Audiences were first introduced to the handsome star in the early ’90s with roles in comedy films such as George of the Jungle.
But actor Brendan Fraser became a household name after he appeared in smash horror franchise, The Mummy.
Following a string of Hollywood box office successes, the now 54-year-old actor stepped out of the spotlight amid various personal issues, including multiple surgeries and what was later revealed to be depression as a result of sexual harassment
The dad-of-three recently made his highly anticipated comeback appearing in The Whale, and has opened up on the highs and lows of his incredible career.
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From his rise to fame to his recent successes, here’s everything to know about Fraser’s career and comeback.
Sexual assault claims
(Image: Mikel Roberts)
In 2018, after years away from the spotlight, Fraser emerged to allege that in 2003, he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, then the head of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Fraser alleged that Philip had groped and assaulted him at a 2003 luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The 53-year-old said: “His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around. I felt ill.
“I felt like a little kid. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry… In my mind, at least, something had been taken away from me.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Berk previously called Fraser’s account “a total fabrication”.
The HFPA launched an investigation in response to Fraser’s allegation and told the outlet that they “stand firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behaviour described”.
HFPA concluded their investigation, saying that “although it was concluded that Mr Berk inappropriately touched Mr Fraser, the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance.”
Fraser told the HFPA: “I don’t get the joke.”
Blacklisted
(Image: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
Actor Brendan was a Hollywood heartthrob in the late 90s and early 00s, with movies like The Mummy and George Of The Jungle topping the Box Office.
However, he seemingly disappeared from the spotlight and now the actor has revealed that it wasn’t by choice, but was as a result of being “blacklisted” by Hollywood after opening up in 2018 about the alleged sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk.
(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
In an interview with GQ in 2018, Fraser claimed his career “withered on a vine” after speaking out about the incident, saying he felt “miserable”, “depressed” and “reclusive”
Berk, who is still a member of the HFPA, previously tried to describe the incident as a joke in his 2014 memoir, and in a recent statement given to GQ, he added: “His career declined through no fault of ours.”
After his shocking revelation, Fraser received a written apology but claims he found himself shut out from the HFPA and the Golden Globes awards, leading him to wonder if he’d been blacklisted.
After this, the actor suffered personal setbacks including issues with his own health, divorce and the loss of his mother.
Comeback
(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
Despite his disappearance from acting, Brendan seems to be coming back strong, with fans excited for his return.
His latest movie, The Whale, sees the actor playing a 600lb man trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter years after he abandoned his family.
For the role, Fraser is unrecognisable due to amazing prosthetics that have moulded him into a 600lb character.
(Image: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
When the movie premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival last year, audience members were so moved that they gave Fraser a six-minute-long standing ovation and brought the actor to tears.
Though he had the bad luck of playing a lead role in the shelved Batgirl movie, there are high hopes for his portrayal of a lawyer in Martin Scorsese’s Western, Killers of the Flower Moon, slated for a 2023 release.
As to where things are going next for him, Fraser sounded optimistic at the Venice Film Festival.
“My crystal ball is broken,” he said at a press conference.
“I don’t know if yours works. But meet me after the show and we’ll take a peek together.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
