Starz recast Australian actor Liam McIntyre as Whitfield's successor. Although declared cancer-free in June 2010, a routine medical check in September 2010 revealed a relapse and Whitfield was compelled to abandon the role. While waiting for Whitfield's treatment and expected recovery, Starz produced a six-part prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, with only a brief uncredited voiceover from the actor. This delayed production of season two of Spartacus: Vengeance. In March 2010, Whitfield was diagnosed with stage IV non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and began undergoing treatment immediately in New Zealand. The couple moved to Sydney, Australia and were married in 2001. Whitfield met his future wife, Vashti, in London after being introduced to each other by a mutual friend. It was later released on Netflix as Be Here Now: The Andy Whitfield Story Personal life It follows the journey and struggle of Whitfield and his family as he undergoes chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Ī documentary titled Be Here Now premiered at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival. Whitfield made a brief, uncredited voice-only appearance in the prequel mini-series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, which premiered on 21 January 2011.
In August 2010, Whitfield teamed up with Freddie Wong and created a 2-minute YouTube video named "Time Crisis", based on the video game series of the same name.
Whitfield also appeared in the Australian thriller The Clinic starring opposite Tabrett Bethell (of Legend of the Seeker fame) which was shot in Deniliquin. He also starred in the 2010 television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, which was filmed in New Zealand. Whitfield gained his first prominent role in the Australian supernatural film Gabriel. He appeared in several Australian television series, such as Opening Up, All Saints, The Strip, Packed to the Rafters, and McLeod's Daughters. He moved to Australia in 1999 to work as an engineer in Lidcombe, before later settling in Sydney. He studied engineering at Sheffield Hallam University in England. Whitfield was born in Amlwch, Anglesey, Wales.