Brendan Fraser is a Canadian-American actor best known for his roles in classic films such as The Mummy, George of the Jungle, and Bedazzled. He has also appeared in numerous television series including The Affair and Doom Patrol. Throughout his career he has received critical acclaim for his performances, earning two Golden Globe Award nominations and one Emmy nomination.
Born on December 3rd 1968 in Indianapolis Indiana, Fraser grew up primarily in Connecticut with his mother Carol Mary (Genereux) and father Peter Francis Fraser. In high school he was an avid hockey player but eventually decided to pursue acting after seeing a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at age twelve. After studying drama at Seattle’s Cornish College of Arts he moved to Los Angeles where he quickly made a name for himself with appearances on shows like Growing Pains, Boy Meets World and ER before transitioning into film work with Encino Man (1992).
His breakthrough role came when he starred opposite Rachel Weisz in Stephen Sommers’ blockbuster The Mummy franchise; playing adventurer Rick O’Connell over three movies between 1999-2008. Other notable films include Airheads (1994), George Of The Jungle (1997), Dudley Do Right (1999), Bedazzled (2000), Monkeybone (2001) and Crash (2004). He also starred alongside Robin Williams in the family comedy Robots (2005).
Fraser continues to appear regularly on both big screen projects such as Furry Vengeance (2010) and Texas Rising (2015), as well as small screen roles like Trust FX’s Trust series which earned him an Emmy nomination last year. Most recently he can be seen starring opposite Christopher Plummer in the crime thriller Departure which will be released later this year.
In addition to acting Brendan Fraser is involved with several charities including Make A Wish Foundation, St Jude’s Children Hospital, UNICEF USA and Feeding America among others. His humanitarian efforts have been recognized by organizations such as United Nations Association Film Festival Humanitarian Awards who honored him for “his commitment towards making positive change through art” back 2012.
Overall there’s no doubt that Brendan Fraser is one of Hollywood most beloved actors whose contribution to cinema spans decades.
Fraser was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and raised in suburban Detroit, Michigan. His father, Peter Fraser, is a retired journalist and former broadcaster who worked for CBC Radio, and his mother, Carol Fraser, is a salesperson. Fraser has three older brothers: Kevin, Reza, and Sean.
Fraser attended Mount Royal Academy, a private Catholic school in Montreal, Quebec. After graduating from high school, he moved to New York City to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Fraser’s film debut was a small role in the 1988 film Dogfight, directed by Nancy Savoca. He followed this with roles in the television films School Ties (1992) and With Honors (1994), as well as the 1994 film airheads in which he played a aspiring rock musician.
In 1997, Fraser starred in the Fraser decalogue, a 10-part series on the life of Jesus Christ, broadcast on the BBC and PBS. The series was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Drama Serial.
Fraser’s breakout role came in the 1999 film The Mummy, in which he played Rick O’Connell, an adventurer who discovers and accidentally unleashes the ancient Egyptian mummy Imhotep. The Mummy was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $413 million worldwide, and Fraser’s performance earned him a Saturn Award for Best Actor.
Fraser reprised his role as Rick O’Connell in The Mummy Returns (2001) and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008). He also appeared in the 2001 film Monkeybone, voicing the titular character, and starred in the 2003 film Looney Tunes: Back in Action, playing Daffy Duck’s human counterpart, DJ Drake.
In 2005, Fraser starred in the fantasy adventure film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, playing the role of Pip the Dwarf. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $745 million worldwide.
Fraser’s other notable film roles include the 2003 disaster film Crash, the 2006 sports drama The Legend of Zorro, and the 2008 comedy Journey to the Center of the Earth.
In 2010, Fraser guest-starred on the NBC comedy series 30 Rock, playing himself. He has also lent his voice to a number of animated films and television series, including Robot Chicken and Family Guy.
Fraser has been married twice. His first marriage, to Afton Smith, lasted from 1998 to 2008 and ended in divorce. He has three sons with Smith: Griffin, Holden, and Leland. Fraser married actress Rachel Weisz in September 2019.
