We are one again in the era of Brendan Fraser, everyone, and the internet could not be more happy to welcome one of the most cherished actors of the 1990s and 2000s back into the spotlight.
Fraser starred in his first on-screen role in “Dogfight” in 1991, but gained traction through roles in bigger films throughout the 1990s, like Chester Darby in “Airheads” alongside Adam Sandler and Steve Buscemi and George in “George of the Jungle” alongside Leslie Mann. The actor’s breakout role, arguably, came in 1999 when he portrayed archeologist Rick O’ Connell in “The Mummy,” which only helped to propel him into blockbuster films, like “The Mummy Returns,” “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”
By the 2010s, however, Fraser was constantly patching up injuries sustained on set, which eventually took a toll on his ability to function as a person, let alone an actor. He told GQ in 2018, “Going to work – in between being in and out of those hospitals, that wasn’t always possible.” Along with a divorce and grappling with the aftermath of allegedly being sexually assaulted by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Fraser experienced hardships, which led to a hiatus from both work and the public eye. “I was going through things that mold and shape you in ways that you’re not ready for until you go through them,” he revealed to GQ.
Over the past few years, however, Fraser has made a comeback and is once again in the spotlight. He received critical acclaim for his most recent performance in Darren Aronofsky’s controversial film, “The Whale,” and is set to share the screen with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese‘s upcoming film “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Given his ever-growing fanbase and all the buzz circulating around his latest roles, here are Brendan Fraser’s best movies and TV shows through the years!
"The Mummy"
In 1923, adventurer and archaeologist Rick O’Connell (Fraser) teams up with librarian Evelyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) and her brother Jonathan Carnahan to travel to Hamunaptra, known as the City of the Dead. While exploring the city and searching for ancient lost treasures, Evelyn accidentally awakens the remains of Imhotep, a high priest who was buried in 1290 BC. The group must find the Book of Amun-Ra to kill Imhotep for good and reverse their actions or pay the price.
"The Mummy Returns"
10 years after the first film’s events, Rick O’Connell and Evelyn Carnahan are married and parents to an 8-year-old named Alex. Together, the family hunts for historical treasures and comes across the coveted Bracelet of Anubis while in London. Unbeknownst to them, the bracelet is sought by Imhotep, who has once again been raised from the dead. With the bracelet attached to Alex, Imhotep is prepared to take the child and the bracelet to control the Scorpion King and thus take over the world, but he won’t without a fight.
"Inkheart"
Mortimer “Mo” Folchart, aka “Silvertongue” (Fraser), has a special ability that can bring characters from books to life. After searching for the book “Inkheart” for years, Mo stumbles upon it while visiting a bookshop with his daughter Meggie. As he reads the pages of the book, the villains are brought out, while Mo’s wife Teresa is brought into it. To save his Teresa, Mo and Meggie must go inside the story and battle its characters before it’s too late.
"George of the Jungle"
A live-action adaptation of the 1967 animated series of the same name, “George of the Jungle” centers around San Francisco heiress Ursula Stanhope, who meets the King of the Jungle, George (Fraser), after a trip to Uganda with her fiancé Lyle van de Groot. When Lyle is jailed for attempting to shoot George’s “dog,” aka an elephant named Shep, for ivory, Ursula falls in love with the kind-hearted George and evaluates giving up everything she knows for true love.
"Journey to the Center of the Earth"
Trevor Anderson (Fraser) is a volcanologist who, outside of his job, is on a journey to find his missing brother. After discovering a series of notes left behind by his brother, Max, he travels to his last known destination in Iceland with Max’s son, Sean, and falls into a hole leading them to the center of Earth. During their journey, the two discover hidden secrets and must fight against time before nature takes over.
"Blast From the Past"
“Blast from the Past” is one of those belly-laugh comedies that also makes you feel warm and fuzzy at the end. In 1962, scientist Dr. Calvin Webber (Christopher Walken) builds an underground shelter beneath his home because he believes that the United States is on the brink of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. For the next 35 years, Calvin and his wife Helen (Sissy Spacek) raise their son Adam (Fraser) completely underground and with the cultural norms of the 1960s. In 1997, the shelter unlocks, and a now 30-something Adam is ready to explore the real world and even find love with a stranger named Eve (Alicia Silverstone).
"Encino Man"
When best friends Dave Morgan and Stanley Brown find a man (Fraser) buried in a block of ice underground in Dave’s backyard, the two use a heater to thaw him and discover that he is a caveman literally frozen in time. The two name the caveman Linkavitch “Link” Chomofsky and clean him up to help him integrate into society as a normal person, hoping he will make them more popular in school. As Link generates more attention at school, they must hide his secret before it’s revealed and ruins everything.
"Gods and Monsters"
Filmmaker James Whale (Ian McKellen), known for directing “Frankenstein” and “The Invisible Man,” is away from the spotlight and officially retired after suffering from debilitating strokes. As he is mainly reclusive in his home, Whale befriends his gardener, Clayton Boone (Fraser), and the two bond over different parts of their lives. Despite their rocky relationship at points, the two learn valuable lessons through one another and form a unique bond that will impact them for the rest of their lives.
"The Quiet American"
Based on the 1955 novel of the same name by Graham Greene, “The Quiet American” centers around British journalist Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine), who is covering the Vietnam War in Saigon. During his time in Vietnam, Fowler falls in love with a young woman named Phuong, though their relationship is complicated by CIA operative Alden Pyle (Fraser), who is also in love with her. As Pyle makes promises to Phuong while also promoting US interests, Fowler has plans in mind to get what he wants.
"Crash"
Fraser stars alongside a heavyweight cast in this 2004 drama. When District Attorney Rick Cabot (Fraser) and his wife Jean Cabot (Sandra Bullock) are carjacked during a night on the town, Cabot has to decide how to handle the situation in the press, which could cost him being re-elected in the racially divided Los Angeles. Along with Cabot’s plot, “Crash” also features many interconnected storylines which display how racism and corruption often go hand-in-hand.
"Airheads"
Aspiring rock stars Chazz (Fraser), Rex (Steve Buscemi), and Pip (Adam Sandler) are desperate to make it big with their music. After relentlessly asking multiple local radio stations to play their stuff, the trio take matters into their own hands and holds station KPPX hostage until they play their demo. Armed with water guns and ill-equipped to deal with the consequences of their actions, the group is stuck trying to get out of trouble with the police or face going to prison.
"Trust"
In this FX series, Fraser stars as James Fletcher Chace, the chief of security for John Paul Getty III, heir to the Getty Oil company, in the 1970s. When Getty is kidnapped by the Italian mafia in 1973, his grandfather sends Chace to Italy to dig deeper into his disappearance and ultimately, get him home safely. As he investigates Getty’s disappearance, his mission is complicated by a ransom request from Getty’s kidnappers, which leads to a back-and-forth between the mob and Getty’s grandfather.
"Looney Tunes: Back in Action"
Growing tired of being the villain, Daffy Duck demands to have his role changed at Warner Bros., only to be fired by the company’s vice president. Following the altercation, Daffy is escorted out of the studio by stuntman and security guard Damian Drake Jr. (Fraser), but he is also fired after a chase destroys the studio’s property. Without a job and on their own, Damian and Daffy team up to find the treasured Blue Monkey diamond and stop the evil Mr. Chairman (Steve Martin) from obtaining it and using it to control all of humanity.
"Bedazzled"
Lovable nerd Elliot Richards (Fraser) lives a simple life working in IT. He has dreams of marrying his coworker and love of his life, Allison Gardner, though his socially awkward nature makes the chances of that happening virtually impossible. When Elliot meets the devil (Elizabeth Hurley) at a bar, she promises him that she will grant him seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Persuaded by her proposal, Elliot agrees and starts wishing, though the devil always interferes with his dreams with added twists.
"School Ties"
In the 1950s, David Greene (Fraser) is a working-class Jewish boy with aspirations to play football. When he is awarded a football scholarship to St. Matthew’s Catholic boarding school in Massachusetts, he has difficulty fitting in with the elite group of students and keeps his Jewish identity a secret from his new friends in fear he will be rejected. But when his secret is revealed at the school, David faces bullying and torment from his peers, and must fight to stay in the scholarship program or lose everything.
"Extraordinary Measures"
Based on the true story of John and Aileen Crowley, “Extraordinary Measures” centers around John (Fraser) and Aileen (Keri Russell) whose two children suffer from Pompe’s disease. In most cases, the disease is terminal and often results in death before children turn 10, which pushes the pair to find a cure and save their children. With the help of researcher Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford), John launches a company with the goal of funding research and conducting trials, but money and greed from competing companies threaten everything they are working for.
"Doom Patrol"
Fraser stars alongside an ensemble cast that includes Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, and Matt Bomer in HBO Max’s “Doom Patrol.” Based on the DC comic superhero group of the same name, the show follows a group who all have superpowers from traumatic experiences. Among the group is Cliff Steele (Fraser), whose brain lives inside a robot body following a car crash. When the Chief, known for treating each member of the group, is captured by Mr. Nobody, Doom Patrol leaps into action to save him right away.
"With Honors"
College student Monty (Fraser) is nearing graduation. As he approaches the milestone, he writes his senior thesis only for his computer to crash. Left with a handwritten copy of the thesis, Monty seeks to make an extra copy of it in case something terrible happens. When his only copy falls down a grating, Monty discovers that a homeless man named Simon has it, but he’s not willing to give it up for nothing, so he makes a deal. For every service and meal Monty gives him, he will give him back a page of the thesis.
"Still Breathing"
Street performer and puppeteer Fletcher McBracken (Fraser) and con artist Rosalyn Willoughby have had the same dreams, inevitably linking each other together. When McBracken travels to Los Angeles to find the woman in his dreams, Rosalyn initially rejects him, though she ultimately changes her mind when he brings her to San Antonio to meet his grandmother. Complete strangers to one another, will the pair carry out their predetermined destiny or change the course of fate?
"The Whale"
Highly considered to be Fraser’s comeback role, “The Whale” follows a fat man named Charlie (Fraser), who, after abandoning his wife and child for his late male lover, lost touch with his family. After falling into a spiraling depression eating to cope with the guilt of becoming estranged from his daughter, he makes a fierce attempt to be a better dad and reconnect with her during her teenage years. Critics have praised the film specifically for Fraser’s stunning performance.
"Killers of the Flower Moon"
Though not released yet, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is yet another project featuring Fraser that has critics and audiences excited. The film, directed by legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese, also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Jesse Plemons, and centers around a murder investigation led by a young J. Edgar Hoover and Tom White.