In the 2000 film "Gladiator", which actor plays the Roman general Maximus?

In the 2000 film "Gladiator," Russell Crowe plays the Roman general Maximus.

Crowe portrays Maximus Decimus Meridius, a respected commander whose loyalty to Emperor Marcus Aurelius makes him a threat to Commodus, the emperor's ambitious son. After Commodus murders Marcus Aurelius and seizes power, Maximus refuses to submit. He is condemned, loses his family and is sold into slavery.

Maximus then becomes a gladiator and rises through the arena by combining military leadership with formidable combat skills. His goal is revenge, but the story also gives him a larger political purpose: restoring Rome's future after Commodus's betrayal. Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus, while Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla.

The character is fictional, although the film draws on Roman history and loosely resembles several historical figures. Its version of Commodus and the Colosseum is heavily dramatized. Crowe's performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the film won five Oscars overall, including Best Picture.