Russell Crowe is most famously known for his iconic roles as Maximus in the 2000 action film Gladiator, Inspector Javert in Les Misérables and John Nash in A Beautiful Mind, but behind the cameras, the star has had quite an action-packed personal life.
The New Zealand-born actor, who is reportedly in talks with Chris Hemsworth to produce a Gladiator sequel, has often hit the headlines for reasons other than his incredible acting accolades.
Russell has built himself quite the reputation off camera and has often been depicted as a Hollywood bad boy due to his outlandish and drunken outbursts.
From boozy bust-ups and heated altercations we take a look at Russell’s most scandalous moments on his 57th birthday.
(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
In 1998, according to the Daily Mail, Crowe reportedly head-butted his “Blood Brothers” co-star Peter Cousins while in Sydney Australia.
The pair allegedly broke out into a fight in a dressing room.
Talking to CBS about the fight, Crowe said: “He was calling me all manner of things. And all the other cast, or the three other principal guys that I worked with or that I shared a dressing with, were holding my arms.
“So, that’s all I had left to hit him with and he f*****g deserved it.”
In November 1999, a fight broke out outside a nightclub in Coffs Harbour, Australia. Russell Crowe was involved once again.
The incident was caught by Entertainment Weekly and was aired on Australian TV.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Now, who can forget, Russell’s argument in February 2002, after he won a BAFTA for his role in the film A Beautiful Mind.
The BBC cut some of Crowe’s acceptance speech which left the actor fuming. The star later apologised for his use of strong language and coming off as “overbearing”.
In 2004 while on the set of Cinderella Man, another fight broke out and Crowe was allegedly involved. This time the star had a punch up with his bodyguard Mark “Spud” Carroll.
According to the BBC, Crowe became upset when his bodyguard Mike indicated that something was going on between himself and another co-star.
Writing publicly to The Sunday Herald Sun, Crowe explained: “The misunderstanding arose when Spud came over to tell me what he thought other people in the room might have been thinking of my conversation. Spud was passing on other people’s ‘perceptions’ and I shot the messenger.”
One of Crowe’s most famous outbursts took place in 2005. The actor was charged and arrested for throwing a telephone at Mercer Hotel’s concierge in New York.
Speaking to reports at the time, Crowe’s lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt said: “This arose because he was trying to get his wife on the phone in Australia. He was in his room. He couldn’t get a line and there was a disagreement.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
