Liam McIntyre

It is a common Hollywood practice for new actors to take over a hit franchise to revive a brand, yet in Liam McIntyre's case, his breakthrough role came on the heels of a tragic loss.

The Australian actor was still in the early stages of his acting career when he received a call to audition for the physically demanding lead role on "Spartacus" (Starz, 2010-13). Just two years before McIntyre made his debut on the critically acclaimed show, Andy Whitfield had played the iconic gladiator who leads a revolt against the Roman republic on the first season, titled "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." Whitfield's untimely death from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in September 2011 saddened the entertainment industry and the show's fans, but the series' production ultimately moved forward to pay respect to the foundation he had laid.

McIntyre was announced as Whitfield's replacement soon after and committed to the role, not only physically, but also on a mental and emotional level, mindful of continuing Whitfield's legacy while also making his own mark in the entertainment industry.

Born on Feb. 8, 1982 in Adelaide, Australia, Liam McIntyre began making inroads by acting in short films such as "Shotgun! (An Opening Sequence)" (2007) and "Fancy" (2007). His feature film debut was in the war-themed horror "Niflheim: Blood and Bullets" (2009).

McIntyre continued to make his name in his native country with guest appearances on two of Australia's most popular television shows, the police drama "Rush" (Network Ten, 2008-11) and the long-running soap opera "Neighbours" (7 Network, 1985- ), which had previously propelled the careers of fellow Aussies Kylie Minogue, Guy Pearce and Natalie Imbruglia into international superstardom.

In 2010, McIntyre landed his first prominent role stateside when he was cast in "The Pacific." The epic HBO miniseries centered on the U.S. involvement in the Pacific theatre during World War II and was brought to life with the help of co-producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the team behind the Emmy Award-winning "Band of Brothers" (HBO, 2001).

McIntyre appeared in the "Iwo Jima" episode of the 10-part saga that also picked up several Emmys, including Outstanding Miniseries.

McIntyre had just finished another film project in Australia when he auditioned for the titular role on "Spartacus." The Starz series premiered in 2010 with Welsh actor Andy Whitfield playing the famed gladiator who leads a slave rebellion. Following a successful first season, Whitfield announced he was taking a break from the show to undergo treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. After much hope for his recovery, Whitfield lost his battle with cancer and passed away in September 2011.

His untimely death opened the door for another talented up-and-comer to assume the role of Spartacus. Whitfield was one of three actors who were asked to audition in New Zealand, although his incredibly skinny frame - a holdover from a previous role - made him an unlikely candidate to replace the muscular Whitfield, who had, poignantly, given his replacement his blessing before he passed away. Once cast, Whitfield bulked up with the help of a rigorous "gladiator boot camp" before filming began.

Committed to his new role physically, McIntyre also wanted to portray the iconic warrior his own way while remaining respectful and cognizant of Whitfield's work. In January 2012, "Spartacus: Vengeance" premiered with McIntyre in the lead role opposite returning cast members Lucy Lawless and John Hannah.

By Candy Cuenco