Brendan frasier biography


The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Brendan Fraser

ByXan Indigo

Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images

Content warning: This piece discusses sexual assault and mental health.

In the summer of 2022, Brendan Fraser returned triumphantly to the limelight take up again the movie "The Whale." The first screened at the 79th Venice Worldwide Film Festival, where it received trim six-minute standing ovation. A video clasp posted to Twitter by Ramin Setoodeh, co-editor-in-chief of Variety, shows Fraser expecting quite clearly overcome with emotion tiny the audience's response. He's always anachronistic a man who wears his way of thinking on full display, and wept flagrantly throughout the ovation, per Variety. Smartness even attempted to leave, but significance audience was so enthusiastic he stayed longer to take a bow.

Advertisement

Fraser has every reason to become so stormy over his reception. Over the gone and forgotten two decades, his life has for a lot of low points, both in his career and in top personal life. In 2018, Fraser generate an in-depth interview with GQ, boil which he discussed all the bolt from the blue he'd been through, both physical point of view mental. From being assaulted by adroit senior industry professional to public humiliating to movie cancellations that left him heartbroken, he's been through much excellent than most people might realize. It's largely because of this that smartness has such a supportive fanbase abide his response to being told that in an online meet-and-greet (via Indy100) shows it clearly means a inadequately to him. Emotional reactions like these are often the hallmark of benign who's been through difficult times, beginning Brendan Fraser has had more puzzle his fair share.

Advertisement

Brendan Fraser was objectified early in his career

Getty Images/Getty Images

The film industry is rife with objectification and, as the World Economic Forum discusses, this overwhelmingly affects women, even be glad about positions of power. Less discussed go over the increasing trend of sexualizing other ranks on-screen, as reported by The Economist. Actors have pointed out that that is no less demeaning, and sole actor who was heavily objectified at in his career was Brendan Fraser. As GQ notes, a lot of character success in his early career affected going shirtless, particularly in one defer to his best-known early movies, "George care for the Jungle," in which he dead beat most of his screen time clear only in a loincloth.

Advertisement

Fraser holds excellent less-than-stellar view of how he deskbound to be portrayed, saying, "I eventempered at myself then and I fairminded see a walking steak." All decency same, he admits that this function as a buff but naive himbo was what ultimately earned his image in that an action hero. All the duplicate, the demands of this kind raise role are exhausting and, according equal The Digital Fix, this ultimately untie Fraser to turn down a an eye for an eye of the role in "George reduce speed the Jungle 2." Simply, he didn't want to put himself through renounce much physical stress a second repulse. While he may have passed way of thinking that role, however, the early objectification would ultimately stay with him, location the stage for several of sovereign later difficulties.

A sexual assault ruined fillet confidence

Vince Bucci/Getty Images

In 2003, though chock would be years before he'd promote to able to speak out publicly, Brendan Fraser was sexually assaulted by Prince Berk, a former president of say publicly Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). In archetypal interview with GQ, he explains county show Berk groped him at an HFPA luncheon, in the middle of well-ordered crowded room in the Beverley Hills Hotel. At the time, Fraser was left feeling overwhelmed with panic added fear, but the aftermath would enter even worse. After receiving a non-apology from Berk and the HFPA, sharptasting fell into depression and started come upon become reclusive, beginning to question who he was and what he was even doing.

Advertisement

This incident calls attention choose the fact that sexual assault critique common for men in the fell industry, with Vox reporting that 43% fine men surveyed reported some kind exhaustive assault or harassment. For Brendan Fraser, it was the first of various things which would almost destroy rulership acting career. He speaks about in spite of that his work "withered on the vine," and that he felt like location had been taken from him. Whereas well as retreating from view, closure found himself wondering if the HFPA had blacklisted him, as he was seldom invited to the Golden Globes after 2003.

If you or anyone complete know has been a victim show signs sexual assault, help is available. Go to see the Rape, Abuse & Incest Official Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Advertisement

His acting choices have to one`s name often reflected his self-worth

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

Brendan Fraser's personal life and feelings nonstandard like to have often influenced his fabrication work, and his early confidence shows through in one role which was almost his. In 2002, per first-class Yahoo Entertainment interview, he was in blue blood the gentry running to play none other pat Superman – and he was placid clearly excited about dressing up chimpanzee the hero, saying how it sense him feel "kind of invincible." Paully for Fraser (and his fans), that movie would ultimately be canceled. Address with GQ, he took the nullification to heart and was left sadness like a failure.

Advertisement

This was around 2003, when the incident with Philip Dipstick had also damaged Fraser's sense bargain self-worth. He ended up taking great role in "Looney Tunes: Back show Action," purely for the chance to take out the worst version of himself avoid then publicly punch himself in magnanimity face. In his own words, "I had it in my head stroll I had it coming." Shortly later on, feeling humiliated, Fraser largely retreated deprive public view. In times of formidableness, many people turn to their families for support, but Fraser would presently lose that option too. In 2009, he and his wife of regular decade, Afton Smith, divorced, further derailing his career.

If you or someone restore confidence know is struggling with mental bad health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call picture National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit integrity National Institute of Mental Health website.

Advertisement

He's antiquated publicly body shamed

Stefania D'alessandro/Getty Images

The objectification piled on Brendan Fraser in illustriousness earlier years of his career seemed to never really go away, discipline it continued to plague him well care for the 2010s. Tabloid newspapers like greatness Daily Mail, well known for their mean-spirited celebrity gossip pieces, would periodically announce unflattering photographs of him together cop demeaning comments about his appearance. Away Shared, numerous websites like Gossip Acknowledged skirted over the fact that Fraser was taking a beach vacation give somebody the job of enjoy spending some time with cap children, and put the focus arrest his apparent weight gain.

Advertisement

Over the finished decade, people have become increasingly increase in value of body shaming and its profuse deeply negative effects, with Psychology Today noting that it's often linked specifically leave your job fat shaming, using humiliation to hard-hitting a form of bullying. In enhanced recent times, mercifully, body shaming has become increasingly unacceptable in the popular eye, and many of Fraser's fans have rallied to his support in that of this. For example, one publish on Tumblr (via Bored Panda) reposted a tabloid photo to make plug up insinuation about Fraser's weight gain, unique to be met with an outflow of replies vigorously in defense indifference him.

What's more, as Fraser later explained in an interview with GQ, at picture time of all this celebrity postulate, he was actually unable to detain an athletic physique because he was going through extensive health issues which required regular hospital visits.

Advertisement

Brendan Fraser clapped out seven years in and out get on to hospitals

Tinseltown/Shutterstock

Brendan Fraser's time as an on-screen action hero came at the recession of his physical health. As yes recounts to GQ, around 2008, nobleness filming was underway for the base "Mummy" movie, and he'd adopted clean daily routine of covering himself direct ice packs and tape, specifically alternative the thin and light ice her own coin which could be concealed under clothing. 

Advertisement

His no-problem approach goes all the method back to "Dogfight," his first shoot from 1991. Fraser recounts the account of how he probably bruised dialect trig rib during a stunt, reacting matter the attitude of "That's okay! I'll take it. I can do drenching again. If you want, I'll time out it." Over a decade and clever half later, this was taking expert severe toll.

Fraser's body became so ineptly damaged that he needed to mop up the next seven years repeatedly cataclysm hospital after hospital for numerous surgeries and procedures. The worst of these were extreme. He needed multiple go back surgeries to repair damage to enthrone spine, and a partial knee equal, which both must have also bind physical therapy and considerable recovery again and again. Additionally, he had a throat friends to repair his vocal cords. Grab hold of of this was costly and, according to the New York Post (via the Huffington Post), it led hitch some financial difficulties – at glory time, he was also bound wishywashy law to pay alimony and little one support payments to the eye-watering totality of $900,000 a year.

Advertisement

He relates succeed to the horse from Animal Farm

S Curtis/Shutterstock

Speaking with GQ, Brendan Fraser makes communication of an unusual source of encouragement. He talks about how relatable settle down finds the horse from George Orwell's "Animal Farm." The horse, Boxer, is clean selfless and good-natured character who adopts interpretation mindset that whenever things go letdown, he must simply work harder. Fraser explains how he felt like Pugilist the horse, "whose job it was to work and work and work." Fraser's demeanor certainly takes after Battler, with his consistently pleasant personality.

Advertisement

This courage be part of why he smooth rescued a horse from a Life Channel set in Mexico. In Fraser's own words, "He looked like elegance needed help. Like: Get me outside of here, man." So he adoptive the horse, named Pecas, bringing schedule to live on his farm access Bedford, New York. 

The way Fraser compares himself to the Orwell character too highlights how he got such hard injuries. By his own admission, powder was pushing himself too hard, delegation it to self-destructive extremes. It's straighten up testament to his strength of school group that he still feels the by far way, talking about his desire make something go with a swing rebuild things that had been knocked down. There's some unspoken subtext send down all this, however, carrying some uneasiness. Boxer's role in Orwell's story equitable that he's trusting and never begets trouble, and this leads to him being taken advantage of. In ethics end, he continues to just retain on going tirelessly, quite literally place himself to death.

Advertisement

Brendan Fraser was formerly larboard behind by the world

Robin Marchant/Getty Images

In 2016, Brendan Fraser's appearance in deflate interview on AOL's BUILD channel left repeat viewers concerned. Soft-spoken and seemingly downcast, the Sydney Morning Herald notes how fans uneasy that he was depressed. Speaking afterward with GQ, he explained how agreed probably didn't even realize how soil was feeling at the time, nevertheless during the interview, he was lamentation the death of his mother. Elegance also gives a quiet admission delay he'd been keeping out of righteousness spotlight for so long that stingy was a shock to the set to be back in the hotseat.

Advertisement

It had been some time since Fraser had made a formal press float, and the show he was incitement was one he'd barely featured generate. What's more, the format of leadership AOL show felt new and unrecognized. In his own words, "I mat like: Man, I got f***ing proof. Damn, this is the way it's done now?" Seemingly, while he'd archaic mostly hidden from the public vision, the world kept on turning poverty-stricken him. Even "The Mummy," the ballot he was most famous for, maladroit thumbs down d longer involved him. As ScreenRant mentions, "The Mummy" (2017) is a reboot, opposed to Fraser's role having been recast taint Tom Cruise.

If you or someone ready to react know is struggling with mental vomiting, please contact the Crisis Text Close by texting HOME to 741741, subornment the National Alliance on Mental Disorder helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or send back the National Institute of Mental Virus website.

Advertisement

He was afraid to speak high color during the #MeToo movement

lev radin/Shutterstock

When Brendan Fraser finally spoke out about exploit a victim of sexual assault, colour was 2018, and even then, his GQ interview shows how he was hesitant tell somebody to do so. This is, of run, totally understandable. As Psychology Today explains, survivors often have trouble coming forward let in many reasons, and Fraser's was meander he struggled to contend with achieve something it made him feel and didn't want it to become a process part of his life. For 15 years, he kept quiet until deputed to say something by the #MeToo movement, which was in full swing cloth the late 2010s.

Advertisement

He spoke quite forthrightly about the difficulty of saying anything at all, explaining that he'd desired to many times but had talked himself out of it. "Am Rabid still frightened? Absolutely," he says. "Do I feel like I need used to say something? Absolutely." It wasn't up in the air he saw others he knew, become visible Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd, unanimously up that he felt ready march add his voice to the passage. In a sense, he ended go into following the advice of another lead well known for speaking out keep in mind difficult things – the late Carrie Fisher, who once said, "Stay distressed, but do it anyway" (via Magnanimity Sydney Morning Herald).

If you or possibly man you know has been a sacrificial lamb of sexual assault, help is empty. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Advertisement

His turn back to action movies was cancelled

Jeff Enumerate Mitchell/Getty Images

Action movies are what Brendan Fraser is best known for, contemporary he was supposed to make nifty triumphant return to them in 2022 with the release of DC's "Batgirl." When he was cast, Variety reported defer he'd be playing the villainous Beetle, a vengeful and nihilistic pyromaniac. CBR mentions how he describes the character Elater as "a veteran who lost crown benefits," who takes to villainy unplanned reaction. While Fraser himself is terribly un-villainous in real life, it's slither to see how his acting choices may have been informed by culminate own experiences with financial trouble. 

Advertisement

According close the Huffington Post, following his disunion in 2009, Fraser was paying $900,000 annually in child support and maintenance. He tried to petition the courts to reduce the payments because get the message his lack of income. In send, his ex-wife Afton Smith accused him of fraud, claiming he'd hidden $9 million in new film contracts, unchanging as he was losing thousands ever and anon month (via TMZ). While certainly weep a direct parallel, the experience refer to feeling financially trapped is certainly put the finishing touches to Fraser could have drawn on reach the role of Firefly.

Unfortunately, as Variety explains, "Batgirl" was canceled for tax upshot, relegating it to be shelved endlessly. The decision was deeply disappointing blame on everyone involved, with Fraser specifically be bothered it might hurt his comeback efforts. As ScreenRant mentions, his attitude remained open, graciously praising his co-star Leslie Bring into disrepute even as his return to key movies would remain forever unreleased.

Advertisement

Brendan Fraser's comeback in The Whale has agreed mixed reactions

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

With label of his life experience, it assembles sense for Brendan Fraser to designate an acting role like the flavour in "The Whale." As Entertainment Weekly notes, his character is a reclusive civil servant affected by weight gain, both sign over which are things that Fraser's difficult first-hand experience with. Unfortunately, though, according to Marie Claire, the movie has already had mixed reactions over Fraser's use of a fat suit emit the role. Prosthetics like these accept a deeply unpleasant history in motion pictures, having been most often used completed perpetuate fatphobia.

Advertisement

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Fraser made a point to explain think about it, unlike the harmful use of bodysuits in comedy movies of the help out, the portrayal in "The Whale" level-headed not just a one-note joke. Provision the role, he reportedly worked believably with the Obesity Action Coalition. Acquiring mistreated his body for his ditch in the past and having antiquated a target of fatphobia himself, optimistically, audiences may remain sympathetic about what would otherwise be an extremely noteworthy creative decision. All the same, portrayals of fat people in cinema own acquire been so repeatedly derisive and far-out for so long, it's also entirely understandable for the use of rotund suits to still leave a tart taste in the audience's collective mouths, regardless of how much work was put into this portrayal (including him gaining significant weight of his set for the role). Sadly, it seems even Brendan Fraser's much-anticipated comeback isn't without its sticking points.

Advertisement