ShoWest 2001 to Honor Russell Crowe as Male Star of the Year.

Entertainment Editors

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINEMENT WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2001

ShoWest 2001 will honor Academy Award-nominee Russell Crowe, who has also earned this year Best Actor nominations for a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA, for his role in the DreamWorks' blockbuster "Gladiator," as the Male Star of the Year at ShoWest 2001.

Crowe will receive his award at the annual Gala Award Banquet sponsored by the Coca-Cola Co., to be held at the Bally's and Paris Hotels in Las Vegas on March 8.

"With his remarkable performance in 'Gladiator,' this has definitely been Russell Crowe's year to shine," said Robert Sunshine, chairman of Sunshine Group Worldwide (SGW).

Crowe, who last starred opposite Meg Ryan in Warner Bros.' "Proof of Life," also recently won a Best Actor Award from the Broadcast Film Critic Association for his role as Maximus in "Gladiator." Last year, Crowe received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his role in Michael Mann's true-life drama "The Insider." His compelling portrayal of tobacco company whistle blower Dr. Jeffrey Wigand also brought him Best Actor Awards from the Los Angles Film Critics, Broadcast Film Critics, National Society of Film Critics and the National Board of Review, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Crowe previously garnered widespread acclaim for his performance as vice cop Bud White in Curtis Hanson's crime drama "L.A. Confidential." He later starred in Jay Roach's "Mystery Alaska" and will next be seen in Ron Howard's "A Brilliant Mind."

Earlier in his career, New Zealand-born Crowe was recognized for three consecutive years by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), beginning in 1991 when he was nominated for Best Actor in "The Crossing." The following year, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award for "Proof," and, in 1992, he received Best Actor Award from the AFI, as well as the Australian Film Critics, for his performance in the controversial "Romper Stomper."

In 1995, Crowe make his American film debut in Sam Raimi's "The Quick and the Dead," opposite Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman and Leonardo DiCaprio. His other credits include: "Heaven's Burning," "Virtuosity," "Breaking Up," "Rough Magic," "The Sum of Us," "For the Moment," "Love in Limbo," "The Silver Brumby," "The Efficiency Expert" and "Prisoners of the Sun."

The 2000 ShoWest Male Star of the Year was Jim Carrey. Among the previous winners of the award are John Travolta, Tom Hanks, Robin Williams and Mel Gibson.

ShoWest 2001 will be held from Monday, March 5, through Thursday, March 8, at Bally's and Paris Hotels in Las Vegas. Celebrating its 27th year, ShoWest is the world's largest motion picture industry convention. Each year, ShoWest attracts delegates from more than 45 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. ShoWest is managed by Sunshine Group Worldwide, operators of ShowEast, Cinema Expo and CineAsia.