Russell Crowe Says Steve Irwin Would Be In “Awe” of Son Robert on DWTS

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Russell Crowe is thinking of the late Crocodile Hunter. 

With Robert Irwin reaching the finals of season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, the Gladiator actor reflected on how he believes his late friend, Steve Irwin, would have done if he had been a contestant.

Russell jokingly told The New York Times that despite Steve’s deep understanding of nature and its cycles, he had no sense of musical rhythm. “He could understand everything in nature,” Russell, 61, said in a November 25th interview, “but if you gave him a tambourine, it was like handing someone a dangerous weapon.”

However, he doesn’t think Robert noticed that particular trait. After all, the 21-year-old and his dance partner, Witney Carson, have been consistently winning on the dance floor this season, even earning a perfect score in the semi-finals.

As Robert continues to achieve success, Russell feels his late son, Steve—who tragically died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray—would have been proudly supporting him.

The Les Misérables actor explained, “I believe the father would be amazed watching Robert dance, admiring his son’s strength, grace, and how he moves.”

Robert has a strong bond with his father, and he’s honored his memory throughout the competition. He shared that he even wears one of his dad’s old shirts during rehearsals before each performance.

In a video posted on Instagram on November 17th, Robert shared that he loves how a particular shirt still reminds him of his dad. He explained that the shirt’s wear and tear – the holes, tears, and missing buttons – each hold a memory. He also revealed a tradition: he always wears his dad’s shirt at least once before performing a specific dance in costume.

He explained that wearing it makes him feel connected to his roots and to a specific person, describing it as a comforting and warm embrace.

In addition to preserving his father’s belongings, the star of Wild Times, Robert Irwin, has honored him through dance. He and his sister, Bindi Irwin—who won the Mirrorball trophy on Dancing with the Stars in season 21—paid tribute to Steve Irwin during an episode of the show on November 11th.

Robert cherishes the memories of his father, and he’s thankful that Russell still values their long-standing friendship with Steve.

Robert shared that hearing stories from Russell about his father helps him understand his dad even better. He explained at the 2025 AFI Fest in October that Russell and his father were close friends, offering a unique perspective different from what he’d get from his mother. Robert finds Russell incredibly inspiring and looks up to him greatly.

Keep reading to see more sweet moments in the Irwin family…

For Steve Irwin, being the Crocodile Hunter wasn’t just a job—it was something he was born to do. He grew up immersed in wildlife, helping his herpetologist father, Bob Irwin, and wildlife rehabilitator mother, Lyn Irwin, with expeditions and at their reptile park in Queensland, Australia. He even worked with the government to capture and move crocodiles to keep the public safe and help with conservation.

In 1991, Steve took over the family reptile park, where he met his future wife, Terri Irwin, an American visitor. They married in 1992 and began filming the popular docuseries, The Crocodile Hunter. Together, Steve and Terri expanded the park into the Australia Zoo, sharing their passion for wildlife conservation through their shows and the zoo itself. They later welcomed their children, Bindi and Robert Irwin.

Tragically, Steve died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44, after being injured by a stingray barb while filming in the Great Barrier Reef. Despite his untimely death, his commitment to conservation and his love for his family continue to inspire. As Steve himself said, his proudest achievement was his children.

Like her husband Steve, Terri Irwin developed a passion for animals as a child, gaining experience at a vet hospital and wildlife rescue organization before they met. She believes their meeting was meant to be, telling Oprah Winfrey that they both weren’t afraid to take chances. She recalled Steve asking her to marry him and move to Australia to catch crocodiles with him, which felt like a big risk, but she knew he was an incredible person.

After Steve’s passing, Terri continued to manage Australia Zoo, lead the Wildlife Warriors nonprofit, and champion conservation work. She also shared her memories in the 2007 book My Steve, became an Australian citizen in 2009, and starred with her children in the show Crikey! It’s the Irwins from 2018 to 2022.

In a 2025 interview with Us Weekly, Terri described her life as full and rewarding, expressing that while she misses Steve every day, she feels incredibly fortunate.

Bindi Irwin, born in July 1998, has been in the public eye since she was a child. She first appeared on TV alongside her father in The Crocodile Hunter and later starred in shows like Bindi: The Jungle Girl and Crikey! It’s the Irwins. In 2015, she won Dancing With the Stars.

Following in her parents’ footsteps, Bindi is dedicated to wildlife conservation. She’s also an author, having written the children’s book You Are a Wildlife Warrior!: Saving Animals & the Planet, and a passionate advocate for those with endometriosis, openly sharing her own experiences.

Bindi and her husband, Chandler Powell, married in 2020 and welcomed their daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, in 2021.

Many remember Bindi’s moving speech at her father’s funeral when she was just eight years old, and she continues to honor his legacy. In a February 2025 Instagram post, she wrote, “To the world, you will forever be remembered as the greatest Wildlife Warrior. To me, you’ll always be the most incredible dad and now our family’s guiding light. I love you and I miss you every day.”

Born five years after his sister Bindi, Robert Irwin arrived in December 2003 and quickly followed in his family’s footsteps, using television to educate people about the natural world. He’s appeared on shows like Wild But True and Crikey! It’s the Irwins, and has also hosted I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, done some modeling, and is currently a contestant on season 34 of Dancing With the Stars. Beyond being on camera, Robert is a skilled wildlife photographer.

He also remains actively involved with the Australia Zoo, continuing the important conservation work his father started.

In a 2024 interview with BBC Radio 2, Robert shared, “He is my superhero. He always will be.” He explained that his father was a hero to an entire generation, and it’s incredibly meaningful to hear stories about his impact every day. Robert feels honored to carry on his father’s legacy and ensure his life’s work continues.

Bindi Irwin’s love story mirrors her parents’. Just as Steve met Terri while she was visiting the Australia Zoo as a tourist, Bindi met her husband, Chandler Powell, at the same location.

It happened in 2013 when Chandler, a professional wakeboarder at the time, was in Australia for a competition. He took a tour of the zoo led by Bindi, and they instantly connected. As Chandler shared in a 2024 podcast, they “hit it off right away” and felt an immediate connection.

Being teenagers, Chandler respectfully asked Bindi’s mother for permission to pursue a relationship. Bindi later revealed to Entertainment Tonight in 2016 that she didn’t hear from Chandler for a while because he had written a letter requesting to stay in touch.

Years later, in 2020, the couple completed the circle by getting married at the Australia Zoo. Bindi shared on Instagram in May 2025, calling marrying her best friend “10/10 would recommend.”

Grace was born in March 2021 and, like her parents, quickly developed a passion for animals. However, her mom, Bindi, is waiting before letting her get near the crocodiles.

Bindi Irwin says her daughter, Grace, won’t be helping with crocodile feeding anytime soon. Speaking to TODAY.com in February 2025, she explained that she wants to ensure Grace is prepared for any animal encounter. Currently, Grace is most interested in koalas, tortoises, giraffes, and red pandas, and Bindi feels comfortable with her interactions with those animals. Bindi also shared with Us Weekly in May 2024 that she’s making sure Grace knows about her grandfather, Steve Irwin, whom Grace affectionately calls ‘Grandpa Crocodile,’ and loves watching documentaries about him.

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2025-11-25 18:50