The Unknown Details About Brendan Fraser's Private Life

There are beloved actors, and then there’s Brendan Fraser. The legend has been in some of the most prominent roles of our time, but things have been far from easy for the actor. In fact, Brendan Fraser was completely missing from the limelight for years - and no one knew why.

Learning how Brendan Fraser went from a missing actor to an Oscar winner sheds light on what was happening behind the scenes, even though no one understood what was happening for years. That was until the star finally opened up about his experiences in the limelight and behind closed doors.

Brendan Fraser beat a host of big names for his first Oscar win

Getting nominated for an Oscar is a huge moment for any actor. However, it was even bigger for Brendan Fraser than most at the 2023 awards, as the actor finally got his hands on his first Academy Award. The reason? His time as the leading role in the psychological drama ‘The Whale’ which fully cemented his return to Hollywood.

As if that wasn’t enough, Brendan beat out a host of prominent names for his Best Actor award. Those include Colin Farrell in the tragicomedy ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ and Austin Butler in the biographical movie ‘Elvis,’ with Brendan’s time as the morbidly obese teacher moving people across the globe before his big win for the night.

The actor touched on his disappearance from the limelight in his thank-you speech

Winning an Oscar was one thing, but the award was more than just a moment in the spotlight for Brendan Fraser. After all, the actor has been noticeably missing from Hollywood for years, with ‘The Whale’ fully cementing his return to stardom. It’s even something he touched on during his acceptance speech at the Oscars.

Here, Brendan confessed that “Things didn’t come easily to me” and that it was a “facility I didn’t appreciate at the time until it stopped.” It seems Brendan also had plenty of other things to be thankful for during his speech, thanking his three children and Jeanne Moore, aka his “first mate,” adding, “this is what the multiverse looks like!”

The Whale has already won Brendan Fraser critical acclaim, but he hasn’t attended every event

Appearing in ‘The Whale’ was a role that’s unlike many others we have seen from Brendan Fraser, with fans across the world eager to see what the actor had up his sleeve. In fact, it’s been so highly praised that the actor has been up for - and won - a host of awards throughout the 2023 season.

Although he won a Critics’ Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild Award, Brendan hasn’t been seen at every event. The star was nominated for a Golden Globe, among several others, but refused to appear at the awards ceremony. It wasn’t long before the reason for his disappearance all those years ago started to put things into perspective.

Brendan Fraser initially stayed in Hollywood for a failed TV pilot

Every star has their own way of making it to Hollywood. While some are born into acting families, Brendan Fraser knew he had to work hard if he wanted to make a name for himself. Still, things didn’t get off to a flying start, with the actor staying in Hollywood for a TV pilot that never came.

It wasn’t until a profile was released in USA Weekend that the world learned about the pilot, but the show or Brendan’s role were never revealed. The part might not have gone anywhere, but Brendan confessed he had “the focus and drive,” adding he “wanted to be a part of this business very much.” Thankfully, his determination eventually paid off.

The early ‘90s saw things turn around for the actor in several smaller movies

The TV pilot might not have paid off, but that didn’t stop Brendan Fraser from giving every role his all as he tried to make it as an actor in Hollywood. Thankfully, people eventually saw his star quality, with Brendan earning his first movie role in 1991. That moment came in the coming-of-age drama ‘Dogfight.’

From there, things were only on the up, with the actor appearing in the comedy ‘Encino Man’ the following year. The best bit? 1992 also marked the first time Brendan landed a starring role in the drama movie ‘School Ties.’ They might have been smaller films, but they were all the actor needed to get his name on the map.

George of the Jungle was Brendan Fraser’s first major role

By 1997, Brendan Fraser had a host of movies under his belt and was ready for something game-changing. Thankfully, the stars aligned, and it wasn’t long before the actor got his wish. That moment came in the form of the comedy film ‘George of the Jungle,’ where Brendan got another chance to play the lead role.

As a comedic take on Tarzan, the movie offered up plenty of chances for Brendan to - quite literally - let his hair down as he swung from vine to vine, watching out for every tree on the way. The film was enough to earn almost $180 at the box office and gave Brendan a chance to act alongside legend Leslie Mann.

It wasn’t long before Brendan Fraser became known for playing oddball characters

Most people have their own version of Brendan Fraser’s most memorable character. Still, most of them have something in common. Link in the comedy ‘Encino Man,’ Adam from the rom-com ‘Blast from the Past,’ George from the comedy ‘George of the Jungle,’ and Rick from the action-adventure movie ‘The Mummy’ are all pretty oddball characters.

Think about it. Each character is often out of their depth and overwhelmed by everything coming their way, creating a host of comedy moments throughout each movie. They also turn into larger-than-life characters who sit well with audiences across the world. The best bit? Brendan’s wide-eyed performances make each one incredibly memorable, regardless of which movie we’re watching.

The actor later confessed to loving characters who are out of their depth

Playing similar characters wasn’t something that happened by chance. Instead, Brendan Fraser admits that he was always drawn to these kinds of characters, stating it’s something that’s happened since the early days of his career. In 1997, the actor spoke to The Independent about it all, admitting he is “intrigued” by “naive” characters “who are essentially fish out of water.”

Brendan specifically spoke about playing George in ‘George of the Jungle,’ adding the character has no idea why people are running around, and he wants to leave, yet he’s intrigued by everything new he has never seen. According to the actor, that’s the kind of thing he “[loves] to play” and has seen fans come out in droves each time.

Brendan Fraser became one of the most prominent male actors who was always objectified

Just because things were going from strength to strength for Brendan Fraser didn’t mean that things were entirely smooth sailing. In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about women being turned into objects to desire and lust after instead of being respected for their incredible talents and work they do. What about men?

While it hasn’t been discussed as much, it’s something that very much happens and was something Brendan Fraser was about to experience. Although some men of the time had been turned into objects away from the screen, most of Bredan’s roles involved him being shirtless or wearing nothing more than a loincloth, something that didn’t go unnoticed.

Being seen as an object saw Brendan Fraser face intense stress and turn down roles

At the time, Brendan Fraser was living the high life as he enjoyed several prominent roles. Still, that didn’t mean the objectification entirely passed him by. Instead, it’s something that became more apparent in his life as time passed. Brendan admitted he would look at himself as “a walking steak” and knew it helped him become an action star.

Sadly, The Digital Fix also reported the roles took a considerable toll on Brendan’s body as he tried to stay in shape. Apparently, it was enough for the actor to turn down a chance to appear in ‘George of the Jungle 2.’ According to Brendan, he didn’t want to put his body through the same amount of physical stress again

Starring in Gods and Monsters helped Brendan Fraser reach incredible levels of fame

It might have caused his body a lot of stress, but appearing in ‘George of the Jungle’ was enough to put Brendan Fraser’s name well and truly on the map. Thankfully, it paved the way for more incredible roles, such as his time in the 1998 period drama ‘Gods and Monsters.’ The best bit? Brendan earned even more praise.

While it might have only brought home $6.5 million at the box office, ‘Gods and Monsters’ was enough to see Brendan and the movie up for a host of awards, including an Academy Award. Suddenly, all eyes were on the actor as production studios all wanted the biggest action star of the time to star in their next movie.

Breaking away from his previous roles and getting to work with Ian McKellen was the actor’s inspiration

Having a good story is the basis for any movie, but that’s not all that pulled Brendan Fraser to ‘Gods and Monsters.’ Another reason was the movie’s other star: Ian McKellen. Of course, he has a legendary career of his own under his belt, with Brendan telling The Independent Ian is “an inspiration” and “favorite actor of mine.”

Apparently, McKellen is the reason Brendan started acting, with the actor admitting they went through several different relationships while making the movie, such as “mentor and student” or “father and son.” As if that wasn’t enough, Brendan also wanted to “go against the grain” of his precious roles, like his starring part in ‘George of the Jungle.’

The Mummy was a franchise unlike anything else in Brendan Fraser’s career

There are Brendan Fraser movies, and then there’s ‘The Mommy.’ No one had any idea just how big the action-adventure franchise would grow when it was released in 1999, especially as the actor was working hard in several movies a year by the time it was released. That didn’t stop Brendan from giving the part of Rick O’Connell his all.

The movie was an instant success, grossing more than $416.4 million and quickly earning two sequels in the following years. Of course, Brendan was always there to reprise his role and only gained more fans each time he stepped up as the adventurer. The best bit? ‘The Mummy’ was highly praised for its visual effects throughout.

His fame meant Brendan Fraser got to enjoy a host of roles and praise across the globe

The turn of the century - and his leading role in ‘The Mummy’ - meant Brendan Fraser was officially up there with the best of the best in Hollywood. The actor almost had his pick of the movies, as studios across Hollywood all wanted to see what they could do with his talents and skills, alongside Brendan’s comedic timing.

Starring with Elizabeth Hurley in the rom-com ‘Bedazzled’ was just one of the highlights, with the likes of the comedy movie ‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action’ and crime drama ‘Crash’ both offering Brendan a chance to expand his horizons. As if that wasn’t enough, Brendan even got to appear in a host of roles on the small screen, too.

Losing the chance to play Superman took a huge toll on Brendan Fraser’s confidence

His career might have appeared as though it was going from strength to strength, but things weren’t entirely going to plan for Brendan Fraser behind closed doors. Getting to play a superhero is often a huge moment in an actor’s career, especially when it’s one of the greats like Superman. Amazingly, that was almost the case for Brendan.

In 2002, Brendan was set to bring the hero to life, telling Yahoo Entertainment he felt “kind of invincible” at the thought. While fans couldn’t wait to see their favorite action star bring his charm to the Man of Steel, it wasn’t to be. According to his later interview with GQ, losing Superman made Brendan feel like a complete failure.

Looney Tunes: Back in Action saw the actor need some unusual acting methods

Appearing in ‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action’ might not have been playing a superhero, but it didn’t give Brendan Fraser a chance to show off just how talented he really is. Why? The movie is an animated/live-action hybrid, meaning the star of it all had to act alongside nothing at all in front of the camera.

Brendan later opened up about what it was like to act with co-stars who didn’t exist until the movie was done, telling ComingSoon that “As long as the actor believes” the characters exist,” the audience will too.” Of course, acting so naturally throughout the movie just went to show how talented Brendan really is as an actor.

The film also paved the way for Brendan Fraser’s emotional reunion with an elephant

Just because his co-stars didn’t exist didn’t mean everyone was entirely made up during ‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action.’ Instead, Brendan Fraser had an emotional reunion with a former co-star in an unexpected way, as he got to work alongside Tai the elephant once again. The pair first met when he starred in ‘George of the Jungle.’

According to the actor, he knew there would be an elephant in the new movie, but he had no idea it would be Tai. Apparently, the elephant is incredibly famous in Hollywood and often used when they need an animal star, with Brendan confessing he had “tears in my eye” as soon as he saw “that big ol’ snout” again.

The actor confessed he took the part to portray the worst version of himself

2003 was supposed to be major for Brendan Fraser, but unfortunately, things behind the scenes meant he was battling several inner and outer demons while filming ‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action.’ In fact, it was these demons that led him to take the role in the first place, with the actor wanting to portray the worst version of himself.

The actor even went as far as admitting he “had it in my head that I had it coming.” Apparently, the movie was enough to humiliate the star, especially as he publicly spoke about how disappointed and upset he was with his portrayal in the film. Rather than searching for help, Brendan started to disappear from the limelight.

Brendan Fraser provided a lot of input to the script of Journey to the Center of the Earth

Things did take a bit of a turn for Brendan Fraser in 2008 when he starred in the sci-fi fantasy movie ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth.’ Still, it took a lot of work before the film was ready to hit the big screen, especially as Brendan was worried about the characters and their relationships with one another.

The actor confessed he was initially intrigued by the premise of the film but thought things needed to be improved if the characters were to have any substance. The result? Brendan worked closely with director Eric Brevig to create “ideas that were basically to change the relationships around a little bit.” The result? The hit Brendan hoped for.

The actor was ready to appear in The Mummy 3 despite the seven-year gap from the previous movie

It wasn’t long before 2008 started to look brighter, with Brendan Fraser getting the chance to return as Rick in ‘The Mummy’ franchise. It had been seven years since he last brought the adventurer to life, but that didn’t stop the actor from giving it his all. After all, it was like Brendan was born to play the part.

As if that wasn’t enough, Brendan had apparently been hoping the franchise would get a third movie for years, telling Collider, “I was missing it” and how he had been “waiting for the call from the studio.” His commitment to the character was all the third movie needed to thrive, ultimately bringing in $403.4 million at the box office.

Brendan Fraser had to appear in the third film without his previous co-star

Just because Brendan Fraser was back in ‘The Mummy’ franchise didn’t mean all the same faces were set to return. Instead, one lead was noticeably missing: Rachel Weisz. She played Evelyn O’Connell in the previous two movies, but this time, Rachel was replaced by Maria Bello - a change that didn’t sit well with plenty of fans.

Still, Brendan wanted to keep positive about it all, even though he told Collider he was “partners,” “colleagues,” and “friends” with Rachel thanks to their previous work together. Although the actor had no idea why Rachel wasn’t in the third film, he knew that Maria had the “enthusiasm, sass and class” to thrive - and she did.

Several movies were enough to injure Brendan Fraser more than most actors

Entering the entertainment industry as a young, healthy actor meant nothing could stand in Brendan Fraser’s way. In fact, he would often perform his own stunts, telling GQ that things started as soon as he was cast in the coming-of-age drama ‘Dogfight.’ Apparently, he got his “Screen Actors Guild card and an extra 50 bucks for the stunt adjustment.”

If there is one thing Brendan is known for, it’s throwing himself around and fully committing to every role that comes his way, which meant it wasn’t long before it all started to catch up to the actor. After all, there are only so many times you can get hurt, with Brendan filming ‘The Mummy’ while in serious pain.

Starring in The Mummy almost caused Brendan Fraser to lose his life

Getting frequently injured was one thing, but almost losing his life while filming ‘The Mummy’ was another. Sadly, that’s precisely what happened to Brendan Fraser during a particularly dangerous scene. That moment came when his character, Rick O’Connell, was almost hung. According to an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Brendan actually fell unconscious during the scene.

The actor added he remembers the camera panning around before it felt like someone was “turning down the volume switch on your home stereo” and “it was like a black iris at the end of a silent film.” It wasn’t until Brendan woke up to someone “saying my name” that he realized how close he came to passing away.

2008 also saw Brendan Fraser forced to undergo multiple surgeries after years of his own stunts

It wasn’t long before years of doing his own stunts all caught up with Brendan Fraser, and he was forced to seek medical help. Apparently, it was regular for the actor to tape ice packs to himself while filming ‘The Mummy 3’ just to ease the pain, but this couldn’t go on. Instead, he had to head under the knife.

A type of back surgery known as a laminectomy was one, but it didn’t work, so he had to have another operation. Brendan also told GQ that he had to have several more surgeries, such as a partial knee replacement, various back operations - such as “bolting various compressed spinal pads together” - and repair work on his vocal cords.

The actor was the one to push for his cameo in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

His surgeries and never-ending list of injuries meant Brendan Fraser was forced to slow down how much work he was taking on. Still, that didn’t mean he was entirely ready to walk away from Hollywood just yet. Instead, the actor apparently pushed hard to have a cameo in the sci-fi action movie ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.’

Producer Bob Ducsay and director Stephen Sommers already had a good relationship with the actor thanks to the trio teaming up for the first two ‘Mummy’ movies, and it wasn’t long before Brendan used this to pull some strings. The actor told Syfy how he begged to have a tiny part in the pair’s new movie - and it paid off.

Brendan Fraser faced plenty of upset in his personal life around the time of his surgeries

It turns out that dealing with extensive health issues was just the start of Brendan Fraser’s personal worries. In December 2007, the actor and his wife, Afton Smith, announced they were getting a divorce. Although they had been married for nine years and shared three children, it appeared there was no way to repair the damage in their relationship.

Brendan later confessed to GQ that he was moving houses, raising his children, and getting a divorce, all while dealing with his health issues, now on his own. In fact, the actor added he was going through situations “that mold and shape you in ways that you’re not ready for until you go through them.” Brendan’s acting work quickly dwindled.

Extensive surgeries led to Brendan Fraser being body shamed by the media

Being so objectified in his early career means all eyes have often been on Brendan Fraser’s appearance. It’s something that’s long plagued the star, even though Brendan has since confessed to facing memory issues during his time filming ‘George in the Jungle’ due to the strict diet and exercise regime he needed to maintain his physique.

Sadly, tabloids haven’t always been kind. The Daily Mail was one of many, with Gossip Mill adding to the problem, as they printed story after story all about Brendan’s apparent weight gain. Even though he was dealing with health issues and was unable to exercise, the media continually tried to tear Brendan down over his size.

Spending seven years in the hospital and making alimony payments led to lots of financial worries

For years, Brendan Fraser was known as one on set to take any punch that came his way. In fact, the actor confessed he would tell the crew he could take even harder hits, even though he had likely bruised a rib while filming ‘Dogfight.’ Unfortunately, years of not looking after his body meant a lengthy recovery process was inevitable.

That moment came when Brendan had to spend seven years in and out of the hospital going through all of his surgeries and physical therapy. The problem? He couldn’t act, and Brendan was rapidly running out of money. This wasn’t helped by the fact a judge ordered him to pay a staggering $900,000 in child support a year.

Brendan Fraser has compared himself to the horse from George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Anyone who has ever read George Orwell’s classic story ‘Animal Farm’ or seen the handful of movies that have been released of the story ever since might remember Boxer, the horse. He’s a good-natured character who is selfless and always works through hardships to help those around him. Apparently, this is something Brendan Fraser understands better than most.

Brendan has been open about pushing himself too hard all his life, to the point he is often self-destructive. Sadly, this could also hint at Brendan saying his trusting and kind nature means he’s often taken advantage of by others. It might also explain why the actor fell so hard for and rescued a horse from a History Channel set.

2016 marked Brendan Fraser’s return to the limelight, but it was far from smooth

Despite the fact that Brendan Fraser had been largely missing from the limelight for years, the actor did continue to appear in a handful of movies and TV shows throughout the years. Still, he didn’t give any interviews, preferring to keep himself to himself. That was until 2016, when Brendan appeared in AOL’s ‘Build’ series.

Here, Brendan was meant to talk about his role in the drama show ‘The Affair,’ but fans couldn’t help but notice how sad he seemed. It turned out Brendan’s mother lost her life just days before the interview. To make matters worse, the actor later told GQ he felt “old” as he hadn’t done a press interview in so long.

Brendan Fraser admitted in 2018 that he had been assaulted many years before

It wasn’t until Brendan Fraser sat down with GQ in 2018 that the world learned where he had really been for all these years. He claimed that Philip Berk, the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), had assaulted him many years before in 2003. The HFPA are the ones in charge of voting at the Golden Globes.

However, Brendan stated he was at a luncheon in Hollywood when the incident happened, with the actor stating he “felt like a little kid.” While Berk denies the claims, Brendan added he told his wife at the time, Afton, but he didn’t have “the courage to speak up,” thinking about the “risk of humiliation, or damage to my career.”

The alleged incident saw the actor fall into depression and become reclusive

Feeling so conflicted about what to do and wondering how it would affect his career meant Brendan Fraser kept what happened to him bottled up for years. Tragically, this had enormous consequences on every part of his life, with Brendan telling GQ that he “became depressed,” and it made him “retreat” from Hollywood and the limelight.

As if that wasn’t bad enough already, Brendan added he was “blaming myself and I was miserable.” According to the actor, he would often tell himself he deserved what happened, with work quickly drying up as he retreated from the limelight. It wasn’t long before Brendan felt as though “something had been taken away from me.”

Brendan Fraser felt as though he had been blacklisted by the HFPA

It can be tough not to overthink things when something happens. What about being allegedly assaulted by one of the biggest names in the business? This led Brendan Fraser to start looking at all aspects of his life, including the fact he felt as though the HFPA deliberately started to push him out of Hollywood following the incident.

According to the actor, nothing particularly happened - which was just the point. Brendan told GQ that “the silence was deafening” as he went from one of the biggest movie stars to being left off all the lists and nominations. In fact, Brendan was rarely invited to a Golden Globes ceremony following the moment with Philip Berk in 2003.

He refused to appear at the Golden Globes in 2023

It wasn't long after Brendan Fraser's interview that all eyes were on the HFPA and Philip Berk. Sadly, nothing much came of the accusations. Instead, the HFPA said there was an internal investigation that concluded Berk was playing a "joke" and they wouldn't be taking things any further. Still, Berk did eventually lose his job due to offensive language.

GQ later reported that Brendan stated he had more history" with the HFPA than he had "respect" for the HFPA and, therefore, "I will not participate." Ultimately, Brendan lost the award for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture to Austin Butler for his time in the biographical movie 'Elvis,' but his absence was noticed more than anything else.

The actor confessed he was initially scared to speak out during the #MeToo movement

Even though Brendan Fraser ultimately spoke up about the alleged incident in 208, the actor was still reluctant to tell his story. Unfortunately, it was something that had been playing on his mind ever since the moment occurred all those years before, with the #MeToo movement still not enough to help him come forward for years.

The movement was in full swing at the end of the 2010s, with several women speaking about their experiences in Hollywood. Brendan eventually admitted he felt he “[needed] to say something,” and it wasn’t until he saw others come forward that he was ready. Apparently, he took advice from Carrie Fisher with her quote, “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”

Brendan Fraser’s grand return to action movies was canceled before it began

Although Brendan Fraser might have been worried about speaking up, his interview was met with a huge amount of praise and love from his fans across the world. It looked as though 2022 was set to be a huge year for the star, with a chance to return to the action world on the horizon in the form of ‘Batgirl.’

According to Variety, the actor was set to play the villain Firefly, but the plug was pulled before he ever got a chance. Brendan was worried it would hurt his comeback efforts and return to what he loved, especially as his ex-wife accused him of fraud and hiding $9 million in a bid to reduce his child support payments.

The actor chose his TV roles as he made his return to our screens

The rise of social media has seen plenty of unexpected stars emerge. Still, one that many never saw coming was the Brenaissance - aka the return of the legendary Brendan Fraser. TikTok users were quick to share their excitement about the actor returning to their screens in a host of TV shows throughout 2018, including the superhero series ‘Titans.’

The genre seems to be a theme for the actor, who has since gone on to appear in the superhero series ‘Doom Patrol,’ but that doesn’t mean Brendan will take anything that comes his way. Instead, the actor told Syfy he wants roles that “[play] to my strengths and [are] relevant.” Thankfully, it means Brendan is open to most things.

Brendan Fraser made his grand return to Hollywood when he was cast in The Whale

The TV roles might have been his chance to return and fall back in love with his craft, but it wasn’t until Brendan Fraser was cast as the lead in the psychological drama ‘The Whale’ the world learned he was back with a vengeance. He was first announced as the lead in January 2021, one of the first since 2013.

Director Darren Aronofsky later admitted that he specifically wanted Brendan to bring the morbidly obese teacher to life in the movie. In fact, the actor later told vanity fair that Darren “wanted an actor to reintroduce.” The twist? Brendan “wanted to be reintroduced.” In the end, it was a better pairing than anyone could have ever imagined.

The actor worked closely with the Obesity Action Coalition for his role in the movie

For years, the idea of being overweight in a TV show or movie has been used as a comedy gag. No one working on ‘The Whale’ wanted that to be the case. Instead, Brendan Fraser confessed to Vanity Fair that he worked alongside the Obesity Action Coalition to make sure that was never the case.

This was especially important to the actor as he has been the subject of plenty of media stories about his size over the years, and he wanted to be sure no one felt targeted. Brendan even gained a significant amount of weight for his part, but some were still less than impressed that a suit was used in his costume.

Brendan Fraser’s return to Hollywood has been met with a huge amount of love and praise

Everyone will always have their opinions about how Brendan Fraser brought his character in ‘The Whale’ to life, but one thing is for sure - so many people are overwhelmed to see the actor back on their screens. In fact, Brendan was greeted with a five-minute standing ovation when the movie premiered at the London Film Festival.

From winning his first Oscar to tearfully taking to the stage to thank his fans at the many screenings of his latest movie, it seems there’s no holding Brendan back now. In fact, he already has two more films in post-production, with each seeing Brendan work with some huge names in the business like Leonardo DiCaprio and Peter Dinklage.