“On a beautiful sunny Sydney spring morning, surrounded by his family, in the arms of his loving wife, our beautiful young warrior Andy Whitfield lost his 18 month battle with lymphoma cancer,” Whitfield’s wife Vashti said in a statement. “He passed peacefully surrounded by love. Thank you to all his fans whose love and support have help carry him to this point. He will be remembered as the inspiring, courageous and gentle man, father and husband he was.”

Whitfield was plucked out of obscurity for the lead on the hit Starz series and had completed filming of the first season when diagnosed. Plans for a second season were put on hold while Whitfield underwent treatment. However, his condition grew worse and the network was forced to replace him.

Whitfield was 39.

Brandt has appeared as Lucy Lawless‘s sex slave Naevia on both the nudity-heavy “Spartacus” and its predecessor “Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.” Presumably tired of catching a draft on a green screen set, she has decided to not re-up her contract and head to the better-clothed safety of “CSI:NY.” Though she’ll only appear in a recurring role, she’s also pursuing broadcast pilots.

Quitter. (Deadline)

Lucy Lawless is best known for her role as Xena the Warrior Princess, the ass kicking hot chick who may or may not have been a lesbian. Although she’s done lots of television and film in her career, the image of her in her warrior skirt, beating the crap out of stunt men in ancien Greek attire, will forever be stuck in my head.

A word from Lucy: "I have less and less control and I’m more disinhibited every day."

Put on your Warrior Princess garb, walk down the streets of Hollywood, and cut the head off of any person who rubs you the wrong way. It’s really the only way to deal with that crowd.

Maintain control as you check out more pics after the jump.