His family moved to Sydney, Australia when Russell was 4 years old. His father managed pubs, and the family lived in rooms above them for most of the boys' childhood. His parents made their living by catering movie shoots, and often brought Crowe with them to work; it was while hanging around the various sets that he developed a passion for acting. After making his professional debut in an episode of the television series Spyforce when he was six.

Of his childhood Russell once said "I grew up in Australia, so I've got aspects of both cultures. New Zealanders tend to be very persistent, you know? And Australians are quite happy-go-lucky, so I've got kind of a combination of the two things."

Musical Career at 14

When Crowe was 14, long after he had started smoking and drinking, his parents moved back to New Zealand, this time to Auckland, where his father got a job managing a place called the Potter's Wheel, commonly known as the Flying Jug. The Flying Jug was on the border of three towns with differences, and when a fight started there, it always ended with the arrival of an ambulance. Someone was murdered in the front room of the Flying Jug one night, and when Crowe tells this story, you see the dead man lying at his feet.

Also at age 14, he started playing in bands, which led to musical theater. He recorded the song "I Want to Be Like Marlon Brando," billing himself as Rus Le Roc (1980). In 1983, he had a part in "Grease" and "Blood Brothers" then starred from 1986-88 in live productions of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," touring Australia and New Zealand.

"I did 458 performances. I was Eddie and Dr. Scott for about 400 performances and about 58 as Frank N. Furter. I was the understudy (for Frank) when the understudy's nightmare came true. I actually had to go on without any rehearsal, I didn't even bother to try out my shoes. I figured the other guy would do his gig. I only agreed to it because it was an extra $50 a week. So, suddenly, bang, I'm on as Frank."

Film Debut

Crowe took a twelve year break from professional acting, making his film debut when he was eighteen. (He also busked on the street and worked as a waiter, a car detailer, a DJ, an insurance salesman, a telephone solicitor, a fruit picker, a horse wrangler and a bingo caller on a resort island.) He had his first major roles in such dramas as The Crossing (1990) and Proof (1991) (for which he won an Australian Film Institute award). He then went on to gain international recognition for his intense portrayal of a Melbourne skinhead in the controversial film Romper Stomper (1992), winning another AFI award, as well as an Australian Film Critics award.

When his mother and father ran into financial trouble in 1995, Crowe bought a nonworking farm north of Sydney, Australia and moved them and his brother Terry in.

Sexiest Guy in Hollywood

It was Sharon Stone who helped bring Crowe to Hollywood to play a gunfighter-turned-preacher opposite her in The Quick and the Dead (1995). She described Russell as "the sexiest guy working in movies today". Though the film was not a huge box-office success, it did open Hollywood doors for Crowe, who subsequently split his time between the U.S. and Australia.

In 1997, the actor had his largest success to that point, playing volatile cop Bud White in L.A. Confidential (1997). Following the praise surrounding both the film and his performance in it, Crowe found himself working steadily in Hollywood: in 1999 alone, he starred in three films: Gladiator, Mystery, Alaska and The Insider.

In total, Russell has been involved in 22 films since 1990

Apart from his acting career, Russell also performs lead vocals/lead guitar for 30 Odd Foot of Grunts a “blues-based folk/rock band” that has recorded three albums. He says, and he plans to record an album in Austin, Texas, as soon as his diary opens up.

Russell is currently single. One of his last long term relationships was with Danielle Spencer, an actress. They were together from 1990 till 1995.