Here is the comeback story of the 2020s: Brendan Fraser is back. We all know him to be the heartthrob of the 90s. He played the lead role in iconic action films for over a decade. But in 2008, he unexpectedly disappeared from Hollywood and we didn’t hear from him until 2022 with the release of The Whale. With Brendan Fraser triumphantly returning to win an Oscar for Best Actor, it begs the question that is on everyone’s mind: why did Brendan Fraser disappear from Hollywood in the first place?
The Beginning of Brendan Fraser’s Career
Brendan Fraser graduated from Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts in 1990. He continued his studies at a small New York acting college but decided to drop out after he visited Hollywood. His first big break came with the role of Link, a caveman brought into modern-day life, in 1992’s Encino Man. From there he went on to star in a slew of box office hits, becoming an audience favorite for his eye-catching performances in films such as School Ties, George of the Jungle, and Gods and Monsters.
Brendan skyrocketed to fame in the late ’90s and early 2000s when he starred as Rick O’Connell in The Mummy trilogy. His time in the limelight opened many doors for him, allowing him to capitalize on his newfound celebrity status and become one of the highest-paid actors at that time.
From there, Brendan’s career seemed to be on the up and up. In 2008, Fraser was the leading actor in three action blockbusters: Inkheart, Journey To The Center of the Earth, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. A year following these releases, his career abruptly slowed down.
After a big year in 2008, Fraser’s next year had no feature film appearances. His next huge acting role was in 2010 with Furry Vengeance, which was a major critical and commercial failure. He began playing more obscure roles outside of the Hollywood spotlight and in 2012, The Rock replaced Brendan Fraser in Journey to the Center of the Earth 2.
Fraser became a far cry from the action star that he once was and found himself playing generic roles in random films. By the mid to late 2010s, he was playing smaller characters in shows and films made internationally like The Poison Rose and Line of Descent.
Why Was Brendan Fraser Blacklisted in Hollywood?
Fraser was an action star similar to Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was big on performing stunts himself and by 2008, he described himself as barely holding his body together.
“I was put together with tape and ice—just, like, really nerdy and fetishy about ice packs. Screw-cap ice packs and downhill-mountain-biking pads, ’cause they’re small and light and they can fit under your clothes. I was building an exoskeleton for myself daily.” – Brendan Fraser
In an interview with GQ magazine, Fraser revealed that he was trying too hard which was destructive. He had many injuries and required multiple surgeries including partial knee replacement and work on his back.
Along with being physically worn down, Fraser was dealing with another battle. In 2018, Fraser revealed to GQ that he was sexually assaulted by the former President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk in 2003. Berk denied the allegations and called it a “complete fabrication”.
Fraser doesn’t know if the assault caused him to be blacklisted but he claims that he was rarely invited to the Golden Globes after 2003. Even if the HFPA didn’t have anything to do with Fraser’s career slowing down, he still endured a mental health decline following his assault. He experienced depression and “felt reclusive” after the trauma which he believes contributed to his disappearance from Hollywood.
Brendan Fraser’s Comeback To Hollywood
After a fourteen-year hiatus, Brendan Fraser triumphantly returned to Hollywood in 2022 by taking the lead role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale. This was a surprise for both parties involved. Aronofsky did not initially consider Fraser for the part but after meeting with him in person, he knew that Fraser was perfect for this challenging role.
Darren Aronofsky originally wanted an overweight actor for the part but Fraser was able to relate to the character as someone people dismissed and overlooked. His performance in The Whale got immense critical acclaim and even got him an Academy Award. There is a wave of newfound support for Fraser and it already seems that his return to Hollywood will be a long-lasting one.
Brendan Fraser Movies To Watch on Reveel
In honor of Brendan Fraser’s comeback to Hollywood, Reveel has added two Brendan Fraser movies available to watch for free on the platform: Still Breathing and Line of Descent. These films were created at two very different times in Fraser’s career. Still Breathing was made when Brendan Fraser was at the peak of his career, and Line of Descent was made in 2019 during his hiatus from Hollywood.
Still Breathing is a film from the 90s that stars Brendan Fraser and Joanna Going in a magical romance. When artist and street performer Fletcher (Brendan Fraser) thinks con artist Roz (Joanna Going) is the woman he has seen in a vision, he has no idea she sees him as her next victim. Watch Still Breathing For Free on Reveel.
Line of Descent is a classic crime narrative in the backdrop of Delhi. It follows a dysfunctional, mafia family at war with each other as an undercover officer fights his demons by assisting in their downfall. Watch Line of Descent for free on Reveel.
