Russell Crowe In Mourning After Devastating Family Death

Russell Crowe might be one of the most famous actors in Hollywood, thanks to mega-hits like Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind, but he's a family man through and through.

Crowe has two children who live in Australia. (He shares them with his ex-wife, Danielle Spencer.) Family time is hugely important to Crowe because his filming schedule means he's away from home frequently. So to ensure that he gets quality time with his two children, he makes sure he's home between Christmas and the New Year.

Crowe spoke about this on the radio station Nova 96.9 and said he misses Hollywood events because of this and couldn't care less. "As you know, I'm divorced now, and like many other blokes who are out there listening, I have limited time with my kids. I don't get to wake up with them everyday," Crowe said (via MSN). "And I get them every year between December 27 and January, so if you expect me to do anything, anything, I don't give a s*** what it is in that time that doesn't include my children, well you can go and whatever," Crowe explained.

But it's not just Crowe's children who are hugely important to him. He's very close to his parents — and Crowe just shared some really sad news about a family death.

Russell Crowe shared that his dad, John Alexander Crowe, died. The Robin Hood star shared the sad news on Twitter on March 30, 2021. "I arrived back in the bush last night," Crowe began. "Today, although the sun is shining and the torrential rain has abated, this date will forever be tinged with sadness. My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away."

Crowe followed this up with additional tweets. "I'm posting this because I know there are people all over the world [whose] heart he touched and [whose] ribs he tickled with his sparkly eyes and his cheeky attitude to everyone, and everything, and this is probably as efficient a method as any to pass on the news."

Crowe added one final tweet, giving basic details about his father. "John Alexander Crowe 13th March 1936- 30th March 2021 Born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Passed away in Coffs Harbour, NSW, his home for the last 25 years. Rest In Peace."

As Crowe grieves for his father, we're looking back on John Crowe's life. He actually played a part in giving his son some Hollywood exposure in a really unexpected way.

John Alexander Crowe was from New Zealand, as was his wife, Jocelyn Yvonne Crowe and their son, Russell Crowe. The actor spoke about his family history in January 2004 with James Lipton on Inside the Actors Studio.

Crowe explained that his parents moved to Australia when he was 4 because his grandfather convinced his parents to move there in order to open up a stainless steel muffler shop. Unfortunately, the business venture didn't work, and Crowe's parents worked as caterers on TV sets, especially one show called Spy Force.

"It was really interesting for me as a kid, 'cause I would get to explore the sets and start to realize that not every door went somewhere, y'know?" Crowe said to Lipton. "So then it was ... this whole artificial world and it was, 'That's cool,' and they gave me a part in this show, Spy Force, which you can still see this footage of me as a 6-year-old."

His parents' jobs gave Crowe the exposure to launch an amazing career, and, as evidenced by social media, he's remained close with them. In fact, in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, Crowe posted a photo on Instagram with his father, adding the caption: "Isolating with the old man. 84 now." Crowe also mentioned that his dad was wearing a Princeton hat, which Crowe had received while working on the university's campus to film A Beautiful Mind.

After Russell Crowe announced on Twitter in March 2021 that his father, John Alexander Crowe, had died, countless people reached out to wish him sympathy. Fellow Hollywood A-lister Anthony Hopkins, who starred with Crowe in the 2014 biblical adaptation, Noah, shared his sympathy. "Dear friend, sending you my deepest condolences. Everyday I ask myself, 'What's it all about?' Love, Tony," Hopkins tweeted.

ABC Sydney broadcaster Wendy Harmer tweeted, "And we are never quite the same again. Sending my best to you and family x." Australian comedian Peter Helliar wrote to Crowe: "My condolences mate. Sorry for your loss." Terri Irwin, the late Steve Irwin's wife, wrote: "Today is heartbreaking. Alex Crowe was the most loving, loyal, funny, cheeky, wonderful person. The love he shared with Jocelyn will most certainly live on. He was truly blessed to have such a close family, dear friends, and full life. He will be missed. He will be remembered."

A fan noted that Crowe had been able to isolate with his father last year: "So very sad to hear this news. By [a] strange twist of fate (pandemic) you were able to spend time with him this past year that you would not have had otherwise. My sincerest condolences to you & your family. His sparkly eyes and cheekiness lives on in you."

We're sending our deepest sympathy to the Crowe family.