Robert Irwin Understands Dad Steve Better Thanks to Russell Crowe (Exclusive)

Robert Irwin and Russell Crowe share a bond that transcends friendship.

While supporting long-time family friend Crowe for his film, Nurembergat 2025 AFI PartyRobert, 21, told PEOPLE exclusively that Russell has helped him hold on to his late father Steve Irwins memory alive.

“I’ve known him as long as I’ve been alive,” Robert says of Russell, 61, at the Oct. 24 screening in California, with his mother, Terri Irwin. “I have some very early memories, actually. Some of the earliest memories of me with my dad were also with Russell, which is really special.”

“I’m really thankful that I have someone in my life that … he’s actually been there to kind of keep my dad alive in my life,” Robert adds of Gladiator star. “He has so many stories to share about him and dad, and I feel like I’m building an even better picture of my dad when I’m around Russell.”

Robert emphasized that Russell was able to provide an even broader perspective on his father than he could get from his own family members.

“Russell and dad were just good mates, so it’s a different perspective than when you hear about your mum,” he explains. “It makes sense. He’s someone I look up to and has really inspired me.”

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While he has spent much of his time competing at Dancing with the stars along with partner Witney Carson, Robert has also been thinking of his fatherWHO died in 2006 aged 44 after being attacked by a stingray off the coast of Australia while filming an underwater documentary, in the process.

“We’ve been working hard and I’ve kind of tapped into emotions that I haven’t really been able to share before — certainly not publicly,” Robert said in an Oct. 12 statement. TikTok pre-show video”Dedication eveningepisode, where he dedicated a dance to his mother.

He continued, “I’ve been thinking a lot about my dad, I’ve been thinking a lot about the highs and lows, the grief, how my mom has helped me navigate.”

After an emotional performance that brought the mother-son duo — along with much of the audience — to tears during the Oct. 14 episode, Robert went on to gulp about how Terri, 61, has served as a role model for him.

“My mom exemplifies how to be strong. And I think so many people forget what strong means,” Robert told PEOPLE that night. “You think strong is like steadfast, you show up, you just keep going and everything is fine. That’s not what strength is.”

“True strength is being able to find and feel your own vulnerability, your own emotion and use that to carry yourself and hopefully try to help others and create a community,” he continued. “And my mom is just such a kind and vulnerable and strong and steadfast person, and she teaches me every day what it’s like to put one foot in front of the other, even when it’s so hard to do it.”

Nuremberg — in which Crowe portrays Nazi leader Hermann Göring — hits theaters Nov. 7.