<P> In August 2010, Whitfield teamed up with Freddie Wong and created a 2 - minute YouTube video named "Time Crisis", based on the game Time Crisis . Whitfield made a brief, uncredited voice - only appearance in the prequel mini-series Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, which premiered on 21 January 2011 . </P> <P> Whitfield met Vashti in London . The couple moved to Sydney and married in 2001 . They had two children together . </P> <P> In March 2010, Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and began undergoing treatment immediately in New Zealand . This delayed production of season two of Spartacus: Vengeance . While waiting for Whitfield's treatment and expected recovery, the network produced a six - part prequel, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, with only a brief uncredited voiceover from the actor . 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 . Starz recast Australian actor Liam McIntyre as Whitfield's successor . </P> <P> Whitfield died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Sydney, Australia, on 11 September 2011, 18 months after his initial cancer diagnosis . </P>

Why did they change spartacus actor in season 2
find me the text answering this question