Claim: Russell Crowe played the Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius.

Russell Ira Crowe -LRB- born 7 April 1964 -RRB- is an actor , film producer and musician . Although a New Zealand citizen , he has lived most of his life in Australia . He came to international attention for his role as the Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator , directed by Ridley Scott , for which Crowe won an Academy Award for Best Actor , a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor , an Empire Award for Best Actor and a London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor and 10 further nominations for best actor .   Crowe appeared as the tobacco firm whistle blower Jeffrey Wigand in the 1999 film The Insider , for which he received five awards as best actor and seven nominations in the same category . In 2001 , Crowe 's portrayal of mathematician and Nobel Prize winner John F. Nash in the biopic A Beautiful Mind brought him numerous awards , including a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role , a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role .   Crowe 's other films include Romper Stomper -LRB- 1992 -RRB- , L.A. Confidential -LRB- 1997 -RRB- , Master and Commander : The Far Side of the World -LRB- 2003 -RRB- , Cinderella Man -LRB- 2005 -RRB- , American Gangster -LRB- 2007 -RRB- , State of Play -LRB- 2009 -RRB- , Robin Hood -LRB- 2010 -RRB- , Les Misérables -LRB- 2012 -RRB- , Man of Steel -LRB- 2013 -RRB- and Noah -LRB- 2014 -RRB- . Crowe 's work has earned him several accolades during his career and including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , three consecutive Academy Award nominations -LRB- 1999 -- 2001 -RRB- , one Golden Globe Award for Best Actor , one BAFTA , and an Academy Award . Crowe is also the co-owner of the South Sydney Rabbitohs , an Australian National Rugby League team .