What Happened to Brendan Fraser?

For a long time, Brendan Fraser was a familiar face on the big screen. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he was in many popular movies. He starred in comedies and action films, becoming a well-known leading man in Hollywood. His roles in movies like George of the Jungle and The Mummy franchise made him a household name. Audiences were drawn to his charm and charisma.

Then, it seemed like he disappeared. The steady stream of roles in major movies slowed to a trickle. For years, Fraser was not a constant presence in cinemas, leading many to wonder what had happened to the once-prominent star.

His absence from the spotlight was not due to a single event but a combination of difficult personal and professional challenges that took a heavy toll on him. A series of deeply personal struggles unfolded away from the public eye, contributing to his withdrawal from the high-profile career he had built.

A significant factor in his retreat was a series of severe physical injuries. Fraser was known for performing many of his own stunts in his action-packed films. This dedication to his roles came at a great physical cost. Over the years, the demanding stunt work led to numerous injuries. He underwent multiple surgeries to address the damage. These included a partial knee replacement, a laminectomy (a type of back surgery), and even procedures to repair his vocal cords.

For nearly seven years, he was in and out of hospitals, a grueling process that limited his ability to work and took a significant toll on his body. By the time he was filming the third installment of The Mummy series, he described needing to piece himself together with tape and ice packs just to get through the day.

At the same time, Fraser was dealing with serious emotional distress. In 2018, he publicly stated that he had been sexually assaulted in 2003 by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization that hosts the Golden Globes. Fraser said the incident, which Berk has called a “total fabrication,” left him feeling ill and panicked. He described feeling like a child and wanting to cry.

The alleged assault plunged him into a deep depression, and he began to blame himself. He felt reclusive and retreated from public life, questioning his place in the industry. He believes the incident led to him being “blacklisted” by the HFPA, noting that he was rarely invited back to the Golden Globes after it occurred. This experience, combined with the other pressures in his life, had a profound impact on his mental health.

His personal life was also in turmoil during this period. Fraser went through a difficult divorce from his wife, Afton Smith, in 2007, after nine years of marriage. The divorce was followed by disputes over alimony payments. In addition to the end of his marriage, Fraser also had to cope with the death of his mother from cancer. He is also a father to three sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum, and navigating these family responsibilities while dealing with his own health and career struggles added another layer of difficulty.

The combination of physical pain, emotional trauma from the alleged assault, the end of his marriage, and his mother’s passing created an overwhelming set of circumstances that led him to step away from the Hollywood spotlight.

After years away from major leading roles, Brendan Fraser made a powerful return to the screen. His comeback was cemented by his performance in the 2022 film The Whale, directed by Darren Aronofsky. In the movie, Fraser plays Charlie, a reclusive and morbidly obese English professor trying to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

The role was physically and emotionally transformative. His portrayal of Charlie was met with widespread critical acclaim. The film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival was met with a six-minute standing ovation, an emotional moment that brought Fraser to tears and went viral online.

This wave of support, dubbed the “Brenaissance” by fans, followed him throughout the awards season. His moving performance earned him numerous accolades. He won the Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor.

His Oscar win was a particularly poignant moment, marking the pinnacle of his professional return and a triumphant moment after years of hardship. In his acceptance speech, he reflected on his 30-year career, acknowledging that success had not come easily.

Following this resurgence, Fraser has not slowed down. He appeared in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed 2023 film, Killers of the Flower Moon. He has also completed filming on a comedy-drama called Rental Family, in which he plays a down-and-out actor in Tokyo who is hired by a Japanese rental family company.

Another upcoming project is a World War II thriller titled Pressure, where he will portray General Dwight D. Eisenhower. His return has been characterized by a focus on more dramatic and complex roles, showcasing his range as an actor beyond the action and comedy genres that first made him famous.

What are your thoughts on Brendan Fraser’s career and his recent comeback? Share your opinions in the comments below.