[invoked]]
34	** He was actually set to star as Wrestling/ChrisBenoit in a biopic, but his untimely death led to the project falling into development hell.
35	** One of the last auditions he did before his passing was for an adaptation of ''Literature/ParadiseLost''.
36	** The ''Be Here Now'' documentary includes an early audition video for a ''Tarzan'' film that doesn't appear to have been made.
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38	--> ''"[[Series/SpartacusBloodAndSand Your lives are your own. Forge your own path, or join with us. And together, WE SHALL SEE ROME TREMBLE!!]]"''

Context Creator / AndyWhitfield