Russell Crowe’s ex-wife Danielle Spencer says her former father-in-law John Alexander ‘will be greatly missed’ after his death aged 85
Russell Crowe’s ex-wife Danielle Spencer has shared a tribute to her former father-in-law John Alexander Crowe, who died on Tuesday at the age of 85.
The actress and singer, 51, shared a throwback photo on Instagram on Wednesday of her two sons Charles, 17, and Tennyson, 14, with their grandfather.
‘Sadly, my boys lost their grandfather yesterday. Alex (Pop) Crowe, you were much loved and will be greatly missed,’ she wrote in the caption.
‘You will be greatly missed’: Russell Crowe’s ex-wife Danielle Spencer (pictured) has paid an emotional tribute to her father-in-law John Alexander after his tragic death aged 85
Danielle and Russell, who met in 1989 on the set of the film The Crossing, married in April 2003 at his farm in Nana Glen, New South Wales.
They separated in 2012 and finalised their divorce six years later.
Russell announced the death of his dad John Alexander Crowe on Tuesday, calling him the ‘most gentle of men’ in a series of heartfelt tweets.
John died on a regional Qantas flight from Sydney despite airline crew desperately trying to keep him alive.
Tribute: The 51-year-old actress shared a throwback photo of her two sons Charles, 17, and Tennyson, 14, with their grandfather to Instagram and wrote: ‘Sadly, my boys lost their Grandfather yesterday. Alex ( Pop) Crowe, you were much loved and will be greatly missed’
The Gladiator star 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.’
History: Danielle and Russell, who met in 1989 on the set of the film The Crossing, married in April 2003 at his farm in Nana Glen, New South Wales. They separated in 2012 and finalised their divorce six years later
Prior to John’s death, the pair were isolating together at the family’s country estate in Nana Glen, New South Wales, with Russell revealing that he wanted to be close to his parents John and Joceyln amid the pandemic.
Crowe Senior was born in 1936 in New Zealand and died on arrival in Coffs Harbour – his home for the last 25 years.
The star’s father was part of Russell’s inspiration for entering 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, Crowe Senior also worked as a hotel manager.
Tragic: Russell Crowe’s dad John Alexander (pictured with his wife) died aged 85 on a regional Qantas flight from Sydney to Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales north coast on Tuesday