Russell Crowe’s dad dies aged 85 as the Gladiator star makes an emotional tribute to the ‘most gentle of men’
- John Alexander passed away at his home in Coffs Harbour in New South Wales
- Crowe announced on Twitter on Tuesday that his ‘dear old man’ had passed away
- Crowe Senior was born in New Zealand and lived in Coffs Harbour since 1996
- Crowe, 56, is currently in Australia filming for Thor: Love and Thunder
Russell Crowe’s dad John Alexander Crowe has died aged 85 at his home in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.
The Gladiator star announced his father’s passing on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon: ‘I arrived back in the bush last night.
‘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.
Russell Crowe’s dad John Alexander has died aged 85
![Crowe, 56, is currently in Australia filming for his cameo appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/30/07/41112226-9417249-image-a-5_1617086085386.jpg)
Crowe, 56, is currently in Australia filming for his cameo appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder
![The Gladiator star announced his father's passing on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/30/07/41112436-9417249-image-a-6_1617086099830.jpg)
The Gladiator star announced his father’s passing on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon
‘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 Senior was born in 1936 in New Zealand and passed away in Coffs Harbour – his home for the last 25 years.
Crowe, 56, has always spoken with great affection of his father – who was the brother of New Zealand cricket champion David Crowe and uncle of the country’s former cricket captains Martin and Jeff Crowe.
‘My father carried his leadership very lightly. He hardly ever raised his voice, and he never swore in front of me until I was 16. He’d make up words like ‘bother-and-dash’, the Hollywood superstar previously told Daily Mail in a tell-all interview.
![Crowe Senior was born in 1936 in New Zealand and passed away in Coffs Harbour - his home for the last 25 years](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/30/07/41112860-9417249-image-a-8_1617087269447.jpg)
Crowe Senior was born in 1936 in New Zealand and passed away in Coffs Harbour – his home for the last 25 years
![Crowe, 56, has always spoken with great affection of his father - who was the brother of New Zealand cricket champion David Crowe](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/03/30/07/41112720-9417249-image-a-7_1617087096378.jpg)
Crowe, 56, has always spoken with great affection of his father – who was the brother of New Zealand cricket champion David Crowe
‘But I never heard him really swear until he was teaching me to drive, when it was suddenly, ‘Russell, take your foot off the f***ing clutch!’
Crowe is currently in Australia filming for his cameo appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder.
On Friday he was seen watching the Rabbitohs victory over the Sydney Roosters at Stadium Australia with fellow castmates Natalie Portman, Jeff Goldblum and Chris Hemsworth.