Russell Ira Crowe was born in Wellington, New Zealand on April 7th, 1964. When he was about 4 years old his family moved to Australia. When he was about 15 they moved back to New Zealand however and Russell finished going to school there. He said he once got beaten up in school by a bully because he had just moved back to NZ and didn't know their national anthem. His teachers have said that he was always a cheeky boy and loved to perform, but was generally a good student. About the same time during his youth that he was on his first tv show Russell got a guitar and his love for both music and acting blossomed. Both of Russell's parents catered movie sets for a living and his Grandfather was a WWII cinematographer. Russell has said that "I'm the only one stupid enough to go in front of the camera!"
Some of Russell's first gigs were on an Australian soap opera called "Neighbors" and a few small parts on a show called "Police Rescue." When he was young he toured with The Rocky Horror Picture Show as well as playing in a band called Roman Antix (with Dean). In his early musical career he got the nickname Russ le Roq and released an LP under that name as well titled I Want to be Like Marlon Brando. In his own words..."It went rocketing to the bottom of the charts" and he told his mother if he ever released something decent he'd use his real name. Soon Russell started acting in bigger projects and in 1992 formed the band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts (but they wouldn't get that name until 1995 from the script of Virtuosity) with his mate, Dean Cochran. (As well as soon after: drummer Dave Kelly, and bassist Garth Adam.)
Russell would have a bit part in a tv mini series The Brides of Christ and then soon be acting in The Crossing with Danielle Spencer and not long after such movies as Love In Limbo,and Hammers Over The Anvil. But he wouldn't get serious recognition until a few years later with a critically acclaimed movie, Romper Stomper. Romper Stomper helped Russell get noticed and was an amazing 'breakthrough' performance. (For those that has failed to notice his previous, although still very much praise worthy, performances in the earlier movies.) Soon Sharon Stone would come looking for Russell and help get him cast in The Quick and The Dead, his first American movie. He was a few years away from being reconized by most American viewers though, but that would all change with his role in L.A. Confidential.
L.A. Confidential would put Russell up against some of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito and Kim Bassinger as well as fellow Aussie newcomer, Guy Pearce. Although much to the dissaproval of his fans, Russ wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for this film, but he got 'noticed' and was now a wanted man. The next year would change the Academy's tune however.
In 1999 Russell would stun audiences with his role as Jeffrey Wigand in the true story,The Insider. His amazing transformation from his 35-year-old self to the heavier, twenty years his senior Wigand would capture the attention of the Academy this year and Russell was nominated for Best Actor. To most of his fans, Russell's role in The Insider is no doubt one of his best roles to date and his performance and uncanny ability to so brilliantly capture the true essence of Wigand will remain a favorite.
Although now highly recognized and saught after amongst directors and his fellow peers in Hollywood, Russell still hadn't completely captured the rest of the World's attention. Despite his beautiful performance in The Insider, he didn't win the Oscar and the film didn't do very well at the theatre. He'd done quite a few other movies in between The Quick and The Dead and The Insider though, such as: the hilarious Mystery, Alaska with Burt Reynolds, Breaking Up with Salma Hayek, and Virtuosity with Denzel Washington. None of which did very well at the theatre, but all good movies in their own right. Aside from those better known movies he also starred in a few smaller films like, No Way Back and The Sum of Us (with Jack Thomspon.) A smaller budget film, but The Sum of Us has earned immense praise from his fans as a truly touching picture. Some where in there a small little Canadian film called For The Moment was also realeased, but Russell had actually filmed it a few years earlier. But no matter how long his career in film had been, many were still asking just who is this guy? The year 2000 would change that though and shoot Russell straight into super stardom.
Gladiator was a hit at the box office and soon became a huge summer blockbuster. Alongside director, Ridley Scott, Russell and Gladiator were taking the country by storm and the calm afterwards is still out of sight. The force of the storm that was Gladiator would earn Russell his second Oscar nomination as well as a whole slew of other nominations for the movie. This time Russell would win the Oscar though and I'm sure screams from his fans were heard around the world. It was about bloody time. Aside from the Oscar, Russell was showered with much praise for his role as the hereoic, general turned gladiator, Maximus, and recieved award after award. The film also won Best Picture at the Academy Awards among other awards it won that night.
Meanwhile, as his fanbase as an actor broadened immensely, Russell's band TOFOG was just finally getting recognized. With the addition of trumpet player, Stewart Kirwan and that gorgeous tambourine man, Dave Wilkins (Ok, you've got me...I'm a Dave W fan! LOL) the band has flourished and hit the spot with all the right fans. With an ever-growing almost cult-like following of fans that have followed them from city to city on their current US Tour, the Grunts have become well loved. With a few singles and two full cds (the current one, BLOC can be ordered through Gruntland.), their musical repetoir is growing and changing. Aside from performing their own music written by Russell and Dean they have been known to sing Johnny Cash and Great Big Sea songs. They just signed a deal with an independant record label, Artemis Records and appeared for the very first time on American TV. Big things are happening for this little bar band, and they will forever have a group of fans that cherish their honesty, integrity and fun loving style. Known for being friendly, chatty and for their hilarious sense of humor, the Grunts have earned their own fans aside from those who love Russell's 'day job.'
Russell's next movie is A Beautiful Mind and is set to come out around Christmas of 2001. Known for his generosity towards fans and williness to talk TOFOG with anyone that mentions the band, Russell was friendly and warm on the open set of ABM. He came out to sign autographs for a few hours everyday and meet fans despite being tired and worn out from a long year, with very few days spent at home.
Where is home? Russell has a large farm not far from Coff's Harbor, Australia that he shares with his parents and brother Terry as well as a large herd of black angus cattle, dogs, horses, and apparently a few snakes and even a playtapus. Although this little biography about Russell will be ever changing as Russell continues to make movies and create beautiful music...I hope he won't allow the harsh media or the clouded minds of some of those in Hollywood to affect how good he is to his fans. As a fan, the most important thing I can say here is that from what I've seen...Russell is one of the most honest, geniune, hilarious, talented, sensitive and caring people in the world. I hope he gets to spend as much time as he can with family on the farm and that he will be dazzling us for years to come. |
