Robert Irwin is opening up about the unexpected person who helped him feel more connected to his late father, wildlife icon Steve Irwin. In a new interview, the popular and fan-favourite “Dancing with the Stars” contestant revealed that his longtime family friend, Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, has played a significant role in honoring and preserving his father’s memory.
Getty/Canva“I’ve known him for as long as I’ve been alive,” Robert told People while attending the premiere of Crowe’s new film “Nuremberg” at AFI Fest on October 25. “Some of the earliest memories of me with my dad were also with Russell, which is really special.
Russell Crowe Helped Keep Steve Irwin’s Memory Alive
(Photo by Australia Zoo via Getty Images)Robert explained that hearing Crowe reminisce about his father has helped him understand parts of Steve’s personality he was too young to remember.
“I’m really grateful that I have someone in my life who… he’s actually been there to, in a way, keep my dad alive in my life,” he shared. “He has so many stories to share of him and dad, and I feel like I build an even better picture of my dad when I’m around Russell.”
(Photo by Australia Zoo via Getty Images)He added that Crowe’s memories offer a different emotional perspective than what he hears from his mom, Terri Irwin, or his sister Bindi.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)“Russell and Dad were just great mates, so it’s a different perspective,” Robert said. “It’s meaningful. He’s someone that I look up to and has truly inspired me.”
Honoring Steve’s Legacy
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Steve Irwin, known worldwide as “The Crocodile Hunter,” died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray while filming an underwater documentary. Robert was only 2 years old.
Now 21, Robert continues his father’s mission in wildlife conservation and media. He recently shared that he has even dreamed about honoring Steve onstage.
“The Crocodile Hunter on Broadway, I never thought about that,” he told Parade. “I mean, bring the spirit of wildlife conservation… to the stage.”
His Dancing with the Stars partner Witney Carson called the idea “incredible,” while Robert imagined a cast in khaki uniforms, joking that he was “having an epiphany.”
Robert’s Glorious DWTS Journey
Robert is currently competing on Dancing with the Stars, which airs live Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+ and streams the following day on Hulu.
For Week 6, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson took on a Jazz routine to “Dancing Through Life,” performed by Jonathan Bailey in the upcoming “Wicked” film.
Ahead of the live show, Robert teased the performance on Instagram, playfully lip-syncing one of Bailey’s lines in rehearsal. “Gonna bring the rizz to shiz. You ready to dance through life tomorrow?” he joked in the caption.
The performance earned unanimous praise from the judges. Carrie Ann Inaba told Robert that “Dancing Through Life” should be his theme song, calling the routine ambitious and confidently executed. Derek Hough encouraged him to “swap [his] hiking boots for Broadway shoes,” noting that he looked born for the stage.
Guest judge Jon Stewart said watching Robert perform in person was “even better” than seeing him on-screen, while Bruno Tonioli described the number as a “joyful, theatrical treat.”
Irwin and Carson earned a season-best 36 out of 40.
Looking ahead to Week 7: The duo will return for Halloween Night with an Argentine Tango set to The Hampton String Quartet’s “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This.” Fans can vote for Robert and Witney during the live broadcast on ABC and Disney+.
Crowe’s film “Nuremberg” arrives in theaters on November 7.
I love watching the Irwin family. They seem to be a close-knit support group for each other, AND the environment. It’s refreshing and hopeful to see human beings acting this way. If only our political leaders would take a page from the Irwin playbook, the world might be a happier place.