Post by Taxigirl on Oct 19, 2003 11:49:59 GMT
Birth name
Russell Ira Crowe
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 (1992) gained him a name throughout the film community in Australia and the neighboring countries. The second, Sum of Us, The (1994) helped put him on the American map, so to speak. 'Sharon Stone' heard of him from Romper Stomper and wanted him for her film, Quick and the Dead, The (1995). 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 (1995), 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 (1997), 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 (1999). He has recently achieved even more success and awards for his performances in Gladiator (2000) and Beautiful Mind, A (2001).
Spouse
Danielle Spencer (7 April 2003 - present)
Trivia
Cousin of former New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe.
Lost his front tooth playing rugby when he was ten. Never got it fixed until, at the insistence of the director for "The Crossing, " who paid for it out of his own pocket.
First lead role when he was 25.
Tried a music career, playing under the name Rus Le Roc, and titled his first single "I Want to Be Like Marlon Brando".
After filming Gladiator, he and some friends took a 4,000 mile motorcycle trip around Australia.
Owns a 560-acre farm in 7.5 hours North-West from Sydney, Australia
Dropped out of high school.
Performed on stage in "Grease" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
Russell's rock group is named 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. They played their first US concert following Russell's success in "Gladiator" in Austin, Texas in August 2000. The tickets for the concert were selling for over $500 on e-bay.com.
Russell suffered a shoulder injury, which will require surgery, while filming on the set of Jodie Foster's "Flora Plum". It is uncertain if the film will have to be recast. [5 September 2000]
Has starred in two films based on articles from Vanity Fair magazine. Insider, The (1999) was based on a story by Marie Brenner named "The Man Who Knew Too Much". Proof of Life (2000) is based on the article "Adventures in the Ransom Trade" by William Prochnau.
Dated Meg Ryan. [2001]
Turned down the role of Logan/Wolverine in X-Men (2000).
Crowe and his band, 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts, performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. [16 August 2001]
Proudly displayed his grandfather's British Honours medal (MBE) while making his Oscar Winner speech in 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).
Although his surname is of Irish extraction, he lists his background as "Norwegian and Maori".
When Crowe's acceptance speach 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.
His grandfather was from Wrexham, Wales
Ranked #28 in Premiere's 2002 annual Power 100 List.
At The Orange British Academy Film Awards on Monday January 28th 2002 was nominated for the Performance by an actor in a leading role Award for his role in A Beautiful Mind.
Following his involvement in a brawl in a London restaurant, Russell stated that he was under a lot of stress and announced that he was going back to Australia to relax and spend more time with his father and his long-time girlfriend singer Danielle Spencer. [November 2002]
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.
Ranked #30 in Premiere's 2003 annual Power 100 List.
Has known spouse, Danielle Spencer (II) since 1989 when they co-starred in the 1990 film, "The Crossing". Their co-star of the film, Robert Mammone (The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions), was one of Crowe's groomsmen at their wedding.
Son-in-law of actor 'Don Spencer' (II).
Expecting first child with wife, Danielle Spencer in January 2004
