US Coast Guard

Russell Crowe, the Oscar-winner famous for his tough-guy roles, got a little help from the US Coast Guard this weekend while kayaking in the waters off New York's Long Island.

Crowe and a friend apparently lost track of time and when nightfall came, headed for the nearest shore, which was 10 miles east from where they launched their kayaks, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Robert Swieciki told the Associated Press.

Around 10 p.m. Saturday, Coast Guard officers, who were patrolling the area, heard the 48-year-old Australian actor call out to them from the shore. Crowe and his friend paddled out to the officers and were taken on board their boat.

"He just needed a little bit of help, he just got a little lost," Swieciki said. "It wasn't really a rescue, really, more of just giving someone a lift."

Crowe tweeted a message of thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard Sunday morning at 1:30 a.m.

"Thanks to Seth and the boys from the US Coast Guard for guiding the way…4 hrs 30 mins, 7m(11.2km)," he wrote.

The actor is currently in Long Island filming "Noah."

The movie, which is based on the biblical story, is slated for a 2014 release.