Russell Crowe was arrested in New York for allegedly throwing a telephone at a hotel employee early Monday morning, according to a police report obtained by CNN.

Authorities say the New Zealand-born actor, 41, was upset that he could not place a call to Australia on his phone at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo. Police also say that the employee required stitches to mend a facial bruise. Crowe, who is in New York to promote his new movie Cinderella Man (which debuted in disappointing 4th place in the weekend box office race, with an estimated $18.6 million), is due to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court later Monday, the Associated Press reports.

Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Wysokowski says the Gladiator Oscar winner has been charged with second-degree assault. Wysokowski added that the alleged incident occurred at approximately 4:20 a.m.

Crowe has previously made news for heated encounters. At the 2002 Bafta Awards in London, he admitted to being "abusive" and "behaving unreasonably" towards a TV producer who cut shot his acceptance speech. Later that same year police reportedly reprimanded him following an alleged skirmish with a New Zealand businessman in a London restaurant.

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Posted by Lawren at June 6, 2005 07:51 AM

You Said

I do remember other reports of Crowe losing his cool---seems like he needs some anger management classes or something.

What is perhaps a bigger shame than the mishap is that it may draw attention away from 'Cinderella Man,' which is easily one of the best movies I have seen in recent years. Without a doubt there will be Oscar implications with this film---Crowes' and Zellweggers' performances were simply brilliant, the storyline was one of those based on a true story that is far too good to be true, and the scenes of depression-era NYC were stirring. I doubt if a better film will debut in 2005.

Says: ren at June 6, 2005 08:28 AM

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Yeah, he needs to get his emotions under control. He really acts like an arse most of the time.

Says: Nancy at June 6, 2005 06:38 PM

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