Dwayne Johnson Owes His Acting Career To Brendan Fraser, And He Is Returning The Favor After 2 Decades

Jimmy Henton

Dwayne Johnson is regarded as one of the most famous actors in Hollywood, but he owes his big break and career to Brendan Fraser, who cast him in his blockbuster film, The Mummy Returns. Dwayne Johnson recently paid respect to the 54-year-old on Twitter after Brendan burst into tears while being praised at the screening of his comeback picture, The Whale.

“Man this makes me so happy to see this beautiful ovation for Brendan,” Dwayne congratulated Brendan. “He supported me coming into his Mummy Returns franchise for my first-ever role, which kicked off my Hollywood career. Rooting for all your success brother and congrats to my bud Darren Aronofsky. #TheWhale”

The kind gesture from Brendan meant a lot.


Brendan Fraser the mummy returns dwayne johnson Brendan Fraser the mummy returns dwayne johnson

Source: © AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo


Dwayne intended to move into acting after becoming a major champion in the world of pro wrestling, but this proved to be more difficult than he thought, as he learned that his wrestling history was "an obstacle." People didn't take his acting ambitions seriously, according to The Rock, since "they thought he'd be in Hollywood maybe a couple of years, make a few movies, and then he'd be out."

Dwayne’s challenging transition to acting.


the mummy returns dwayne johnson the mummy returns dwayne johnson

Source: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/East News


However, one actor believed in him and was responsible for the pro-wrestler-turned-actor landing his breakthrough part. Brendan Fraser was at the pinnacle of his career at the time, having been in blockbusters such as The Mummy. And in 2001, The Rock was cast in the role of The Scorpion King in the sequel The Mummy Returns, and he attributes his success to Fraser.

Brendan Fraser the mummy returns dwayne johnson Brendan Fraser the mummy returns dwayne johnson

Source: © The Mummy / Universal Pictures and co-producer


Johnson said that Brendan "had to okay" Johnson being cast for the part since he was the franchise's major star. And, according to Dwayne, the director told him, "Brendan loves this idea and is so happy you're in the movie."

He added that Brendan's belief in him gave him the confidence he needed to go on this new professional path. The Rock explained, “I’d just come from WWE... And I get that kind of nod of acceptance from the star of the movie, it really meant a lot to me.”

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The Rock’s career had a meteoric rise.


Source: Miguel Cordoba/SIPA/SIPA/East News


The Rock went on to get a prominent role in the film The Scorpion King a year later as a result of this performance. Of course, this was a significant step forward in his acting career. With the passage of time, the 50-year-old became one of Hollywood's most revered megastars, as well as one of the highest-paid celebrities. But he never forgot Fraser's help when he really needed it.

Dwayne referenced Fraser again on the red carpet for his current film, Black Adam, more than 20 years later. "Brendan said, 'Come into my franchise [...] He welcomed me in when he didn't have to," he recounted. "And I'll never forget it."

Fraser shunned away from the spotlights.


Brendan Fraser the mummy returns dwayne johnsonSource: © The Whale / A24 and co-producer


After reaching the pinnacle of his career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Fraser took on smaller parts in the years that followed, eventually moving away from the spotlight in the late 2000s due to personal setbacks.

He made a significant return in 2022, though, courtesy of his critically acclaimed leading part in The Whale.

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As Fraser returned to acting, Johnson was his number 1 supporter.


Brendan FraserSource: Marechal Aurore/ABACA/Abaca/East News


Fraser now turns 54, earned a minute-long standing ovation as well as a flood of love and respect from critics and fans alike. Dwayne Johnson was one of his strongest supporters when he relaunched his career. The actor expressed his support and delight at seeing Fraser return to the big screen. He then highlighted his colleague's previous act of compassion once more.

the mummy returns dwayne johnsonSource: Gilbert Flores/Broadimage/EAST NEWS, Jordan Strauss/Invision/East News


Looking at these two men's mutual support and affection, we're reminded that a small act of kindness may go a long way and have a life-changing influence on someone's journey. Dwayne and Brandon are very amazing, and we hope to see them on our televisions for many decades to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected countless individuals and communities worldwide, including many high-profile celebrities. Among them is Dwayne Johnson, also known as "The Rock," who announced in September 2020 that he and his family had tested positive for COVID-19. Despite being generally healthy and physically fit, Johnson experienced a difficult and challenging bout with the virus, which he described as one of the toughest challenges he and his family had ever faced. Let's take a closer look at Johnson's experience with COVID-19 and how he has used his platform to raise awareness about the pandemic.

What are your thoughts on these two actors? Have you ever received a wonderful gesture that made a significant difference in your life?

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