Brendan Fraser is an American-Canadian actor known for both comedic and dramatic roles. He rose to fame with "Encino Man" and "School Ties" in 1992, later gaining recognition for films like "George of the Jungle" and "The Mummy" trilogy. Fraser's diverse filmography includes comedies, fantasy adventures, and dramas like "Gods and Monsters" and "The Quiet American". His career established him as a prominent figure in Hollywood from the 1990s onwards.
1937: Birth of Brendan Fraser's Mother
Brendan Fraser's mother, Carol Mary (née Généreux), was born in 1937.
1952: Olympic Victory of George Genereux
Brendan Fraser's maternal uncle, George Genereux, won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in the Olympic Trap shooting event.
1967: Release of the Original "Bedazzled"
The original British film "Bedazzled", which the 2000 film starring Brendan Fraser is a remake of, was released in 1967.
December 3, 1968: Birth of Brendan Fraser
Brendan James Fraser was born on December 3, 1968.
1987: Graduation from Upper Canada College
Brendan Fraser graduated from Upper Canada College, a private boarding school in Toronto, in 1987.
1990: Graduation from Cornish College of the Arts
Brendan Fraser graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle in 1990 and subsequently began his acting journey.
1991: Film Debut in "Dogfight"
Brendan Fraser made his film debut with a small role in the movie "Dogfight" in 1991.
1992: Leading Role in "School Ties"
Brendan Fraser starred alongside Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Chris O'Donnell in the film "School Ties" in 1992.
1992: Breakthrough with "Encino Man" and "School Ties"
Brendan Fraser's breakthrough year in film came in 1992 with leading roles in the comedy "Encino Man" and the drama "School Ties".
July 4, 1993: Meeting Afton Smith
Brendan Fraser met actress Afton Smith at Winona Ryder's barbecue on July 4, 1993.
1993: Cameo Appearance in "Son in Law"
Brendan Fraser made a cameo appearance in the Pauly Shore film "Son in Law", reprising his role from "Encino Man", in 1993.
1994: Release of "Airheads"
Brendan Fraser starred in the comedy "Airheads" with Steve Buscemi and Adam Sandler, released in 1994.
1994: Release of "With Honors"
Brendan Fraser starred in the comedy-drama "With Honors" alongside Joe Pesci in 1994.
1995: Theatrical Debut in "Four Dogs and a Bone"
Brendan Fraser made his first theatrical appearance in John Patrick Shanley's play "Four Dogs and a Bone" at the Geffen Playhouse in 1995.
1995: Role in "Now and Then" and Stage Debut in "Four Dogs and a Bone"
In 1995, Brendan Fraser had a small role in the film "Now and Then" and also made his theatre debut in the play "Four Dogs and a Bone".
1996: Period of Box Office Challenges
Between 1994 and 1996, Brendan Fraser experienced a period of box office challenges with films like "The Passion of Darkly Noon" and "Mrs. Winterbourne".
1997: Success with "George of the Jungle"
Brendan Fraser starred in the comedy "George of the Jungle", which was released in 1997 and became a box office success.
1997: Release of "The Twilight of the Golds"
The film "The Twilight of the Golds", in which Brendan Fraser starred, was released in 1997.
September 27, 1998: Marriage to Afton Smith
Brendan Fraser and Afton Smith married on September 27, 1998.
1998: Critical Acclaim for "Gods and Monsters"
Brendan Fraser received critical acclaim for his dramatic performance in the film "Gods and Monsters" in 1998.
1999: Launch of "The Mummy" Franchise
Brendan Fraser began his role as Rick O'Connell in "The Mummy" franchise in 1999, which became one of his biggest commercial successes.
1999: Release of "Dudley Do-Right" and "Blast from the Past"
Brendan Fraser starred in two films based on Jay Ward's works in 1999: "Dudley Do-Right" and "Blast from the Past".
2000: Release of "Bedazzled"
Brendan Fraser starred in the fantasy comedy "Bedazzled", a remake of the 1967 British film, in 2000.
2000: Release of "Bedazzled"
Brendan Fraser starred in the romantic comedy "Bedazzled" in 2000.
September 2001: West End Debut in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
Brendan Fraser made his West End debut in September 2001, starring as "Brick" in Tennessee Williams's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
2001: Stage Performance in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
Brendan Fraser joined the cast of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at the Lyric Theatre in London in 2001.
2001: Release of "The Mummy Returns" and "Monkeybone"
Brendan Fraser reprised his role as Rick O'Connell in "The Mummy Returns" and also starred in the film "Monkeybone," both released in 2001.
January 12, 2002: Conclusion of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" Run
Brendan Fraser's run in the West End production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" concluded on January 12, 2002.
2002: Birth of Griffin Arthur Fraser
Brendan Fraser's first son, Griffin Arthur Fraser, was born in 2002.
2002: Release of "The Quiet American"
Brendan Fraser starred alongside Michael Caine in the critically acclaimed political drama "The Quiet American", which was released in 2002.
2003: Alleged Sexual Assault by Philip Berk
Brendan Fraser revealed in 2018 that he was allegedly sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, then-president of the HFPA, at a luncheon in 2003.
2003: Sexual Assault by Philip Berk
In 2003, Brendan Fraser was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, then-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
2004: Voice Acting in "Looney Tunes: Back in Action"
Brendan Fraser provided his voice for the character D.J. Drake in the animated film "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" in 2004.
2004: Appearance in "Crash"
Brendan Fraser was part of the ensemble cast of the Academy Award-winning film "Crash" in 2004.
2004: Birth of Holden Fletcher Fraser
Brendan Fraser's second son, Holden Fletcher Fraser, was born in 2004.
March 2006: Induction into Canada's Walk of Fame
Brendan Fraser was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in March 2006, a significant honor recognizing his contributions to the entertainment industry.
2006: Birth of Leland Francis Fraser
Brendan Fraser's third son, Leland Francis Fraser, was born in 2006.
April 2007: Sale of Beverly Hills Home
Brendan Fraser's Beverly Hills home was sold for $3 million in April 2007.
July 27, 2007: Start of Filming for "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"
Filming commenced for "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," the third film in "The Mummy" franchise starring Brendan Fraser, on July 27, 2007, in Montreal.
December 2007: Divorce Announcement
Brendan Fraser's publicist announced his divorce from Afton Smith in December 2007. He was ordered to pay alimony and child support.
2007: Separation from Afton Smith
Brendan Fraser and Afton Smith separated in 2007.
August 2008: Release of "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"
"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor", the third installment in the franchise starring Brendan Fraser, hit theatres in August 2008.
2008: Return to "The Mummy" Franchise and Release of "Journey to the Center of the Earth"
In 2008, Brendan Fraser returned for the third installment of "The Mummy" franchise, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." He also starred in the 3D film adaptation of "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in the same year.
2010: Return to Broadway and Career Shifts
In 2010, Brendan Fraser returned to Broadway in "Elling," but it had a short run due to poor reviews. He also starred in "Furry Vengeance" and switched to Creative Artists Agency from William Morris Endeavor.
2011: Legal Dispute and New Projects
In 2011, Brendan Fraser was set to star in "The Legend of William Tell: 3D" but it faced delays. He sued producer Todd Moyer over unpaid wages, leading to a countersuit by Moyer that Fraser disputed.
2011: Alimony Dispute and Fraud Allegations
In early 2011, Brendan Fraser requested a reduction in alimony payments, citing financial difficulties. Afton Smith later accused him of hiding assets, but the court ruled against both requests in 2014.
2013: Role in "Pawn Shop Chronicles"
Brendan Fraser took on the role of an Elvis Presley impersonator in the dark comedy "Pawn Shop Chronicles" in 2013.
2014: Berk's Memoir Acknowledges Incident
In his 2014 memoir, Philip Berk admitted to groping Brendan Fraser but described it as "in jest."
2014: Court Ruling on Alimony and Fraud Allegations
The court ruled against both Brendan Fraser's request for an alimony reduction and Afton Smith's fraud allegation in 2014. Both parents were acknowledged for their active involvement in their sons' lives.
2016: Television Debut in "The Affair"
Brendan Fraser began his foray into television with a role in the Showtime drama series "The Affair" in 2016.
2016: International Thriller and TV Roles
Brendan Fraser joined the cast of the Bollywood thriller "Line of Descent" replacing Ray Liotta in 2016. That same year, he also took on a recurring role in the TV series "The Affair."
2016: Death of Brendan Fraser's Mother
Brendan Fraser's mother, Carol Mary, passed away in 2016.
2017: Conclusion of Role on "The Affair"
Brendan Fraser's role on "The Affair" concluded in 2017 after two seasons.
February 2018: Residence in Bedford, New York
As of February 2018, Brendan Fraser resides in Bedford, New York.
March 25, 2018: Premiere of "Trust" and Robotman Role
On March 25, 2018, the FX anthology series "Trust," in which Brendan Fraser played James Fletcher Chace, premiered. He also began voicing and portraying Cliff Steele / Robotman in "Titans" and its spin-off "Doom Patrol" around this time.
2018: Son's Autism Diagnosis Revealed
In 2018, Brendan Fraser shared that his oldest son, Griffin, is on the autism spectrum.
2018: Health Challenges and Surgeries
In 2018, Brendan Fraser revealed that he had undergone several surgeries over seven years due to the physical demands of his past roles. These surgeries included a partial knee replacement, a laminectomy, and vocal cord surgery.
2018: Celebrity Judge at Dancing Stars of Greenwich
In 2018, Brendan Fraser became a celebrity judge for the annual Dancing Stars of Greenwich charity gala, supporting Abilis, a non-profit aiding individuals with disabilities and their families in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
2018: Fraser's Revelation and Impact on Career
Brendan Fraser publicly accused Philip Berk of sexual assault in 2018, stating that the incident, along with personal losses, contributed to a decline in his career.
2018: Role in "Trust"
Brendan Fraser appeared in the FX series "Trust" in 2018.
2018: Speculation on Blacklisting
Following Brendan Fraser's accusation against Philip Berk, speculation arose that he had been blacklisted from Hollywood. Fraser himself acknowledged a slowdown in his career but didn't definitively attribute it to the incident.
2019: Starring Role in "Doom Patrol"
Brendan Fraser landed a starring role in the Max series "Doom Patrol" starting in 2019.
2019: Clarification on HFPA's Influence
In 2019, Brendan Fraser clarified that he didn't believe the HFPA had significant power to blacklist individuals in Hollywood.
September 2020: Cast in "No Sudden Move"
Brendan Fraser was cast as Doug Jones in Steven Soderbergh's crime film "No Sudden Move" in September 2020.
January 2021: Cast as Lead in "The Whale"
In January 2021, Brendan Fraser was announced as the lead in Darren Aronofsky's film "The Whale." Aronofsky shared that Fraser's performance in a trailer for "Journey to the End of the Night" inspired his casting choice.
October 2021: Cast in "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Brothers"
Brendan Fraser joined the casts of Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" and Max Barbakow's comedy "Brothers" in August and October 2021, respectively.
2021: Appearance in "No Sudden Move"
Brendan Fraser appeared in Steven Soderbergh's film "No Sudden Move" in 2021.
August 2022: Cancellation of "Batgirl"
The release of "Batgirl," in which Brendan Fraser was set to play Firefly, was canceled in August 2022 due to a shift in Warner Bros.' priorities.
September 2022: "The Whale" Premiere and Critical Acclaim
"The Whale" premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2022, earning a six-minute standing ovation. Brendan Fraser's performance, informed by his research with the Obesity Action Coalition, received widespread praise. He later won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role, becoming the first Canadian to do so.
September 2022: Relationship with Jeanne Moore and Red Carpet Debut
Brendan Fraser began dating makeup artist Jeanne Moore in September 2022. They made their first red carpet appearance together at the Venice Film Festival that year. Fraser thanked Moore during his Oscar acceptance speech.
2022: Absence from the Hollywood Walk of Fame
As of 2022, Brendan Fraser did not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2022: Heart of Abilis Award Recipient
Brendan Fraser and his former wife, Afton Smith, received the Heart of Abilis Award in 2022 for their dedicated support and fundraising efforts for the Abilis organization.
2022: Decision to Not Participate in Golden Globes
Brendan Fraser stated in 2022 that he would not participate in the Golden Globes if nominated due to his history with the HFPA.
2022: Critical Acclaim and Academy Award for "The Whale"
Brendan Fraser's performance as an obese gay man in Darren Aronofsky's "The Whale", released in 2022, earned him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, making him the first Canadian to win in this category.
December 2023: Audiodrama and Disney Narration
Brendan Fraser voiced a character in Robert J. Sawyer's audiodrama "The Downloaded," released as an Audible exclusive in Autumn 2023. In December 2023, he was a guest narrator at Disney World's Candlelight Processional.
2023: End of "Doom Patrol"
"Doom Patrol", in which Brendan Fraser starred, ended in 2023.