Born in New Zealand, Russell has made his home in Australia since he was a small child. The son of movie set caterers, Russell got the acting bug early in life. Beginning as a child star on a local Australian TV show, Russell's first big break came with two films ... the first, Romper Stomper, gained him a name throughout the film community in Australia and the neighboring countries. The second, The Sum of Us, helped put him on the American map, so to speak. Sharon Stone heard of him from Romper Stomper and wanted him for her film, The Quick and the Dead. But filming on The Sum of Us had already begun. Sharon is reported to have held up shooting until she had her gunslinger-Crowe, for her film. With The Quick and the Dead under his belt as his first American film, the second was offered to him soon after. Virtuosity, starring Denzel Washington, put Russell in the body of a Virtual Serial Killer, Sid6.7 ... a role unlike any he had played so far. Virtuosity, a Sci-Fi extravaganza, was a fun film and, again, opened the door to even more American offers. L.A. Confidential, Russell's third American film, brought him the US fame and attention that his fans have felt he deserved all along. Missing the Oscar nod this time around, he didn't seem deterred and signed to do his first film with The Walt Disney Company, Mystery, Alaska. He has recently achieved even more success and awards for his performances in Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind.


Robin Hood (2010): $20,000,000
Cinderella Man (2005): $15,000,000
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003): $20,000,000
A Beautiful Mind (2001): $15,000,000
Proof of Life (2000): $7,500,000
Gladiator (2000): $5,000,000

Cousin of former New Zealand international cricketers Jeff Crowe and Martin Crowe. First lead role when he was 25. After filming Gladiator (2000), he and some friends took a 4,000 mile motorcycle trip around Australia. Dropped out of high school. Suffered a shoulder injury, which will require surgery, while filming Jodie Foster's _Flora Plum (2006)_. It is uncertain if the film will have to be recast. [5 September 2000] Dated Meg Ryan. [2001] He and his band, 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts, performed on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992). [16 August 2001] Has indicated an interest in taking out Australian citizenship due to the amount of time and energy he spends Down Under (keeping his New Zealand citizenship as well). When Crowe's acceptance speech for his Best Actor award during the British Film Awards was edited, Crowe shoved the producer of the show, Malcolm Gerrie, against a wall and cursed at him, telling him: "Who on Earth had the ... audacity to take out the best actor's poem? I'll make sure you never work in Hollywood". He later issued a full apology. Ranked #28 in Premiere's 2002 annual Power 100 List. Discovered by British actor and musical director/writer Daniel Abineri, who gave Crowe his first professional acting role in a New Zealand tour of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.' Abineri later awarded Crowe the title role in his first stage musical, 'Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom,' which premiered in Melbourne in 1989. Met spouse, Danielle Spencer in 1989 when they co-starred in the 1990 film, The Crossing (1990). Their co-star of the film, Robert Mammone (The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003)), was one of Crowe's groomsmen at their wedding. Took violin lessons in preparing for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) because his character, Jack Aubrey, played the violin several times during the movie. First child with Danielle Spencer, a boy named Charles Spencer Crowe, born in Sydney (21 December 2003). Jodie Foster considers him a very good friend. 29 January 2004 - Dislocated his shoulder while training for his upcoming boxing movie, Cinderella Man (2005). The injury delayed filming for two months. Was accepted into the prestigious drama school, The National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), in Sydney. Good friends with Nicole Kidman. She also mentioned him in her oscar acceptance speech when she won 'Best Actress in a Leading Role' for The Hours (2002). Shares a birthday with Jackie Chan. Is an avid supporter of the AFL team Richmond Tigers. When his wife was pregnant with his first child Charles, he gave up drinking alcohol with her. His next album (tentatively titled "My Hand, My Heart") is produced by Alan Doyle, lead singer for the Canadian band, Great Big Sea. Formed a new band, named "The Ordinary Fear of God" A Beautiful Mind (2001) is ranked #93 on the American Film Institute's 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time (2006). His wife Danielle gave birth to his second boy, Tennyson Spencer Crowe, on 7 July 2006 at 7:27am (AEST). The baby weighs 3.6 kg and was born at the Sydney Royal North Shore Hospital. Turned down the role of "Aragorn" in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy since filming on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) would coincide with Ron Howard's A Beautiful Mind (2001). However, Crowe really loved the idea of filming a movie in his home country, New Zealand, for an extended amount of time. Lives in a penthouse on Woollomoollo Wharf in Sydney, the Penthouse was reportedly sold to Crowe and wife Danielle Spencer for over $13.75 million. Lobbied Californian Govener Arnold Schwarzenegger against executing Stanley "Tookie" Williams. (December 2005). Nearly finalized a deal to reunite with director Michael Mann on Collateral (2004), but scheduling conflicts with "Eucalyptus", a doomed film project, prevented him from taking the role, which later went to Tom Cruise. Was director Oliver Stone's dream choice for the title role in Alexander (2004). His earnings in 2001 were estimated at $15.4 million by "Business Review Weekly". Was slated to star alongside Nicole Kidman in the movie adaptation of Murray Bail's novel "Eucalyptus", but this project was dropped. Big fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL. Is a fan of English Football side Leeds United AFC. Crowe's maternal grandfather, Stan Wemyss, was a cinematographer who, according to Crowe, produced the first film by New Zealander Geoff Murphy and was also named an MBE for filming footage of World War II. Crowe's maternal great-great-great grandmother was M�ori and as a result Crowe is registered on the Ma�ori electoral roll in New Zealand; Crowe also has Norwegian, Irish and British ancestry. He was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal in the 2001 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Australian society and Australian film production.