Russell Crowe remembers his friend Shane Warne in touching tribute as he shares the last photo of the pair enjoying dinner at the Crown

Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe shared a moving tribute to his friend Shane Warne on Monday evening.

The 57-year-old, who Shane hoped would play him in a Hollywood movie about his life, took to Twitter to unveil the final photo taken of the pair enjoying dinner at the Crown in Melbourne while joined by a bevy of friends.

The actor sweetly captioned the post: ‘Gold medallists, billionaires, fastest gun in the world. Oscars. Amy when she was a baby shark.’

Devastating loss: Russell Crowe (fifth left) shared a moving tribute to his friend Shane Warne (fifth right) on Monday evening. He shared this photo, the final image of the duo together as they enjoyed dinner in the Crown, Melbourne 

‘Lots of love, Shane,’ he concluded.

Warne tragically on Friday at the age of 52 while on holiday with his friends in Koh Samui, Thailand. He passed away from ‘natural causes’, an autopsy concluded.

Upon hearing the news of his death, Crowe also shared a moving post which read: ‘Woke this morning to the devastating news. Having a hard time accepting it.

‘Genius player. Grand company. Loyal friend.’

Devastating loss: Warne died on Friday at the age of 52 while on holiday with his friends in Koh Samui, Thailand. He died from ‘natural causes’, an autopsy concluded. Pictured with Russell Crowe in London in 2013

Heartache: Upon hearing the news of his death, Crowe also shared a moving post which read: ‘Woke this morning to the devastating news. Having a hard time accepting it. ‘Genius player. Grand company. Loyal friend’

In 2019, Warne had been in talks to make his 2008 Indian Premier League season into a Hollywood movie.

He said Crowe would be his top pick to star as him, ahead of Chris Hemsworth or Leonardo DiCaprio.

‘He’s [Crowe] such a quality actor, has done a lot of different roles,’ he told The Herald Sun at the time.

‘Chris Hemsworth is killing it and he’s an Aussie from Victoria too. I think we should have Margot Robbie too. We could have the All-Australian affair.’

Shane was found dead on Friday evening while on holiday at the luxury Samujana Villas resort in Koh Samui, Thailand. 

Close friends: In 2019, Warne had been in talks to make his 2008 Indian Premier League season into a Hollywood movie. He said Crowe (pictured hugging Warne in 2013) would be his top pick to star as him in a movie about his life ahead of Chris Hemsworth or Leonardo DiCaprio

Loss: Warne (pictured in 2016) was found dead while on holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand on Friday evening. Four friends staying with him battled to save his life for 20 minutes

Four friends staying with the athlete battled to save his life for 20 minutes, police have said.

The Australian cricketer turned pundit and businessman, and the greatest leg spinner in history, was found unconscious in a villa in the resort.

Thai police said that Warne was staying in the villa with four friends, and when one of the group tried to wake Shane for food at around 5pm local time today he was found to be unresponsive.

Cricket great: Warne’s family will hold a private funeral to say goodbye before a state service is held in front of up to 100,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Pictured in 2019

Shane’s manager separately confirmed his death, saying that the father-of-three could not be revived.  

Warne became a global star in 1993 by bowling out Mike Gatting with the so-called ‘Ball of the Century’ – his first ball in Ashes cricket.

He went on to get 708 test wickets, tormenting teams all over the world, especially Australia’s great rival England.    

Family: Shane is survived by his three children, daughter Brooke, 24, son Jackson, 22, and daughter Summer, 21, all of whom he shares with his ex-wife of ten years Simone Callahan, 52. All pictured

Warne’s family will hold a private funeral to say goodbye before a state service is held in front of up to 100,000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Close friends and family of the late cricketer will gather in Melbourne after Warne’s body is returned to Australia from Thailand.

Plans are still being finalised for a public memorial due to be held later this month.

Exes: Simone and Shane were married from 1995 to 2005. They briefly reconciled once more, but split again for the final time in 2010. Pictured in 2010

The life and times of Shane Warne: one of the greatest cricketers of all time

Warne was a renowned cricketer known for his love of life 

June 1993 – Warne bowls the ‘ball of the century’ to Mike Gatting, announcing himself on the world cricket stage

1995 – Warne marries Simone Callahan

2003 – Warne is banned from playing cricket and misses that year’s World Cup after testing positive for a banned drug

2005 – Warne and Callahan divorce

2006 – The spin bowler retires from international cricket having taken a record 708 test wickets

That same year, Warne has drives from Southampton to London for a tryst with two women

2011 – Liz Hurley and Warne start a relationship that lasts for two years

2014 – Warne has a brief relationship with Playboy model Emily Scott

2019 – Warne reportedly has a noisy four-way sex party at his London home 

March 4, 2022: He is found dead in his Thailand villa – the same day his hero Rod Marsh passed away

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