Despite many highs and lows in his career, Brendan Fraser has always had his children by his side.
Brendan Fraser has recently made a triumphant return to Hollywood after a mysterious hiatus that lasted for over a decade.
His comeback was in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale in 2022, which has generated plenty of awards season buzz, particularly for Fraser's performance as the lead character, Charlie. His performance has landed him a Best Actor award at the 2023 Oscars, along with a SAG Award and a Critics Choice Award.
Inside Brendan Fraser's incredible comeback
According to Today, Fraser's career began in 1991 when he landed a role in the movie Dogfight. The following year, he got his big break in School Ties. He then starred in the hit comedies Encino Man and George of the Jungle.
In 1999, he played Rick O'Connell in the blockbuster hit The Mummy. The film was such a success that it spawned two sequels, The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Fraser was also well-regarded for his dramatic work in films such as Gods and Monsters.
Despite his early success, Fraser's career hit a snag in the mid-2000s. He made a number of films that were poorly received by critics and audiences, and he struggled with personal issues, including a divorce from his wife Afton Smith.
In 2022, Fraser made a comeback with his starring role in The Whale. The film tells the story of a morbidly obese teacher named Charlie, and Fraser's performance has been widely praised.
He won a SAG Award and Critics Choice Award for his work in the film, and he won the Best Actor Oscar after being nominated alongside Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin), Paul Mescal (Aftersun), Austin Butler (Elvis) and Bill Nighy (Living).
In his acceptance speech, Fraser touched on his early struggles in the industry and how he appreciates the facility he didn't recognize at the time. The actor said:
'I started in this business 30 years ago. Things didn’t come easily to me but there was a facility I didn’t appreciate at the time until it stopped.'
Who are Brendan Fraser's children?
Fraser's personal life has been equally eventful. He was married to actress Afton Smith from 1998 to 2008, and they have three children together: Griffin Arthur, Holden Fletcher, and Leland Francis.
Griffin Fraser
According to the Sun, his eldest son Griffin was born in 2002 and has suffered from autism since birth. In an interview with GQ, Fraser spoke about the challenges and rewards of raising a child with autism. He told the outlet:
'Griffin's rated on the autism spectrum. Um, and so he needs extra love in the world, and he gets it.'
Griffin is a source of pride and joy for his father. In many interviews, Fraser has described him as 'a curative' on everyone who meets him. He has also said that Griffin's physique helped him prepare for his role as a morbidly obese father in The Whale.
Holden Fletcher Fraser
In 2004, Brendan welcomed his second son, Holden Fletcher Fraser. According to the CNN, Holden is currently a model and a student at New York University. Last November, Holden and his younger brother, Leland, made headlines after attending a New York City screening of The Whale to support their father's film.
In February 2023, Fraser spoke about attending Holden's class to talk about The Whale. He told PEOPLE:
'They'd all gone out to see The Whale, and they're whipsmart kids. They understand the craft of filmmaking in a way that's so impressive.'
Leland Francis Fraser
Leland Francis is the youngest in the family, born in 2006. Like Holden, Leland is pursuing a modeling career, in addition to a part-time habit with rock band The Alligators.
Brendan Fraser's sons joined him at Oscars.
After their father was nominated for Best Actors, the boys spoke about their dad's achievement with Laverne Cox on E!'s red carpet.
Holden gushed: 'We are unbelievably proud. Over the moon.'
Leland agreed with his older brother.
Very handsome young men! https://t.co/eWP8stQ5DT
— Kristen Forrester (@bobiddyboo) March 12, 2023
In January 2023, Fraser spoke with Extra about his nomination and about the sweet surprise he received from his kids. The actor said:
'Astonishment and surprise, because my kids surprised me with cake and balloons. They sneaked into the house, they had a plan. That and the feeling that sharing that moment with my loved ones is now a core memory of mine.'
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