theOscarSite Facts:
Birthplace:
  • Wellington, New Zealand
Nickname:
  • Rusty
Quote:
  • "If you grow up in the suburbs of anywhere, a dream like this seems kind of vaguely ludicrous and completely unattainable. But this moment is directly connected to those imaginings. And for anybody who's on the downside of advantage, and relying purely on courage, it's possible." -- on winning the Best Actor Oscar® for GLADIATOR (2000)
Education:
  • National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney, Australia; attended 18 months
Factoid:
  • Discovered by British actor and musical director/writer Daniel Abineri, who gave Crowe his first professional acting role in an Australia and New Zealand tour in the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show; played Dr. Frank N. Furter (1986-1988). 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.
Significant Other(s):
  • Wife: Danielle Spencer, actress-singer; together 1990-1995, 2002. Married 2003.
  • Dated: Meg Ryan, actor; began highly publicized relationship during filming of PROOF OF LIFE in 2000; split 2001.
Family:
  • Great-grandmother: Maori; on mother's side
  • Grandfather: Stan Wymess, cinematographer; named an MBE for his work shooting footage during WW II
  • Father: Alex Crowe, set caterer; former hotel manager
  • Mother: Jocelyn Crowe (née Wymess), set caterer
  • Brother: one
  • Cousin: Jeff Crowe, professional cricket player
  • Cousin: Martin Crowe, professional cricket player
  • 2 children from marriage with Danielle Spencer: Charles Spencer Crowe (b. 2003) & Tennyson Spencer Crowe (b. 2006)
Feature Film
Credits:
  • Nottingham, State of Play (2009)
    Body of Lies, Tenderness (2008)
    American Gangster, 3:10 to Yuma (2007)
    A Good Year (2006)
    Cinderella Man (2005)
    Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
    A Beautiful Mind (2001)
    Gladiator, Proof of Life (2000)
    Mystery, Alaska, The Insider (1999)
    Breaking Up (1998)
  • L.A. Confidential, Heaven's Burning (1997)
    No Way Back (1996)
    The Quick and The Dead, Virtuosity, Rough Magic (1995)
    Silver Stallion - King of the Wild Brumbies, The Sum of Us (1994)
    For the Moment, Hammers Over the Anvil, Just One Night (1993)
    Romper Stomper (1992)
    Proof (1991)
    The Efficiency Expert (1991)
    The Crossing (1990)
Academy Awards®:
  •  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1999: THE INSIDER
  •  Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2000: GLADIATOR
  •  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2001: A BEAUTIFUL MIND

  • 3 nominations, 1 Award