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Remembering Andy Whitfield: "He Gave Us His Blessing to Continue On With the Show," Says Costar

Katrina Law recalls late actor's selfless insistence that Spartacus march on without him

By Marc Malkin Sep 12, 2011 11:15 PMTags
Andy Whitfield, Spartacus, Katrina LawStarz Entertainment; Michael Bezjian/Wireimage

Andy Whitfield won't only be remembered for his starring role in Spartacus: Blood and Sand, but also for his grace and selfless spirit.

Even as he faced a terminal illness...

READ: Andy Whitfield Dies at Age 39

In an interview that took about a month before Whitfield passed away yesterday of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, his Spartacus costar Katrina Law recalled how the Australian actor insisted that no matter what happened, the show must go on.

"It was really hard thinking of trying to move on without him," Law told me. "But he made it a lot easier when he gave us his blessing to continue on with the show...Andy, knowing that we all have rent to pay and we all have lives and need to move on, said, 'Please don't stop your lives. Don't stop the show.'"

It was announced in January that Australian actor Liam McIntyre was chosen to take over Whitfield's role.

"Andy met up with Liam and gave him his blessing as well," Law said.

"You're giving this man an impossible situation, but Liam came on set and has been so gracious and humble and really has come in with this open spirit and his generosity is just amazing," she continued. "The joy that he brings to the role and to the set is inspiring."

Sounds like that's exactly what Whitfield had hoped for.