Oscar-winning actor, Australian pub-rock singer Russell Crowe canceled plans for a US Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts tour citing a "massive level of stress" - that and his head still hurts from his latest brawl:

announced he has headed home to Australia to spend time with his ailing father and girlfriend.

"Though I love all aspects of my work, and it has certainly benefited my family in myriad ways, the success of the last three or four years has also brought with it an undeniably massive level of stress, not only to me but to my immediate and extended family and to my friends and friendships," Crowe says in an announcement posted on the Grunts' Website, gruntland.com.

He explains that he wants to be with his dad when he recovers from a series of surgeries on his wrists for carpal tunnel syndrome (the operations are slated for December).

And in a rather sensitive moment for the oft-surly star, Mr. Beautiful Mind goes public with his love for current squeeze, singer Danielle Spencer, saying he wants to race home to be with her.

"I am in love with Danielle Spencer, but I don't get to spend nearly enough time with her," says Crowe. "Dani has been very patient with all of the speculations of the past year or so, which I thank her for. I feel a great need to wake up with her as many days of my life as I can." [from E! online]

I think Crowe is a great actor, but as is often the case, what makes him a great actor - an ability to "live in the moment," intensity, vast reserves of charm - turn him into a recklessly womanizing, brawling lout in real life:

Ever since his Academy Award-winning stint in Gladiator, Crowe, 38, has led a life the tabloids dream about.

From a kidnapping plot against him to his affair with a married Meg Ryan to his ... frequent barroom brawls (most recently last week in London), Crowe has gotten nearly as much ink for his acting as for his extracurricular activities.

No word on whether the latest restaurant row had anything to do with Crowe's massive stress.

Yes, fighting a Kiwi multi-millionaire in a London men's room a week ago today:

According to reports in London's Sun and Daily Mirror tabloids, complete with photos of a scuffed-up Crowe illustrating their stories, the pony-tailed actor had been knocking down a few pints in a West End pub before heading over to Zuma--an It hangout frequented by movie stars, rockers, heads of state and even royalty--for a Japanese repast.

Crowe, in town to attend the funeral of friend and Gladiator costar Richard Harris, ran into another New Zealander at the restaurant, a wealthy businessman named Eric Watson. Crowe and Watson reportedly have a strained relationship, apparently dating back to a fight over a woman two years ago.

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