Explaining Russell Crowe

Actor Chalks Up Phone-Throwing Incident To Temper, Believes Tendency Is Vital To His Health

(CBS)  Crowe says the U.S. is different. "Your legal system is very open to be misused," he tells Kroft.

Asked to characterize the incident, Crowe says, "Minor."

"You're a traveling man. You've been overseas a lot. Is there a place in your memory bank where you as a traveling businessman have lost your temper in the foyer of a hotel? I'm sure there is," Crowe asks Kroft.

"No, I don't think I've flung a piece of telecommunications equipment. That's the only difference," Kroft replies.

Asked if he regrets the incident, Crowe says, "Totally. Absolutely. Ya know, of course I did. Ya know, it was unreasonable of me, ya know, in terms of taking out my frustrations on that individual."

It cost Crowe more than the $160 fine. He reportedly paid the desk clerk a $100,000 settlement to avoid a civil lawsuit. And the incident damaged his reputation. He blamed it on massive jet lag, his disappointment over "Cinderella Man," and being separated from his family.

"I mean, it's not the first time it's happened. But there have been a number of incidents of…," Kroft remarks.

"There's been a number of reports," Crowe corrects Kroft. "And the percentage of real incidents to reports is probably about ten percent."

"You were doing a play in Australia and that you head butted one of your fellow actors, Peter Cousens," Kroft continues.

"Yes. He was screaming at me at the time. He was calling me all manner of things. And all the other cast, or the three other principle guys that I worked with or that I shared a dressing with, were holding my arms. So, that's all I had left to hit him with and he f-----' deserved it," Crowe says.

Crowe readily admits he does have a temper. "Oh, hell yeah. Absolutely, man. I have a temper. My mum's got a temper. My brother's got a temper. You gotta have one. You know what happens if you don't have one? One day you walking down the street and you just pop. You're lying there on the pavement because you've been holding and suppressing all this bull----, ya know," he says.

Asked if he has a problem with his anger, Crowe says, "No."

"No, I don't. Ya know, if it's 'Oh, I'm not even gonna give you the benefit of answering it in those terms,' no," he says, laughing.

"I live a real life, man, and it's complex. Ya know, some days are absolute diamonds and some days are dog s----. Same as everybody else. Unfortunately some days that are diamonds I've taken them and turned them into dog s---. But you live and you learn. I'm 42 and I'll get wiser," he says.

Crowe says his combativeness comes from his struggle to be taken seriously as an actor and that cultural differences between Americans and Australians cause people to misjudge him. What he thinks is honest and direct is interpreted as arrogant and rude. And even those who don’t like him say his outbursts of anger are often followed by extreme generosity and even contrition.

"I dunno, I think I'm just a kid, man. You know, I take everything, and people, at face-value, which probably gets me into trouble a lot. Because, you know, somebody asking a question, and then I tend to answer it from my heart. And it's not always clever in this day and age, you know. So I'd never make a politician. But you know, I love the job," Crowe says.

"Asked all the questions got answers to everything, didn’t get punched out," Kroft jokes.

Says Crowe, "You must be one of the lucky ones, Steven."

[stezzer]

Just look at the picture accompanying the article. What a wazzock!!

[donnie900]

Besides, its not your job, journalist. To make policy. Thats what this 24 hour news stuff has done. Introduced this commentary that turns reporters into supreme court judges.

Even in a jail cell.. If someone invited you for an interview in their jail cell. You should apply the universal conditions of respect!

And he's right about all the lawsuits. People can't even get into fist fights anymore? Thats bullshyyt.

[donnie900]

The media provokes most of the stuff these actors and actresses do. And not just actors and actresses, but regular people too. You're not supposed to be scrutinized this way. At least not innocent people. And this stuff has been going on way way before the Bush administration. A tabloid curiosity in everything thats overly judgmental, and unconcerned for privacy.

Maybe there's no such thing as media transparency, but thats what I thought professional journalism to be. And if a media is overly critical of people, how does it ever expect to get any exclusive from anybody?

Consider everybody a despot. And when they invite you in their homes, you treat them with respect, as a guest.. and not an intruder.

[shanev137]

He's just another actor. Big deal. I really don't get why people insist on making actors and actresses Gods. LOL. Geez, come on, just because someone makes $11 million a picture for faking like they're someone else doesn't make them a noble person.

[crowefan]

RUSSELL IS HOT!! HE IS MY FAVORITE ACTOR, AND I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED SEEING HIM IN PERSON DURING HIS CONCERT IN AUSTIN A FEW YEARS BACK. NOT ONLY IS HE A GIFTED ACTOR, BUT HE HAS A GREAT VOICE AS WELL. AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED HEARING HIS BAND PERFORM, I ESPECIALLY ENJOYED THE STORIES HE TOLD IN BETWEEN SONGS ABOUT HE AND HIS BROTHERS.

RUSSELL IS ONE COOL GUY, AND DANIEL IS ONE LUCKY LADY!!

[luetta3]

The mere look on Russell Crowe's face during this interview is an indication to me that he is not only lost in his celebrity, but truly the meaning of life. He displays such a lack of interest in the meaning of life and love by his actions without regard for the other person's feelings. Having lost a brother to schizophrenia, I appreciated the role that he played in Beautiful Mind. After watching this interview, as I see it now, he displays no emphathy, but rather is only acting a role. He should find himself in the midst of the madness, not react to it. I would share this with him if we met "The Grace of the Guru is like an ocean. If one comes with a cup he will only get a cupful. It is no use complaining of the ************* of the ocean. The bigger the vessel the more one will be able to carry. It is entirely up to him" Ramana Maharshi

[ttpoker]

Russel's attitude about the incident at the Mercer Hotel was disgusting, its time for the truth to come out - Russel was upstairs with another women when they transfered a call to his room from his wife. he came downstairs and flipped out because the staff didn't protect him from an embarrassing situation. Thats why he threw the phone, he was caught with another woman.

CBS News should investigate my claim, everyone who was there knows this to be the truth.

[kiwigirl2-2009]

I am a New Zealander currently living in New York City and like Mr. Crowe I find that there are cultural differences between myself and my neighbors. However, for Mr. Crowe to imply that in Australia people who have a telephone thrown at them are more likely to accept a handshake and an apology rather than instigate a lawsuit is disingenuous to say the least. I lived in Australia for 5 years before coming to the US and I never met anybody there (or in New Zealand) that would accept such outlandish behavior as a quirk of personality. Mr. Crowe indicated that he is undisciplined in some respects, perhaps it is time for him to join the rest of us and act in a restrained manner when faced with difficult situations. Its called growing up.

[aussies4you]

There are strong personalities in every walk of life. Mr. Crowe just happens to be in front of the camera, so we see more of him. Big deal, so he has a temper. My dad has a temper. I have a temper. Having worked in film production for several years, I've experienced quite a few strong personalities. Passion can't be pigeon-holed. Sometimes it gets out of one's control. You love him when his passion creates a strong and moving performance, but then you hate his passion when it affects or is exhibited in reality. My passion is still in it's developmental stages; no longer in film production, I am working on the never-ending screenplay. Mr. Crowe's passion is finally paying off, and I will take to heart that he puts everything he has into his films. I have seen what actors (and directors) can do and I am thankful for their talents. Best of luck! Melissa in Texas

[maccar555]

Crowe is an arrogant, but talented b ast ard. But that is not my problem. I can choose to watch him or not. And in response to his comment about our legal system - stay out. This is our system and nobody is exempt. Ask Paris. I suggest that he grow up and put his physically abusive temper away before it affects his wife and children. Temper tandrums are don't count as parenting skill in any country.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.

[dmakar-2009]

I have an old friend who met Russell Crowe one time and his only comment about him was "Arrogant."

I think he strongly displays this on television in conversations with journalists.

Sad to see such talent in the wrong image.