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\"Cinderella Man\" Sydney Premiere

Fall

Russell Crowe

The actor has played both heroes and bad guys onscreen, and also made some off-screen headlines.

/ 32 PHOTOS
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"Noah"

Crowe pictures hugging Jennifer Connelly during a scene from the 2014 movie "Noah." Crowe plays the role Noah from the biblical story in Genesis.

Niko Tavernise / Paramount Pictures
Image: DSC_1561.NEF

"Broken City"

This film image released by 20th Century Fox shows Catherine Zeta-Jones, left, and Russell Crowe in a scene from "Broken City."

Alan Markfield / 20th Century Fox
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Chasing Valjean

In the 2012 adaption of "Les Misérables" Russell Crowe played the role of antagonist Javert, a policeman that is constantly chasing after the protangonist Jean Valjean.

Laurie Sparham / Universal Studios
Spike TV's \"Guys Choice 2013\" - Backstage And Audience

Russell finds a new friend

Russell Crowe attends Spike TV's Guys Choice 2013 at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Calif., on June 8.

Jason Merritt / Getty Images North America
'The Next Three Days'  Life seems perfect for John Brennan until his wife, Lara, is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn't commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together, raising their son and teaching at college while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution: to break his wife out of prison. Refusing to be deterred by impossible odds or his own inexperience, John devises an elaborate escape plot and plunges into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, ultimately risking everything for the woman he loves.

Break out

In 2010's "The Next Three Days," Russell Crowe plays a community-college teacher whose life is thrown into turmoil when his wife is jailed for a murder she says she didn't commit. After she attempts suicide, this ordinary man must enter a world of crime as he tries to break her out of jail and go on the lam with their young son.

Australian actor Russel Crowe and Austra

Cannes crowd

Crowe and his "Robin Hood" co-star Cate Blanchett speak next to jury members during the opening ceremony of the 63rd Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2010 in Cannes, France.

Valery Hache / AFP
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Gentlemen, start your chariots

Crowe has agreed to be the narrator of the Stadium Spectacular "Ben Hur", which comes to Sydney on Oct. 22 and 23. "Ben Hur" is a theatrical performance that brings to life the Biblical epic made famous by the Academy Award-winning Hollywood movie of the same name starring Charlton Heston.

Greg Wood / AFP
Russell Crowe Honored On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

My dad's a star

Crowe, wife Danielle Spencer, and their sons, Charles Spencer Crowe and Tennyson Spencer Crowe, check out Crowe's new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 12, 2010 in Hollywood, Calif.

Jason Merritt / Getty Images North America

Taking aim

Crowe plays the title role in 2010's "Robin Hood," taking a new look at the legend of the famed archer. Crowe reportedly has loved the character since childhood and threw himself into the role by reading books about the nobleman turned outlaw.

Australian Celebrities Immortalised In Australia Post Stamps

Takes a licking

In 2009, Australia Post issued its latest series of postage stamps featuring prominent Australians. (Although Crowe was born in New Zealand, he is a naturalized Australian.) Shown clockwise from left, the stamps depict Nicole Kidman, Crowe, Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush. Blanchett plays Maid Marian (called Lady Marian) to Crowe's Robin in 2010's "Robin Hood."

Gaye Gerard / Getty Images AsiaPac
Oscar® winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast in a blistering thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion

Let's 'Play'

Ben Affleck and Crowe star in 2009's "State of Play," a thriller about a rising congressman and an investigative journalist embroiled in a case of seemingly unrelated, brutal murders. Crowe plays D.C. reporter Cal McAffrey, whose street smarts lead him to untangle a mystery of murder and collusion.

Lori Cranston (Sophie Traub) is a confused fifteen-year-old dreamer in search of an escape from her troubled home life. She discovers and becomes enthralled with Eric (Jon Foster), a young man with a violent past. As they embark on a harrowing journey, a hardened local cop (Russell Crowe), who has been following Eric for years, is intent on exposing him as a serial killer before Lori's fate is determined.

Try a little 'Tenderness'

In 2008's "Tenderness," Crowe plays a hardened cop intent on exposing a serial killer before he murders the 15-year-old girl with whom he is traveling.

\"Body Of Lies\" New York Premiere - Inside Arrivals

Like my ponytail?

Crowe went for the long-locked look while attending the premiere of his 2008 film, "Body of Lies," on Oct. 5, 2008, in New York.

Astrid Stawiarz / Getty Images North America
Based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius' 2007 novel about a CIA operative, Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. When Ferris devises a plan to infiltrate his network, he must first win the backing of cunning CIA veteran Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe
) and the collegial, but perhaps suspect, head of Jordanian intelligence. Although ostensibly his allies, Ferris questions how far he can really trust these men without putting his entire operation - and his life - on the line.

'Lies,' all lies

In 2008's "Body of Lies," Crowe plays a veteran CIA officer whose operative, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, runs into a tangled plot in the Middle East.

\"Bra Boys\" Premiere - Arrivals

Bunny trail

Crowe poses with players from the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Australian rugby team he owns. The actor and some business partners bought the team in 2006.

Patrick Riviere / Getty Images AsiaPac
\"American Gangster\" concerns Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas (Washington), who smuggled heroin in the body bags of U.S. soldiers slain in Vietnam. Brolin plays Det. Trupo, a crooked NYPD cop who piggybacks on the Lucas investigation conducted by Det. Ritchie Roberts (Crowe).

Ganging up

Crowe and Denzel Washington star in 2007's "American Gangster," in which Crowe plays a detective investigating the actions of Harlem drug kingpin Frank Lucas (Washington), who smuggled heroin in the body bags of U.S. soldiers slain in Vietnam.

Based on the novel by Peter Mayle, the film is about failed London banker Max Skinner (Crowe) who moves to Provence to tend a vineyard he inherited from his uncle, played by Albert Finney. There he encounters Cotillard's character, a beautiful California woman who says she is a long-lost cousin and lays claim to the property

It was a very good 'Year'

Peter Mayle's bestselling novel, "A Good Year," inspired the 2006 romantic comedy of the same name, starring Crowe as a banker who leaves London and moves to Provence to tend a vineyard he inherited from his uncle, played by Albert Finney. There he encounters Marion Cotillard's character, the owner of a local bistro.

In Arizona in the late 1800's, infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) and his vicious gang of thieves and murderers have plagued the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Christian Bale), struggling to survive on his drought-plagued ranch, volunteers to deliver him alive to the \"3:10 to Yuma\", a train that will take the killer to trial. On the trail, Evans and Wade, each from very different worlds, begin to earn each other's respect. But with Wade's outfit on their trail - and dangers at every turn - the mission soon becomes a violent, impossible journey toward each man's destiny.

Aussie in the American West

In 2007's "3:10 to Yuma," Crowe plays an Arizona outlaw, Ben Wade, in the days of the Wild West. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Christian Bale), volunteers to deliver him alive to the train that will take the killer to trial. Of course, it's not a straightforward journey.

Russell Crowe Arraigned On Assault Charges

These cuffs? Not for a role

A handcuffed Crowe is led out of New York's First Precinct on his way to being arraigned June 6, 2005. Crowe was arrested earlier in the morning for allegedly throwing a telephone at an employee of the hotel where he was staying. He was sentenced to conditional release, and settled a lawsuit filed by the man. Crowe said the incident was "possibly the most shameful situation that I've ever gotten myself in."

Thos Robinson / Getty Images North America
Crowe stars in the story inspired by the life of legendary athlete Jim Braddock, a once-promising light heavyweight boxer forced into retirement after a string of losses in the ring. As the nation enters the darkest years of the Great Depression, Braddock accepts a string of dead-end jobs to support his wife, Mae (Ren?e Zellweger), and their children, while never totally abandoning his dream of boxing again.

No glass slipper

In 2005's "Cinderella Man," Crowe played real-life boxer Jim Braddock, a once-promising light heavyweight forced into retirement after a string of losses in the ring. As the nation enters the darkest years of the Great Depression, Braddock accepts a string of dead-end jobs to support his wife, Mae (Renee Zellweger), and their children, while never totally abandoning his dream of boxing again.

Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World
Based on the best-selling novels of Patrick O'Brian, the film stars Russell Crowe as \"Lucky\" Jack Aubrey, who pits his crew of the H.M.S. Surprise against a much better armed and ruthless privateer, in a chase that takes him all the way to the far side of the world. Rising newcomer Paul Bettany (\"A Beautiful Mind\") plays the ship's surgeon Dr. Stephen Maturin.

'Master' of his domain

Crowe took on the role of "Lucky" Jack Aubrey in 2003's "Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World," based on the bestselling nautical novel series by Patrick O'Brien. The movie took material from several of the books in the series.

Australian actor Russell Crowe (R) and his friend

On the red carpet

Crowe and Danielle Spencer, then his girlfriend, arrive at the 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Jan. 20, 2002. It was a good night for Crowe, who took home the best actor award for his role in "A Beautiful Mind."

Lucy Nicholson / AFP
A Beautiful Mind

Inside a 'Mind'

Director Ron Howard speaks with Crowe on the set of "A Beautiful Mind." Crowe played Nobel Laureate John Nash, who struggled with schizophrenia.

Getty Images / Getty Images North America
Russell Crowe Performs with Band

Rocking out

In 2001, Crowe performed with his band, Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts, at Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia. The group has since broken up, though the actor continues to pursue music and has performed in the musicals "Grease" and "The Rocky Horror Show."

Hamish Blair / Getty Images North America
73rd Annual Academy Awards - Pressroom

Make room in the trophy case

Crowe won the Oscar for best actor for his role in 2000's "Gladiator." He was also nominated for the Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and SAG Award for the same part, but lost out on those honors.

Kevin Winter / Getty Images North America
In the final days of Marcus Aurelius' reign, the aging emperor arouses his son Commodus' anger when he makes known his wish that Maximus be his successor. Power-hungry Commodus kills his father and orders the death of Maximus. But the latter flees and hides his identity by becoming slave and a gladiator. Eventually, Maximus journeys back to Rome to confront his arch-rival.

'I am Maximus Decimus Meridius...'

Crowe's fame grew enormously thanks to his "Gladiator" role, as a loyal Roman general who is betrayed by the emperor's treacherous son and must fight for his life in the gladiator arena.

Peter Bowman (David Morse), an American engineer in a Latin American country, is kidnapped for a $3 million dollar ransom. Abandoned by her husband's employer and insurance company, his wife Alice (Meg Ryan) refuses to give up on his life. She takes on the task of bringing him home but quickly realizes she can't do that without help.

Aussie hero and America's Sweetheart

Before marrying Danielle Spencer, Crowe dated actress Meg Ryan. She was married to Dennis Quaid when the couple starred together in 2000's "Proof of Life," but she and Quaid divorced in 2000.

Based on a 1995 Vanity Fair article, the film recounts how 60 Minutes commentator Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer) and his producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) were blackballed into dumping a segment on tobacco-industry defector Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe) because CBS execs were in the midst of a multibillion dollar merger with the corporation that owned Wigand.

Going inside

Crowe starred with Al Pacino in 1999's "The Insider." Based on a 1995 Vanity Fair article, the film recounts how "60 Minutes" commentator Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer) and his producer Lowell Bergman (Pacino) were blackballed into dumping a segment on tobacco-industry defector Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe).

Mystery, Alaska (1999) The legendary hockey players of Mystery are born on skates. And the weekly hockey game on the local \"pond of dreams\" is much more than a sport -- it's a ritual celebration attended with religious devotion, the only thing that holds the players together. But then an article in a sports magazine prompts the National Hockey League to send the New York Rangers to challenge these local heroes in a \"Rocky\"-like, back-to-the-roots-of-hockey exhibition game. The publicity stunt thrusts this tiny town and its colorful inhabitants into the national spotlight and promises fame and fortune for everybody.

Ice, ice, baby

In 1999's "Mystery, Alaska," Crowe is part of a small-town hockey team that's challenged to play the NHL's New York Rangers.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, Russell Crowe, Kim Basinger, 1997

Film noir

Crowe and Kim Basinger starred in 1997's "L.A. Confidential," a moody police thriller where corrupt L.A. cops meet Hollywood celebrity. Crowe and co-star Guy Pearce, both Aussies, were relatively unknown in America, and this film helped them start up the road to U.S. stardom.

ROMPER STOMPER

Creepy club

Crowe played a neo-Nazi skinhead in the Australian 1992 film "Romper Stomper." The script was inspired by a real Australian neo-Nazi, who at the time of the film, was serving a life sentence in prison for murder.

Rights Managed
THE CROSSING

That road? Leads to fame

One of Crowe's first films, the 1990 Australian film "The Crossing," had an extra benefit for the actor. It's where he met the woman he would marry, Danielle Spencer.

Rights Managed
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