Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander who spent his formative years on the sets of numerous television and movie sets in Australia. Crowe was born to Jocelyn and Alex Crowe on April 7, 1964 in Auckland, New Zealand. Crowe was four years old when the family moved to Australia where his parents worked as set caterers. As a result of his constant present on sets, Crowe was given numerous child extra spots. The first one was when he was six years old. He was given a job on "Spyforce".

Though Crowe was born in New Zealand, he lived in Australia with his family from the age of 4 until he was in High School. As a result, Crowe states in numerous interviews that he has the happy-go-lucky attitude of the Aussies, and the persistence of the New Zealanders. Finishing his High School in New Zealand, Crowe joined a band called "30 Odd Foot of Grunts" and has even recorded a few singles which he claims have the bottom of the charts sewn up. Though success in the music business seems to be unattainable, his acting career is advancing by leaps and bounds.

Crowe has a number of films and TV spots to his name but his most famous ones are "The Insider," "Gladiator," "Romper Stomper," "The Sum of Us," "Virtuosity," and "L.A. Confidential." When asked though, Crowe will claim He has yet to have had a good performance. His fans and the Academy Awards Nomination Committee would claim differently. His break through in American films he accredits to Sharon Stone's persistence in having him act in the film "The Quick and the Dead" which she was starring in. Though the film itself died at the box office, Crowe's career took off.

On the personal front, Crowe spends most of his free time on his farm where his older brother and his parents live. He says that he raises cows, chickens, horses and dogs. He considers them his friends and tries to work his schedule around so that he can be present when the new generations of his animal friends are born. In addition, Crowe still spends time with his band the "30 Odd Foot of Grunts." Though Crowe has had a number of long term relationships, he has never been married and has no children.