The Story Behind Brendan Fraser’s Comeback: What Did He Do Before Returning To Hollywood?

“The Whale” is currently taking the world by storm and has what it takes for many awards this year. The psychological drama movie came out from a screenplay written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on Hunter's 2012 play of the same name. It’s safe to say what makes the movie draw attention is the comeback of Brendan Fraser, who left the mark of his roles in The Mummy and The Mummy Return a long time ago.
After a long break, Brendan Fraser came back with his new look and attention. Yet it’s worth mentioning that Brendan is the sheer star of “The Whale”. He earned raves for his top-notch performance as Charlie in the movie. You might have forgotten him, or even don't know him, yet will be actually interested in the actor after watching the movie.
Therefore, we’ve made this post to highlight his long acting career path and how this talented actor made an admirable attempt to deliver his roles in small and big movies. Besides, we also give some facts about the life of this man to satisfy the new fans. Take a closer look at 10 Brendan Fraser facts below.

#1 Early life and family

Source: © School Ties / Paramount Pictures and co-producers

Brendan Fraser was the youngest son of Canadian parents Peter Fraser and Carol Mary. He has three other siblings. His mother was a sales consultant, and his father served in the Canadian Foreign Service as an agent for the Canadian Government Office of Tourism. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada and has Scottish, Irish, Czech, German, and French Canadian ancestry.

#2 Filmography

Source: © Dogfight / Warner Bros. and co-producers, © Encino Man / Hollywood Pictures and co-producers

Fraser's family traveled about a lot when he was growing up, but it wasn't until they were on holiday in London that he went to his first professional theater, which is when he became obsessed with acting. In the 1990s, Fraser earned a degree from the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle before relocating to Hollywood. His acting debut was in the 1991 film Dogfight, in which he played a sailor heading to Vietnam.
Then, in 1992, he received his first big role in the comedy Encino Man, in which he played a frozen prehistoric caveman who had been unfrozen from a block of ice. He co-starred in School Ties that same year alongside Chris O'Donnell and Matt Damon. He also contributed his talents in lesser-known films like The Scout, With Honors, Airheads, The Passion of the Darkly Noon, and The Twilight of the Golds.

#3 Doing His Own Stunts in George of the Jungle

Source: © George of the Jungle / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producers

Brendan didn't have his greatest box office triumph until 1997 when he played Tarzan in the comedy George of the Jungle. To become in shape for the part and be able to hang from the vines, the actor underwent a strict diet and exercise regimen. "I was like a walking steak," Fraser said. He exercised with weights for an hour each day and adhered to a strict high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.
All of the movie's stunts were also performed by him. He had to swing down 300 feet at 30 mph after being carried on a crane 60 feet in the air. He eventually suffered an injury.

#4 A Big Star in Hollywood

Source: © Gods and Monsters / Lions Gate Films and co-rpoducers, © The Mummy / Universal Pictures and co-producers

Brendan starred in the 1998 film Gods and Monsters with Ian McKellen, and his performance there won praise from the critics. 24 days were spent filming the movie. In his youth, Fraser looked up to McKellen. He watched the videotapes of Acting Shakespeare when he was younger, and he is still in awe and grateful that he got to work with him.
He played Rick O'Connell in the action film The Mummy in 1999, which was his most significant break. He naturally returned to the part in the 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns.

#5 Acting in the Oscar-winning movie.

Source: © Blast From The Past / New Line Cinema and co-producers, © Looney Tunes: Back in Action / Warner Bros. and co-producers

Before rocking the world with his return in The Mummy, Brendan appeared in a few films. In the latter, Fraser's excellent comic timing and fantastic dancing elevated the character well. Following this, Fraser's on-screen performances improved over time.
Following this, he co-starred with Michael Caine in the film The Quiet American before making his live-action and animated film debut in Looney Tunes: Back in Action. The following year, he acted in Crash, which took home three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

#6 Having Cameos in Many Tv Shows

Source: © Journey to the Center of the Earth / new Line Cinema and co-producers, © Inkheart / New Line Cinema and co-producers

Brendan appeared as a guest on numerous shows, including The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Scrubs. Later, he appeared in the fantasy film Inkheart and the 3D film Journey to the Center of the Earth.
The book series by Cornelia Funke, which includes a father-daughter team, is the inspiration for the film Inkheart. The father (Fraser) has a magical ability that allows him to read aloud from books and make the words come to life. His performance in the film is just outstanding since it highlights the maturity of his character and transforms reading or viewing the story into a captivating and realistic experience.

#7 Bollywood Acting

Source: © The Affair / Showtime Networks and co-producers, © Doom Patrol / DC Comics and co-producers

Brendan appeared in the Bollywood suspense film Line of Descent in 2019. The actor kept acting in TV series after that, including The Affair, in which he portrayed John Gunther, a guard. He previously performed a Getty family fixer in the FX series Trust, and he recently landed a role in the DC television series Doom Patrol, playing Clifford "Cliff" Steele, a.k.a. Robotman.

#8 Undergoing a Huge Transformation

Source: © The Whale / A24 and co-producers

More recently, he portrayed a 600-pound guy in the film The Whale, in which he plays a parent struggling to reconnect with his estranged adolescent daughter. He also used prosthetics to help his character come through more convincingly. In 2022, he will also play Firefly in the film Batgirl, and in 2023, he will appear in Martin Scorcese's Killers of the Flower Moon.

#9 His Uneven Personal Life

Source: © s_bukley / Depositphotos.com, EVERETT COLLECTION/EAST NEWS

In his personal life, Brendan Fraser met Afton Smith, an actress, at Winona Ryder's residence in 1993. The couple married 5 years later and had three boys, Griffin Arthur Fraser, Holden Fletcher Fraser, and Leland Francis Fraser. They divorced in 2007, yet they retain a close and caring friendship.

#10 Fraser is back to the big screen after being through a lot, scoring his first leading role in nearly a decade.

Source: © Doom Patrol / DC Comics and co-producers

Not only the sad divorce, but Brendan also went through numerous injuries from earlier stunts, and an unpleasant incident in 2003 involving a dispute with a powerful individual, which is why he faded from the Hollywood spotlight and his career suffered as a result. Fraser is back to spread his light and charm on the big screen in The Whale, which will be his first major role in nearly ten years.