Brendan Fraser is a lot like a shining star. He was there one minute — during this time, he made several hit films, such as The Mummy , George of the Jungle , and more — and then he was gone.
Sadly, that’s when it was discovered that an alleged sexual assault incident left the actor feeling like a shell of who he once was.
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But now that Brendan is making his way back into Hollywood , he’s been welcomed with open arms!
Before you see him everywhere on screen again (or in his adorable viral interviews) this is the perfect time to get reacquainted with this gem of a human!
1. He made in acting debut on ‘America’s Most Wanted’
The long-running show about catching criminals often featured reenactments from actors. In 1988, Brendan played the friend of a murder victim, Rodney Mark Peterson. That was the first role of many, as he’s appeared in more than 30 films since then.
2. His first movie role was in 1991
He played Sailor #1 in the 1991 film called Dogfight, starring River Phoenix and Lili Taylor.
Since he did a punch-up scene with some marines, he earned a Screen Actors Guild card and an extra 50 bucks for the stunt adjustment. It also got him started on his career in Hollywood.
3. Ian McKellen is the reason he did ‘Gods and Monsters’
Once he learned that McKellen would be his co-lead in the film, Fraser was on board.
“He’s a favorite actor of mine, and an inspiration,” he told The Independent . He explained that he’s the reason he wanted to be part of the world of theatre and films.
4. He once had an emotional reunion with an elephant co-star
He is George of the Jungle, after all. That’s the film where Brendan and an elephant named Tai first met.
They formed a close bond that was rekindled when Brendan joined the set of Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
“I knew there was going to be an elephant in it,” Fraser explained to Comingsoon.net.
“When that big ol’ snout came out and blew a big ol’ snotty kiss at me, I was with tears in my eye.” Aww!
5. He adopted a horse from a movie set
Speaking of his love of animals, Brendan has been known to connect with the animals he meets on set. So much so that he once adopted a horse named Pecas —the Spanish word for freckles — off the set of Texas Rising.
He got the horse for his oldest son, Griffin, who’s rated on the autism spectrum.
He told GQ that Pecas job is to take care of his son.
“There’s something good that happens between the two of them,” he said, adding that his son feels better if he rides.
6. He loves to play oddball characters
“I’m intrigued by characters who are naive, who need to find the road, who are essentially fish out of water,” Fraser told The Independent .
Just think of Brendan’s role in George of the Jungle and how confused he was in San Franciso!
7. His body has been injured by performing many stunts over the years
The actor has admitted to trying too hard in films, which has been destructive to his body. The physical toll really began to show when he did the third Mummy movie.
“I was put together with tape and ice—just, like, really nerdy and fetishy about ice packs,” he told ‘GQ’
Eventually, all of these injuries called for multiple surgeries, which left him in and out of hospitals for seven years.
He had a laminectomy, work on his back, and a partial knee replacement, among other surgeries.
8. There’s a sad reason behind his AOL BUILD YouTube channel interview
In late 2016, Fraser was asked to give his first interview in years. He looked different — he had put on a lot of weight from his health issues. And he sounded different — his voice was barely a whisper.
This led to his uncomfortable interview going viral for all the wrong reasons.
But what people didn’t know at the time was that Brenden’s mother had died of cancer just days before the interview. So what people really saw that day was sadness.
9. In 2016, fans started a Change.org petition called “Bring Brendan Fraser Back Into Film/Television”
Since some fans thought that Brenden was sad over his career in that 2016 viral interview, they started a petition on his behalf. The goal was for Netflix, HBO, Showtime, and other production companies to take interest in the actor’s talent.
10. He almost died while making ‘The Mummy’
Fraser played the dashing Rick O’Connell in the film. His near-death experience happened during an early scene in the film where his character is set for execution by hanging. Sadly, the scene went horribly wrong.
“They killed me for 18 seconds,” Fraser has said.
This happened after the writer-director asked for the noose around Fraser’s neck to be tightened for a take. He was up on his toes on a board underneath him when he lost oxygen.
11. He has been candid about the alleged sexual assault he endured in Hollywood
In a very candid interview with GQ , Fraser admitted something that he’s been holding tightly to his chest: he was allegedly sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, a former president of the HFPA, in 2003.
“I felt ill. I felt like a little kid. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry,” Fraser painfully recounted.
Besides telling his wife, Fraser didn’t take the incident to the public. His reps, did, however, ask for a written apology from Berk who has yet to admit to the wrongdoing.
12. Brenden’s career suffered as a result of him speaking out about the sexual assault
The actor went from being a huge star to basically disappearing overnight. This caused him to wonder if speaking out against a powerful exec resulted in him being blacklisted from Hollywood. He was also rarely being asked back for the Golden Globes.
13. The “Brenaissance” is in full swing!
Fans have been rooting for his comeback for years, and it’s finally happening!
The actor has so much in store for him, such as a major role in director Martin Scorsese‘s hugely anticipated upcoming feature film Killers of the Flower Moon . He’s also getting all the attention he deserves in viral interviews that show what a pure soul he is.
We love you, Brendan!
