Russell Crowe gives Robert Irwin "very in-depth feedback" over his Dancing With the Stars performance every week.

Robert told Access Hollywood: "I'm incredibly grateful for his support on this dancing journey. It's actually been really cool because Russell will message after [each] performance.

"Instead of going, 'This was a really great dance,' he'll really delve into the detail of, 'Okay these steps were great, love the lines, love the clarity in the storytelling.'

"To really get that very in-depth feedback is amazing, and it means a lot."

Robert is pleased to have the support of the Nuremberg star during his stint on the show because the actor is aware of how much his appearance means to him.

He added: "What I'm doing - I'm not a dancer, I'm trying to tell my story through dance, I'm trying to spread my message of positivity and passion and enthusiasm through dance, and Russell being there to support that means a lot."

Robert - who is the son of late conservationist Steve Irwin and his widow Terri Irwin - admitted many of his childhood memories involve 61-year-old Russell and he's grateful to have someone outside of the family to speak to about his dad.

He told People magazine: "I've known him for as long as I've been alive. 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 grateful that I have someone in my life who ... he's actually been there to, in a way, keep my dad alive in my life.

"He has so many stories to share of him and dad, and I feel like I build an even better picture of my dad when I'm around Russell.

"Russell and dad were just great mates, so it's a different perspective than when you're hearing about your mom.

"It's meaningful. He's someone that I look up to and has truly inspired me."

And Terri is grateful that Russell took the family "under his wing" following Steve's death in 2006.

She said: "Russell was friends with Steve first, and then when Steve passed, he really took our family under his wing and looked after us, took care of us, and helped me with advice about my kids."