CROWE, Russell 1964–

PERSONAL

Full name, Russell Ira Crowe; born April 7, 1964, in Wellington, North Island, New Zealand; son of Alex (a movie set caterer and hotel manager) and Jocelyn (a movie set caterer) Crowe; grandson of Stan Wemyss (a cinematographer); married Danielle Spencer (a singer and actress), April 7, 2003; children: Charles Spencer.

Addresses: Agent —William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Publicist —PMK/HBH 8500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Manager —Bedford and Pearce Management, P.O. Box 171, Cammeray NSW 2062, Australia.

Career: Actor, director, and producer. Worked as musician, initially as Rus Le Roc, then with band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, beginning 1984; previously worked as a waiter, bartender, and bingo caller.

Awards, Honors: Australian Film Institute Award nomination, best actor, 1990, for The Crossing; Australian Film Institute Award, best supporting actor, 1991, for Proof; Australian Film Institute Award, best actor in a leading role, Film Critics Circle of Australia, best actor—male, Golden Space Needle award, best actor, Seattle International Film Festival, 1992, all for Romper Stomper; Golden Satellite Award nomination, best actor in a motion picture drama, and Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (with others), outstanding performance by a cast, 1998, both for L.A. Confidential; National Board of Review Award, best actor, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, best actor, 1999, Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role, Santa Fe Film Critics Circle Award, best actor, Online Film Critics Society Award nomination, best actor, National Society of Film Critics Award, best actor, Sierra Award nomination, best actor, Las Vegas Film Critics Society, Golden Satellite Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture—drama, Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture—drama, Chicago Film Critics Association Award nomination, best actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, best actor, Film Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a leading role, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and Academy Award nomination, best actor in a leading role, 2000, all for The Insider; Actor of the Year, Hollywood Film Festival, 2000; Golden Apple Award, male star of the year, 2000; Sierra Award nomination, best actor, 2000, San Diego Film Critics Society Award, best actor, Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (with others), outstanding performance by the cast of a theatrical motion picture, Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role, Online Film Critics Society Award nomination, best actor, MTV Movie Award nominations, best fight and best actor, Golden Satellite Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture—drama, Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture—drama, Empire Award, best actor, Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award, best actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, best actor, Blockbuster Entertainment Award, favorite actor—action, Film Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a leading role, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Saturn Award nomination, best actor, Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, and Academy Award, best actor in a leading role, 2001, all for Gladiator; ALFS Award, actor of the year, London Critics Circle, 2001, for The Insider and Gladiator; Blockbuster Entertainment Award nomination, favorite actor—suspense, 2001, for Proof of Life; ShoWest Award, male star of the year, National Association of Theatre Owners, 2001; Global Achievement Award, Australian Film Institute, 2001; Screen Actors Guild Award, outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role, Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (with others), outstanding performance by the cast of a theatrical motion picture, Online Film Critics Society Award nomination, best actor, MTV Movie Award nomination, best male performance, Golden Satellite Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture drama, Golden Globe Award, best performance by an actor in a motion picture—drama, Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award, best actor, Chicago Film Critics Association Award nomination, best actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, best actor, Film Award, best performance by an actor in a leading role, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Academy Award nomination, best actor in a leading role, American Film Institute Film Award nomination, AFI Actor of the Year—Male—Movies, 2002, all for A Beautiful Mind; Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a motion picture—drama, and Broadcast Film Critics Association Award nomination, best actor, 2004, both for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Lieutenant Jack Corbett, Prisoners of the Sun (also known as Blood Oath ), Paramount Home Video, 1991.

Andy, Proof, Fine Line, 1992.

Kim, The Efficiency Expert (also known as Spotswood ), Miramax, 1992.

Johnny, The Crossing, South Gate Entertainment, 1992.

The man, The Silver Stallion (also known as The Silver Brumby and as The Silver Stallion: King of the Wild Brumbies ), Skouras Pictures, 1993.

Hando, Romper Stomper, Academy, 1993.

Lachlan, For the Moment (also known as Un temps pour aimer ), 1993.

East Driscoll, Hammers over the Anvil, 1993.

Arthur Baskin, Love in Limbo (also known as Just One Night ), 1993.

Jeff Mitchell, The Sum of Us, Samuel Goldwyn, 1994.

Sid 6.7, Virtuosity, Paramount, 1995.

Alec Ross, Rough Magic (also known as Miss Shumway jette un sort ), Savoy, 1995.

Cort, The Quick and the Dead, TriStar, 1995.

Bud White, L.A. Confidential, Warner Bros., 1997.

Steve, Breaking Up (also known as Turning Love ), Warner Bros., 1997.

Colin O'Brien, Heaven's Burning, Trimark Home Video, 1997.

John Biebe, Mystery, Alaska, Buena Vista, 1999.

Jeffrey Wigand, The Insider, Buena Vista, 1999.

Maximus, Gladiator, DreamWorks, 2000.

Terry Thorne, Proof of Life, Warner Bros., 2000.

John Nash, A Beautiful Mind, Universal, 2001.

(In archive footage) Maximus Decimus Meridius (in Gladiator ), Ultimate Fights from the Movies, Flixmix, 2002.

Himself, Texas (documentary), Buena Vista Home Video, 2002.

Himself, 60 Odd Hours in Italy (documentary short film), Buena Vista Home Video, 2002.

Captain Jack Aubrey, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Twentieth Century–Fox, 2003.

Film Work:

Producer and director, Texas (documentary), Buena Vista Home Video, 2002.

Director, 60 Odd Hours in Italy (documentary short film), Buena Vista Home Video, 2002.

Television Appearances; Series:

The Young Doctors, 1978.

Kenny Larkin, Neighbours, Ten Network, 1987.

Gary Harding, Living with the Law, Australian Broadcast Network, 1988.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Dominic Maloney, Brides of Christ, Arts and Entertainment, Channel 4, and Australian Broadcast Network, 1991.

Television Appearances; Movies:

FBI Agent Zack Grant, No Way Back, HBO, 1996.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Himself, 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, 2000.

Himself, Gladiator Games: The Roman Bloodsport (documentary), The Learning Channel, 2000.

(In archive footage) Himself, Happy Birthday 2 You, TV2, 2000.

Honoree, GQ's 2000 Men of the Year Awards, Fox, 2000.

Presenter, The 72nd Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 2000.

Himself, The 73rd Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2001.

Himself, The "Billy Elliot " Boy (documentary; also known as Omnibus: The Billy Elliot Boy ), BBC, 2001.

Presenter, The 7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, TNT, 2001.

Presenter, Brit Awards 2002, ITV, 2002.

Himself, The Orange British Academy Film Awards, 2002.

Himself, Inside: A Beautiful Mind (documentary), 2002.

Himself, The 8th Annual Screen Actors Guild, TNT, 2002.

Himself, The 74th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 2002.

(Uncredited; in archive footage) Himself, Shirtless: Hollywood's Sexiest Men (documentary), AMC, 2002.

Presenter, The 7th Annual Critics' Choice Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Himself, E! 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment History (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2003.

Himself, Nicole Kidman: An American Cinematheque Tribute (documentary), AMC, 2003.

(Archive footage of movie scenes) Celebrity Naked Ambition (documentary), Channel 5, 2003.

Himself, In Style Celebrity Weddings, ABC, 2004.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Orphan, "The Saviour: Part 2," Spyforce, Nine Network, 1972.

Danny O'Brian, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Greeks," Acropolis Now, Seven Network, 1991.

Shirty, the slightly aggressive bear, The Late Show, Australian Broadcast Network, 1992.

Constable Tom "Bomber" Young, "The Right Stuff," Police Rescue, Australian Broadcast Network, 1992.

Himself, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1997.

Late Show with David Letterman, 1999, 2003.

Himself, Rove Live, Ten Network, 2001, 2003.

Himseelf, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2001, 2003.

Himself, The Ray Martin Show, 2001.

Himself, Parkinson, BBC, 2002.

(In archive footage) Himself, "A Man for All Stages: Life and Times of Christopher Plummer," Life and Times, CBC, 2002.

Himself, "Oscar Nominations," Seitenblicke, 2002.

Himself, "Oscar Special," Leute heute, 2002.

Himself, "25 Toughest Stars," Rank, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

(In archive footage) Himself, Celebrities Uncensored, E! Entertainment Television, 2003.

Himself, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, Australian Broadcast Network, 2003.

Himself, Tinseltown.TV, 2003.

Himself, Entertainment Tonight, syndicated, 2003.

The Oprah Winfrey Show, syndicated, 2003.

Himself, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 2003.

Himself, God kveld Norge, 2003.

Himself, "Kurkistus Kylien hameen alle," 4Pop, 2003.

Himself, "Suuri Hollywood elokuvaspesiaali," 4Pop, 2003.

Himself, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, BBC, 2003.

Himself, "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons," The Greatest, 2003.

Cold Pizza, ESPN2, 2003.

Live with Regis and Kelly, 2003.

Himself, Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo, 2004.

Stage Appearances:

Grease, Australian production, 1983.

Blood Brothers, 1989.

Major Tours:

Dr. Frank N. Furter, The Rocky Horror Show, Australian and New Zealand cities, 1986–1988.

RECORDINGS

Albums; with 30 Odd Foot of Grunts:

The Photograph Kills, 1996.

What's Her Name, 1997.

Bastard Life or Clarity, Artemis Records, 2001.

Also recorded Gaslight and The Calling Card Reference Demo Bootleg Not for Retail Consumption Album.

Singles:

(As Rus Le Roq) "I Want to Be Like Marlon Brando," 1980.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, March 4, 1994, p. 14; June 30, 1995, p. 41; August 18, 2000, p. 34; February 23, 2001, p. 26; February 22, 2002, p. 24.

Interview, September, 1997, p. 92.

People Weekly, October 6, 1997, p. 154; October 9, 2000, p. 108; March 5, 2001, p. 14; March 26, 2001, p. 86; April 21, 2003, p. 60; December 1, 2003, p. 87.

Time, November 10, 2003, pp. 78, 82.

USA Weekend, November 10, 1995.

CROWE, Russell

Nationality: New Zealander. Born: Russell Ira Crowe, Strathmore Park, New Zealand, 7 April 1964. Career: Began appearing in television programs at age six, in the Australian TV series Spyforce; appeared on TV series The Young Doctors, 1976, and Police Rescue, 1992; stage actor, beginning in the mid-1980s; appeared in a touring production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.Awards: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role, for Proof, 1991; Australian Film Institute Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, 1991, and Australian Film Critics Circle Best Actor Award, 1992, for Romper Stomper; National Board of Review Award for Best Actor and National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor, 1999, and Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor and Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor, 2000, for The Insider.Agent: c/o George Freeman, William Morris Agency Inc., 151 S. El Camino Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, U.S.A.

Films as Actor:

1990

Blood Oath (Prisoners of the Sun) (Wallace) (as Lieutenant Jack Corbett); The Crossing (Ogilvie) (as Johnny)

1991

Brides of Christ (Cameron) (as Dominic Maloney); Spotswood (The Efficiency Expert) (Joffe) (as Kim Barrett); Hammers over the Anvil (Turner) (as East Driscoll); Proof (Moorhouse) (as Andy)

1992

For the Moment (Johnston) (as Lachlan); Romper Stomper (Wright) (as Hando)

1993

Silver Brumby (The Silver Stallion: King of the Wild Brumbies) (Tatoulis) (as The Man); Love in Limbo (Elfick) (as Arthur Baskin)

1994

The Sum of Us (Dowling) (as Jeff Mitchell)

1995

The Quick and the Dead (Raimi) (as Cort); Virtuosity (Leonoard) (as Sid 6.7); Rough Magic (Peploe) (as Alex Ross)

1996

No Way Back (Cappello) (as Zack Grant)

1997

Breaking Up (Greenwald) (as Steve); Heaven's Burning (Lahiff) (as Colin O'Brien); L.A. Confidential (Hanson) (as Bud White)

1999

Mystery, Alaska (Roach) (as John Biebe); The Insider (Mann) (as Jeffrey Wigand)

2000

Gladiator (Scott) (as Maximus Decimus Meridius); Proof of Life (Hackford)

2001

Flora Plum (Jodie Foster)

Publications

By CROWE: articles—

"Coming on Strong," interview with David Wild, in Us Weekly (New York), no. 275, 22 May 2000.

On CROWE: articles—

Epstein, Jan, "Demon Dogs: L.A. Confidential," in Cinema Papers (Fitzroy, Victoria), no. 121, November 1997.

Chagollan, Steve, "Wonders from Down Under," in Variety (New York), 3–9 January 2000.

Corliss, Richard, "Gladiator: The Empire Strikes Back," in Time (New York), 8 May 2000.

Luscombe, Belinda, "Of Mad Max and Madder Maximus," in Time (New York), 8 May 2000.

Smith, Kyle, "Crowe Feat," in People Weekly (New York), vol. 53, no. 20, 22 May 2000.

Russell Crowe has been smoking cigarettes since he was ten years old, and did not feel compelled to alter this habit before, during, or after playing the role of an anti-tobacco activist in The Insider. As an actor though, he did alter much else about himself to become Jeffrey Wigand, the middle-aged former head of research and development at a tobacco company who decided to release secret studies exposing the duplicity of his employer. He successfully transformed himself from an athletic, healthy 35-year-old into a paunchy, gray middle-aged man.

This outward transformation, for which he gained 35 pounds, was not the only way Crowe inhabited the role, and he ultimately won widespread acclimation and an Oscar nomination for this performance. The actor already had developed a phenomenal ability to portray with great subtlety the interior conflicts of a variety of men, which first became apparent to American audiences when two Australian films in which he starred, The Sum of Us and Romper Stomper, were released here.

In the former film, Crowe played an affable young gay man whose father lives with him, and who is feeling a little crowded by the father's enthusiastic acceptance of his love life. This tension is not expressed so much in confrontations as in the edgy ways Crowe moves his body and uses his eyes as his father interacts with his current boyfriend. In Romper Stomper he plays a young man on the other end of the spectrum, a seething skinhead who charismatically leads his friends to follow him into racist attacks on Asians and others whom he feels are crowding his already constricted environment.

Crowe was born in New Zealand, and his parents moved the family to Australia when he was four. His mother became a caterer on movie sets, and took her young son along on her assignments, which led to his early feeling of comfort around the apparatus of filmmaking; he started acting in a television series when he was six years old. The star of that series was Jack Thompson, who would later play the father in The Sum of Us. Crowe continued to act, and as a young adult his work began to attract more and more critical attention. At 19 he broke into musical theater, where he received one of his favorite roles, that of Dr. Frankenfurter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in which he delivered 415 performances. He was nominated for an Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award as Best Supporting Actor in 1990 for The Crossing, and won that award the following year for his performance in Proof. Then came Romper Stomper in 1992, for which he won both the AFI and Australian Film Critics Award for Best Actor, but also endured along with the film a barrage of criticism for seeming to make racist aggression attractive.

The intensity of his Romper Stomper performance attracted the attention of Sharon Stone, who was at the time putting together a package called The Quick and the Dead, in which she would star as a female gunfighter. Stone was so impressed with Crowe that she held up production of her film to allow him to finish his work on The Sum of Us. Unfortunately for Crowe, both The Quick and the Dead and his next film, Rough Magic, won almost no attention at the box office.

Then came L. A. Confidential. In retrospect it seems almost miraculous that such a movie could come out of the Hollywood production system. Based on a James Ellroy novel, typically for that author dark and convoluted, the story seemed to many untransformable into film. It also cast the movie capital in an unsavory light, exposed many of the illusions that keep the industry going, and argued that the environment in which Hollywood functioned was also riddled with corruption.

Furthermore, the director, Curtis Hanson, had only helmed a couple of relatively low-budget projects (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle and The River Wild), and he had put together a cast of largely unknown actors. But through the strength of its unrelenting vision and the over-all excellence of its ensemble performance, L. A. Confidential garnered widespread critical acclaim, multiple awards and nominations, and was included on more than 100 critics' Top Ten lists.

Among the ensemble cast, Crowe was frequently singled out for his portrayal of the conflicted police detective, Bud White, whose visceral reaction to violence against women frequently erupted into violence against the perpetrators. Crowe says of Bud White that "he makes a very healthy statement through his anger and his fighting and his resolve at the end. There's a purity about him." The opportunity to make statements about social issues is part of what has attracted Crowe to such varied projects as Romper Stomper, The Sum of Us, L. A. Confidential, and The Insider. While Crowe is widely viewed as a rising star, he does not fully embrace the movie establishment. He lives on a station (ranch) in northern Australia with his parents and brother, and spends part of his energy in a rock band named Thirty Odd Food of Grunts, which mostly tours Australia and New Zealand. While he is attractively diffident about his own work—"I've made 18 movies and I think I've given 18 bad performances," he told Kim Basinger in an interview published in Interview—other film professionals are much more enthusiastic.

"He reminds me of myself as a young actor," says Sir Anthony Hopkins, who acted with him in The Efficiency Expert. George Ogilvie, who directed Crowe in The Crossing, compares him with James Dean. Most tellingly many people, including The Insider director Michael Mann, see hints of the young Marlon Brando in Crowe's work. Perhaps Crowe agrees. "Generally I'm not somebody who covets roles, even if someone else gets a part that I'd like to play," he told Basinger. "However, I would have liked to do the first run of A Streetcar Named Desire."

—Stephen Brophy