If Hollywood had a yearbook with superlatives for every celebrity who called town home, next to Brendan Fraser’s picture would undoubtedly be the “friendliest” or “classroom sweetheart.” Everyone loves the actor and wants him to succeed, with decades in the business starring in classic comedies and the most emotional dramas.
As Fraser celebrates his birthday, Variety ranks the 13 best film performances of his career so far.
From the Venice Film Festival premiere of Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” it seems like the whole world is supporting Brendan Fraser this Oscar season. It’s hard to remember a recent artist entering the awards race with an outpouring of support from industry audiences and consumers alike. Instead, everyone just wants to see Fraser succeed.
While waiting to see if he will be invited for a trip to the Dolby Theatre, one point should not be lost: he has always been a gifted actor and a real movie star.
With his deep voice and tall stature, the Canadian-American actor began his career charming moviegoers around the world as resurrected frozen caveman Link in the classic ’90s comedy “Encino Man.”
He then showed off his dramatic acting skills with characters like a Jewish high school student who experiences anti-Semitism in “School Ties” or a Harvard student who befriends a homeless man (Joe Pesci) in “With Honours”.
Never holding back a laugh, he starred as Chazz in “Airheads” and changed the devil’s heart in “Bedazzled.” Then he seemed to own the world when he took on the lead role of adventurer Rick O’Connell in “The Mummy” franchise.
This is all just the tip of the Fraser iceberg, and now it looks like the world will see what lies beneath on September 4 with “The Whale.”
It was back in 2008 when Darren Aronofsky presented “The Wrestler” at the 65th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered before heading to Toronto, where it was acclaimed by all. Newsweek film critic David Ansen would pen the quote on the film’s poster and become the foundation of the awards campaign: “Witness the resurrection of Mickey Rourke in Darren Aronofsky’s deeply moving film.
Aronofsky has a knack for reminding the world of the brilliance of performers such as Rourke, Ellen Burstyn in ‘Requiem for a Dream’ and Hugh Jackman in ‘The Fountain’. Can the ultimate nice guy finish first this year?
Fraser was set to play villainous Garfield Lynns, aka Firefly, in the now-cancelled “Batgirl” movie for Warner Bros. But that shouldn’t derail his comeback. Aside from “The Whale” on Dec. 9, Fraser’s next role is a role in “Palm Springs” director Max Barbakow’s second feature film “Brothers” alongside Josh Brolin, Glenn Close and Peter Dinklage. He will also star in Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese with Apple Original Films’ “Killers of the Flower Moon” in 2023, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jesse Plemons.
Lily Variety list of his 13 best performances and the best scene of each selection.
Also, visit Variety Oscar predictions from the awards circuit to read where Brendan Fraser ranks among this year’s contenders.
Honorable Mentions: “Now and Then” (1995); “Give Me Shelter” (2013); “No Sudden Movement” (2021)