Wrexham owners, actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have earned the club a new nickname – Hollywood FC.
But the two screen stars aren’t the only people linking the North Wales town to Tinsel Town.
When the pair were first linked with the National League club in 2020, movie star Russell Crowe sent Deadpool actor Reynolds a personal message, confirming his own family connection to Wrexham.
READ MORE: From boozy bust-ups to heated altercations – inside Hollywood star Russell Crowe’s life
The Hollywood hell-raiser has long had a bit of a reputation as a bad boy and his heritage leads back to a string of fiery Welshmen.
The Gladiator star, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Friday (March 7), revealed that his grandad, John Crowe, was born in Wrexham.
And the New Zealand native had a special message for Reynolds in November 2020.
Replying to Reynolds’ tweet announcing his purchase of the club, Crowe wrote: “My grandfather was born in Wrexham.”
(Image: Getty Images)
He’d actually confirmed his fandom before, having tweeted in 2011: “Stand up Wrexham, bring the boys home.”
In 2013, he was certainly entertained and wrote: “C’mon Wrexham!!!’
The Oscar winner’s great-grandfather, Frederick Crowe, lived at 13 Salisbury Road in the town until 1925.
While he, his wife Kezia Marie and 12 of his children emigrated to Canada, the actor’s grandfather stayed in Wales.
(Image: Getty Images)
John went to Grove Park School in the 1920s where he was a keen sportsman and played in the polo team.
Just like Russell, who repeatedly hit the headlines for his boozy escapades, the Crowes were apoparently quite the drinkers.
Welsh farmer and Crowe’s cousin, Tim ‘Ghengis’ Dobson, 54, told the Mirror: “When Crowes fly, they fly like bottled ale – it’s a saying that means we are quick to lose our temper.
“It’s clear Russell and I share the Crowe family traits.”
(Image: Getty Images)
When not in the pub, grandad John ran a fruit and veg business in the centre of Wrexham called Crofruit – where he became a local celebrity.
But when John’s elder brother Frank returned to run the shop in Wrexham, he emigrated to New Zealand where he married and had two kids, David and Alex, Russell’s father.
Russell was born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1964 and moved with his family to Australia when he was just four.
Frank stayed on and had his own family, and his descendants still live in Wrexham today.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
