Russell Crowe Biography: Russell Ira Crowe born April 7, 1964 is a New Zealand-born actor, director, and musician. Raised in Wellington and Australia, Crowe became a prominent figure in the film industry, earning an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a British Academy Film Award for his work. Crowe began his acting career in Australia, achieving fame with his breakout role in Romper Stomper (1992). He gained international acclaim for his performances in L.A. Confidential (1997) and The Insider (1999). His portrayal of Maximus in Gladiator (2000) earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor, followed by critical success in A Beautiful Mind (2001) as mathematician John Nash.
Russell Crowe Biography 2025
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealand-born actor, director and musician. He was born in Wellington, spending 10 years of his childhood in Australia and residing there permanently by age 21.
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Born: 7 April 1964 (age 60 years), Wellington, New Zealand
Spouse: Danielle Spencer (m. 2003–2018)
Upcoming movie: Kraven the Hunter
Children: Tennyson Spencer Crowe, Charles Spencer Crowe
Born in Strathmore Park, Wellington, New Zealand, Crowe is the son of film set caterers Jocelyn and John Crowe. He has a diverse ancestry that includes Māori, Welsh, Scottish, English, German, Irish, Italian, Norwegian, and Swedish heritage. Crowe’s maternal grandfather, Stan Wemyss, was a cinematographer honored for his World War II footage.
At the age of four, Crowe’s family moved to Sydney, Australia, where his parents continued in film catering. Crowe made his acting debut at a young age, appearing in a TV series and later in The Young Doctors. He was educated at Vaucluse Public School and Sydney Boys High School before the family returned to New Zealand. He completed his education at Auckland Grammar School and Mount Roskill Grammar School before leaving at 16 to pursue acting.
Crowe’s professional acting career began in 1986 with a New Zealand production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which he performed for two years. He starred in several notable Australian productions, including Blood Brothers and Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom. In 1990, he appeared in his first film, The Crossing, followed by roles in Blood Oath, Proof, Spotswood, and Romper Stomper, for which he won Australian Film Institute awards.
Transitioning to Hollywood, Crowe starred alongside Denzel Washington in Virtuosity and appeared with Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman in The Quick and the Dead. He received Academy Award nominations for his roles in The Insider, Gladiator, and A Beautiful Mind. With over 40 films to his credit, his notable works include Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), American Gangster (2007), Robin Hood (2010), Les Misérables (2012), and The Mummy (2017). He returned to television in 2019, portraying Roger Ailes in the Showtime miniseries The Loudest Voice.
Crowe’s earnings for major films are impressive. He received $5 million for Gladiator, $7.5 million for Proof of Life, and $15 million for A Beautiful Mind. In 2003, he earned $20 million for Master and Commander, equivalent to $28 million today. He also made $15 million for Cinderella Man and another $20 million for Robin Hood. Throughout his peak years, he earned over $150 million in base salaries alone.
Music Career
Crowe began performing music in the early 1980s under the name “Russ Le Roq.” He managed a music venue and released singles in New Zealand before forming the band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts in 1992. The band released several albums and a live DVD before disbanding in 2005. Crowe later collaborated with Canadian musician Alan Doyle to form Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God, which toured the U.S. He also co-founded a new band, Indoor Garden Party, in 2017.
Crowe married Australian singer Danielle Spencer, his co-star in The Crossing, on his 39th birthday in 2003. They have two sons, Charles and Tennyson, and separated in 2012. Their divorce was finalized in 2018, after which Crowe held an auction called “The Art of Divorce,” earning $3.7 million from memorabilia. In 2005, Crowe faced legal issues when he was arrested for throwing a phone at a hotel concierge, leading to charges but no jail time.
Philanthropy
Crowe is known for his charitable efforts, donating money to a Jewish elementary school after a firebombing and contributing to an Australian primary school for a swimming pool. He also raised $400,000 for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service during the 2019 bushfires.
Over his career, Crowe has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, four Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2009, Australia Post honored him with commemorative stamps, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
Crowe has made significant real estate investments, including a waterfront home in Sydney purchased for $9.2 million in 2001, which he sold for $11.5 million in 2013. He and Spencer bought a penthouse for $14.35 million in 2003 and a mansion in Rose Bay for $10 million in 2011, which Crowe transferred to Spencer after their divorce. He also owns property in New South Wales, which was affected by bushfires in 2019.
