Russell Crowe shares touching video from memorial for his late father

Russell Crowe bid his late father farewell on Saturday. 

On Sunday, the actor, 57, shared moving scenes from the memorial and wake, where his father John Alexander was given an emotional send off. 

In a post to Twitter, the Gladiator actor shared footage of the outdoor wake held at John’s country estate in Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour on the north coast of NSW.

Moving: Russell Crowe (pictured) bid his late father farewell on Saturday. On Sunday, the actor, 57, shared moving scenes from the memorial and wake, where his father John Alexander was given an emotional send off

The video showed a beautifully decorated service and a string quartet performing for guests. 

Alongside the clip, Russell wrote:  ‘Best quote from the memorial for my father today, my dad to his granddaughter, “Don’t hang out with glass half full, glass half empty people… hang out with people who know the glass is always refillable”‘.   

In photos shared to Instagram on Sunday, Russell shared further photos of the chapel where the service was held, as well as the outdoor ceremony, and guests.  

Touching: The memorial for his father John Alexander Crowe (pictured) was held on Saturday, June 5

Touching: The memorial for his father John Alexander Crowe (pictured) was held on Saturday, June 5

Moving: The video showed a beautifully decorated service and a string quartet performing

Moving: The video showed a beautifully decorated service and a string quartet performing 

Alongside the clip, Russell wrote: 'Best quote from the memorial for my father today, my dad to his granddaughter, "Don't hang out with glass half full, glass half empty people... hang out with people who know the glass is always refillable"'

Alongside the clip, Russell wrote: ‘Best quote from the memorial for my father today, my dad to his granddaughter, “Don’t hang out with glass half full, glass half empty people… hang out with people who know the glass is always refillable”‘

On Saturday, the same day of the service, the star posted a picture of the sunrise at his property at Nana Glen, showing the set-up for the emotional day. 

Russell reflected on the use of the chapel over the years and said that he thinks his late father John Alexander would be ‘pleased’ with the service he arranged.

‘Weddings, string quartets, soloists, opera singers, meditation, prayer, yoga… the chapel has hosted a lot of things over the years,’ Russell’s post began.

Beautiful: In photos shared to Instagram the same day, Russell shared further photos, including of the chapel where the service was held

Beautiful: In photos shared to Instagram the same day, Russell shared further photos, including of the chapel where the service was held

Lovely: An outdoor area was set up for guests under a marquee

Lovely: An outdoor area was set up for guests under a marquee 

Filing in: Mourners patiently filed into the chapel ahead of the farewell

Filing in: Mourners patiently filed into the chapel ahead of the farewell 

Guests: Russell shared a sunny image of mourners gathered at the wake

Guests: Russell shared a sunny image of mourners gathered at the wake 

‘Today it will host it’s first funeral/memorial.’

He touchingly added: ‘My dad loved this building. He was fascinated by it. Pretty sure he’d be pleased.’

Underneath the post, Australian actress Naomi Watts send her condolences to Russell, writing: ‘Oh no!! So sorry Russell. Sending big love.’  

'My dad loved this building, he'd be pleased':  On Saturday, Russell shared a moving photo of the chapel on his Nana Glen estate as he prepared to bid farewell to his late father at his memorial

‘My dad loved this building, he’d be pleased’:  On Saturday, Russell shared a moving photo of the chapel on his Nana Glen estate as he prepared to bid farewell to his late father at his memorial

Earlier this week, Russell shared a photo of his 85-year-old dad on Twitter, and suggested fans donate to the Charlie Teo Foundation in lieu of sending flowers.

John died suddenly on board a Qantaslink flight from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in March.

In late March, Russell announced the sad news of his father’s death in a series of Twitter posts.  

Donation: Earlier this week, Russell shared a photo of his 85-year-old dad on Twitter, and suggested fans donate to the Charlie Teo Foundation in lieu of sending flowers

Donation: Earlier this week, Russell shared a photo of his 85-year-old dad on Twitter, and suggested fans donate to the Charlie Teo Foundation in lieu of sending flowers

He wrote: ‘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.

‘I’m posting this because I know there are people all over the world who’s heart he touched and who’s 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.  

So sad: John died suddenly on board a Qantaslink flight from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in March. In late March, Russell announced the sad news of his father's death in a series of Twitter posts. John and wife Jocelyn are pictured in 2005

So sad: John died suddenly on board a Qantaslink flight from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in March. In late March, Russell announced the sad news of his father’s death in a series of Twitter posts. John and wife Jocelyn are pictured in 2005

‘John Alexander Crowe 13th March 1936 – 30th March 2021 Born in Christchurch, New Zealand. Passed away in Coffs Harbour, NSW, his home for the last 25 years. Rest In Peace.’

Russell’s father was also a source of inspiration for him to enter the film industry.

The family moved from New Zealand to Sydney when Russell was four-years-old, with his father and mother Jocelyn pursing careers as movie set caterers.

In addition to being part of a catering business with his wife, John also worked as a hotel manager.  

Tragic: 'My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away,' Russell wrote at the time

Tragic: ‘My dear old man, my beautiful dad, the most gentle of men, has passed away,’ Russell wrote at the time

Russell 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 told Daily Mail in a 2016 tell-all interview.

‘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!’ 

He said his father never put any pressure on him, and always found a way to pay for anything he needed as a child – whether it be money for a school trip or cricket boots.

‘He was a resourceful man and I remember he once bought a stick for three dollars at a garage sale to make into a cricket bat for me,’ he said.

‘It was just this ugly old stick, but he got some linseed oil and he oiled it, and he went and bought a brightly coloured rubber grip for it, and by the time he gave it to me, it was magnificent. I used that cricket bat in all my junior years.

‘We had very little. My father never let me know it directly, but when I stayed up late listening at the kitchen door, I’d hear conversations my parents would have about how were they going to get money for this or for that. It was kind of scary for a little kid,’ he said.

'My father carried his leadership very lightly': Russell 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’: Russell 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

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