1999: Made $12.5 million playing Rick O'Connell in The Mummy, Hollywood's leading action star.
2003: Allegedly sexually assaulted by powerful Hollywood Foreign Press Association president.
2008: Spoke publicly about it—and the work stopped.
2010-2020: Essentially disappeared from Hollywood.
2023: Won the Oscar for Best Actor at age 54 for playing a 600-pound man.
In between: Depression, divorce costing $900,000/year in alimony, physical destruction from stunts, being labeled "difficult," and the longest quiet period any major star has ever endured.
This is the story of how Brendan Fraser became a $100 million action hero, got blacklisted for speaking truth, disappeared for a decade, and came back to win the highest honor in acting.
The Gentle Giant (1968-1991)
Born December 3, 1968
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana
Parents:
- Father: Canadian foreign service officer
- Mother: Sales counselor
Childhood: Moved constantly (London, Ottawa, Netherlands, Switzerland)
Education:
- Attended private boarding school
- Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle) - theater
- Height: 6'3" by age 17
Personality: Soft-spoken, gentle, kind
Dream: Classical theater actor
Physical type: Big, handsome, but not traditionally "action hero"
The Breakout (1992-1998)
School Ties (1992)
Role: Jewish student facing anti-Semitism at 1950s prep school
Co-stars: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell (all unknowns)
Impact: Proved he could act
Box office: $14 million (modest)
Encino Man (1992)
Role: Caveman thawed out in modern California
Type: Goofy comedy
Co-stars: Sean Astin, Pauly Shore
Box office: $40 million
His appeal: Physical comedy + gentle charm
Result: Hollywood noticed
George of the Jungle (1997)
Role: Lovable jungle man (Tarzan parody)
Budget: $55 million
Box office: $174 million
The transformation:
- Got in incredible shape
- Comedic timing perfected
- Shirtless for most of the film
His body: Gym obsession, stunts without doubles
The pattern: Doing own stunts (would later destroy his body)
Status: Family-friendly comedy star
The Mummy Franchise: $100 Million Action Hero (1999-2008)
The Mummy (1999)
Role: Rick O'Connell, adventurer/action hero
Director: Stephen Sommers
Budget: $80 million
Box office: $415 million worldwide
His salary: $12.5 million
The stunts:
- Hung from airplane
- Horseback chases
- Fight choreography
- All without stunt double (his insistence)
Physical toll:
- Cracked ribs
- Knee damage
- Back injury (would worsen over time)
Career impact: Became action star
The chemistry: With Rachel Weisz (co-star)
Status: One of biggest stars in Hollywood
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Salary: $12.5 million + backend
Box office: $433 million
Physical toll:
- More injuries
- Repeated stunt impacts
- Performing own fights
Total from film (salary + backend): $20+ million
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
Salary: $14 million
Box office: $403 million
Problem: Movie was terrible, critics hated it
Personal state: Physically destroyed, marriage failing
The toll: Years of stunts catching up
Medical issues:
- Multiple surgeries (back, knee)
- Vocal cord surgery
- Partial knee replacement
- Laminectomy (spine surgery)
Recovery time: Months between procedures
His body: "Held together with tape and ice"
The Assault and the Silence (2003-2017)
Summer 2003: The Beverly Hills Hotel
Event: Golden Globes luncheon
Location: Beverly Hills Hotel
What happened (his account):
Philip Berk, president of Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA - the group that runs Golden Globes), allegedly:
- Reached out to shake Brendan's hand
- Then reached around and groped him
- Touched him inappropriately
- Made him feel violated
Brendan's immediate reaction:
- Froze
- Felt panicked
- Left event quickly
Who he told:
- His wife at the time
- Close friends
- But not publicly (feared retaliation)
Berk's power: HFPA president, could influence careers
Brendan's fear: Speaking out = career suicide
2003-2008: The Slow Fade
What happened after the assault:
2004-2005: Still getting major roles (Mummy franchise)
But internally:
- Depression
- Reclusive behavior
- Gained weight
- Lost enthusiasm
2006-2008: Roles becoming smaller
His explanation years later: "I felt like I was being blackballed. I didn't know if it was because I spoke to someone about what happened to me, or if it was because I had become too expensive."
The reality: Hollywood insider consensus is he was seen as "difficult" after private complaints about the assault
2008: The Divorce
Married: Afton Smith (1998)
Children: 3 sons
Divorce filed: 2007
Finalized: 2008
Alimony: $900,000 per year (plus child support)
His financial obligation: $900K/year for 10 years
The problem: Work was drying up
Total owed: $9 million over decade
His comment: "I was broke, depressed, and alone"
The Disappearance (2009-2018)
The Quiet Years
2009-2018: Barely visible in Hollywood
Roles:
- TV guest appearances
- Small indie films
- Direct-to-video movies
Example films:
- Furry Vengeance (2010): Bombed
- Gimme Shelter (2013): Indie, small role
- Various TV episodes
Salary: $100K-500K (down from $12-14M)
Physical state:
- Multiple surgeries continued
- Gained weight
- Lost action star physique
- Looked unrecognizable to fans
Public perception: "What happened to Brendan Fraser?"
Tabloids: "Where is he now?" articles
Internet: Became meme ("sad Brendan")
Reality: Struggling with depression, pain, financial stress
2013: The Viral Moment
Event: Comic-Con panel
Video: Brendan clapping enthusiastically for something
Result: Went viral as "Brendan Fraser clapping" GIF
Public reaction: "We miss Brendan Fraser"
His reaction: Touched but still struggling
February 2018: The GQ Interview
Magazine: GQ
Interview: Zach Baron
The revelation: Publicly discussed Philip Berk assault for first time
His quote: "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."
Berk's response: Denied, claimed it was "a pinch on the ass" (still admitted to inappropriate touching)
HFPA's response: Claimed they investigated and found Berk wrote apology letter
The impact:
- Public support for Brendan
- #MeToo era made his story believable
- But: Damage to career already done
The revelation's timing: 15 years after incident
The Public Response (2018)
Social media: #BrendonFraser trended
Fans: "We believe you"
Industry: Quiet support, but no job offers initially
The question: Could he come back?
His physical state: Still recovering from surgeries, older, heavier
Action hero roles: No longer possible
The pivot: Need different kind of role
The Return: Darren Aronofsky's Bet (2020-2022)
The Call (2020)
Director: Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler)
The pitch: Lead role in The Whale
The character: Charlie, 600-pound man dying of obesity
The challenge:
- Emotional depth
- Physical transformation (prosthetics)
- Dark subject matter
Why Brendan:
- Aronofsky: "He has the pain in his eyes"
- Needed actor who understood suffering
- Gentle soul who'd been broken
Brendan's response: "This could save me"
The Whale (2022)
Filming: Early 2021 (17-day shoot)
Budget: $3 million (tiny)
The role:
- 600-pound English teacher
- Estranged from daughter
- Eating himself to death
- Trying to reconnect before dying
The prosthetics:
- 6 hours per day in makeup chair
- 300-pound suit
- Restricted movement
- Physically exhausting
The performance:
- Devastating
- Emotional
- Raw vulnerability
Brendan's state: Channeled his pain (divorce, assault, lost years)
His quote: "I know what it's like to feel invisible"
September 4, 2022: Venice Film Festival Premiere
Event: The Whale world premiere
The screening: 6-minute standing ovation
Brendan's reaction: Cried openly
Photos: Went viral (visibly emotional, overwhelmed)
Critics: "Career-best performance"
Oscar buzz: Immediate
His comeback: Complete
The Awards Season (2022-2023)
The Wins Leading to Oscar
Critics Choice: Won Best Actor
Screen Actors Guild: Won Best Actor (his peers)
BAFTA: Nominated
Every award: Gave emotional speeches thanking Aronofsky
The narrative: Beloved underdog
Public sentiment: "Brendan Fraser MUST win the Oscar"
March 12, 2023: Oscar Night
Category: Best Actor
Competition:
- Austin Butler (Elvis)
- Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin)
- Paul Mescal (Afterscar)
- Bill Nighy (Living)
Winner: Brendan Fraser
His reaction:
- Shock (even though predicted)
- Tears
- Stood and hugged everyone
Acceptance speech: "I started in this business 30 years ago. Things didn't come easily to me, but there was a facility that I didn't appreciate at the time, until it stopped."
Key line: Thanked Aronofsky for "throwing me a creative lifeline"
Didn't mention: The assault, the lost years
Tone: Gracious, emotional, humble
Age: 54
Years since The Mummy: 24 years
Comebacks in Oscar history: One of longest quiet periods before winning
The Aftermath
Salary immediately after Oscar: $3-5 million per film (back to solid mid-tier)
Offers: Scripts flooded in
Status: Legitimate movie star again
Type of roles: Character actor, dramatic roles
His body: Can't do action anymore (too many surgeries)
His career: Reborn, different form
The Numbers
Peak salary (1999-2008): $12-14 million per film
Lowest salary (2010-2018): $100K-500K per film
Divorce cost: $900,000/year for 10 years = $9 million
Medical bills: Estimated $2-3 million (surgeries, rehab)
Career earnings (total): $100+ million
Current net worth: $20 million (much lower than expected due to divorce, medical bills, lost decade)
Current salary (post-Oscar): $3-5 million per film
What Destroyed Him
The assault (2003):
- Traumatic experience
- Feared speaking out
- When he did (privately), work slowed
Physical destruction:
- Insisted on own stunts
- Multiple surgeries
- Body gave out
Divorce (2008):
- $900K/year alimony
- Financial pressure when work dried up
Industry perception:
- Labeled "difficult"
- "Too expensive"
- Blacklist (unofficial)
Depression:
- Withdrew from public
- Lost confidence
- Became invisible
What Saved Him
Darren Aronofsky:
- Saw beyond the wreckage
- Gave him the role of a lifetime
- Believed when others didn't
The performance:
- Channeled all his pain
- Honest about his suffering
- Used his trauma for art
Timing:
- #MeToo era made his assault story believable
- Public wanted to see him succeed
- Hollywood loves a comeback
His humility:
- Never bitter publicly
- Grateful for second chance
- Genuine kindness
The Legacy
Action films (1997-2008):
- George of the Jungle: $174M
- The Mummy trilogy: $1.25 billion combined
- Box office total: $2+ billion
The lost decade (2009-2018):
- Invisible
- Forgotten
- Suffering silently
The comeback (2022-2023):
- Venice standing ovation
- Oscar win
- Redemption complete
The lesson: Speaking truth costs, but silence costs more
From $12 Million to Invisible to Oscar Winner
1999: $12.5 million for The Mummy, action hero, top of the world
2003: Allegedly sexually assaulted, spoke privately, work slowed
2008: Divorce, $900K/year alimony, body broken from stunts
2010: Essentially disappeared from Hollywood
2018: Finally spoke publicly about assault
2022: Cast in The Whale, 6-minute standing ovation
2023: Oscar winner
The span: 24 years from The Mummy to Oscar
The Truth About Comebacks
Hollywood didn't give Brendan Fraser a comeback.
He survived long enough for one director to believe in him.
He channeled 15 years of pain into one performance.
And when given 17 days to prove himself, he delivered the best performance of the year.
That's not a comeback story.
That's a survival story.
Brendan Fraser didn't come back because Hollywood forgave him for speaking out.
He came back because he was too talented to stay buried forever.
And when the world finally gave him a chance, he didn't waste it.
From action hero to exile to Oscar winner.
The longest, quietest comeback in Hollywood history.
And proof that sometimes, the people Hollywood throws away are the ones who deserve to be celebrated most.
