Australian celebrities flock to offer condolences to Russell Crowe after father John’s death

Several Australian celebrities have offered their condolences to Russell Crowe following the death of his 85-year-old father John Alexander Crowe.  

The Hollywood actor, 56, announced the tragic news on Tuesday via Twitter. 

Russell’s tribute to his late father prompted an outpouring of emotion, with a host of radio stars, TV personalities, comedians, and chefs paying tribute to his dad.

Rest in peace: Australian celebrities flock to offer condolences and pay tribute to Russell Crowe’s (pictured) father John Alexander after his death aged 85 on Tuesday

Studio 10 reporter Angela Bishop penned: ‘I am so sorry to hear this Russell. I was lucky enough to meet your Dad a few times. He was lovely, and his eyes did sparkle, just as you describe. Sending love and condolences to you and your family.’

Comedian and The Project host Peter Helliar also shared: ‘My condolences mate. Sorry for your loss.’ 

Today Extra host David Campbell wrote ‘Oh mate. So very sorry. Thinking of you’, while Nova’s Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald said: ‘Sorry to hear Russ, horrible news.’   

'Thinking of you': Many TV and radio personalities shares their condolences in short replies saying they were sorry to hear of his family's tragic loss

‘Thinking of you’: Many TV and radio personalities shares their condolences in short replies saying they were sorry to hear of his family’s tragic loss

Australia’s first MasterChef winner Julie Goodwin also shared: ‘I’m so sorry. Condolences to you and your family.’ 

Former Gogglebox star Yvie Jones left a comment: ‘I’m very very sorry for your loss. To you and your family x.’

Replying from abroad, Supernanny Jo Frost also wrote: ‘So sorry to hear such news Russell, big hugs to you and your family.’ 

Replying from abroad, Supernanny Jo Frost also wrote: 'So sorry to hear such news Russell, big hugs to you and your family.'

Replying from abroad, Supernanny Jo Frost also wrote: ‘So sorry to hear such news Russell, big hugs to you and your family.’

Family ties: John is survived by wife Jocelyn (pictured together in 2005) and sons Terry and Russell. The pair previously worked as caterers on film sets - no doubt inspiring for Russell who later carved out a career in Hollywood

Family ties: John is survived by wife Jocelyn (pictured together in 2005) and sons Terry and Russell. The pair previously worked as caterers on film sets – no doubt inspiring for Russell who later carved out a career in Hollywood 

Russell was by his father’s side for the final few months before his death and shared the sad news in a series of heartbreaking tweets on Tuesday. 

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.  

‘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.’ 

Tragic: On Tuesday, Russell announced the sad news of his father's death on Twitter, calling his dad 'the most gentle of men'

Tragic: On Tuesday, Russell announced the sad news of his father’s death on Twitter, calling his dad ‘the most gentle of men’

Doting son: Russell Crowe was by his father's side for the final few months before his death as they isolated together amid the pandemic (pictured in Sydney on Friday)

Doting son: Russell Crowe was by his father’s side for the final few months before his death as they isolated together amid the pandemic (pictured in Sydney on Friday) 

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. 

The Gladiator star documented his time in the outback with a sweet Instagram post of his ‘old man’ in April last year. 

As Australia went into lockdown, Russell moved away from Sydney where his sons Tennyson, 14, and Charles, 17, live with his ex-wife Danielle Spencer. 

Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Robin Hood star revealed he had invited his sons to spend lockdown with him and their grandparents, but they declined so as not to miss out on city life.    

'Isolating with the old man': Prior to John's death, the pair were isolating together at the family's country estate in Nana Glen, New South Wales

‘Isolating with the old man’: Prior to John’s death, the pair were isolating together at the family’s country estate in Nana Glen, New South Wales

Crowe Senior was born in 1936 in New Zealand and passed away in Coffs Harbour – his home for the last 25 years. He is survived by wife Jocelyn and sons Terry and Russell.   

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. 

A love of film ran in the family, with Russell’s maternal grandfather, Stan Wemyss, a cinematographer who famously shot footage of World War II. 

Russell landed his first-ever role aged six – a one line performance in the Australian TV series Spyforce – and said he used to ’embarrass’ his parents with his theatricality as a child.  

While a passion for cinema ran in the Crowe family’s DNA, they also enjoyed somewhat more lowbrow entertainment. 

The Sum Of Us star revealed in 2009 that the whole family was ‘obsessed’ with American soap opera Dallas.  

‘We used to all gather together on a Tuesday night and it would be the one night of the week we allowed to eat on TV trays in the lounge,’ he said 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!’ 

Bright future: Russell (pictured aged 20 months) landed his first-ever role aged six - a one line performance in the Australian TV series Spyforce - and said he used to 'embarrass' his parents with his theatricality as a child

Bright future: Russell (pictured aged 20 months) landed his first-ever role aged six – a one line performance in the Australian TV series Spyforce – and said he used to ’embarrass’ his parents with his theatricality as a child

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.   

Affection: Russell has always spoken with great affection of his father, saying he never put any pressure on him, and always found a way to pay for anything he needed as a child

Affection: Russell has always spoken with great affection of his father, saying he never put any pressure on him, and always found a way to pay for anything he needed as a child