Overview (3)

Mini Bio (1)

Brendan James Fraser was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Canadian parents Carol Mary (Genereux), a sales counselor, and Peter Fraser, a journalist and travel executive. He is of Irish, Scottish, German, Czech, and French-Canadian ancestry. As his parents frequently moved, Brendan can claim affinity with Ottawa, Indianapolis, Detroit, Seattle, London and Rome. His early exposure to theatre, particularly in London, led him to Seattle's Cornish Institute. After graduation he found a minor role as Sailor #1 in River Phoenix's Dogfight (1991), then somewhat more substantial roles in Encino Man (1992) and School Ties (1992). He expresses a preference for playing "fish out of water" men. Five more years of supporting work led finally to the title role in George of the Jungle (1997), a role which fully utilized his charm and beefy good looks, as well as offering him a chance to show off his comic talents. He describes this role as the one which dramatically altered his career. Critical raves for his role in Gods and Monsters (1998) pointed to yet another dimension to his dramatic persona.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>

Spouse (1)

Trade Mark (2)

Deep resonant voice



Towering height and athletic frame



Trivia (29)

Raised in Holland, Switzerland, and Canada. Educated at Upper Canada College in Toronto, the Actors' Conservatory, Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.



Chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1998]





Whenever appearing in a Pauly Shore movie, he uses the character name "Link".

Has dual citizenship: American and Canadian.



Speaks French fluently.



His and Afton's wedding was held in the garden at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles.



He welcomed first child son Griffin Arthur on September 17, 2002.





While filming Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), was terrified at having to hit Bill Goldberg . Goldberg constantly told him to go ahead and do it, telling him, "It's what I do for a living."

Attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington.



Second child, son Holden Fletcher, b. 16 August 2004



Is an aspiring photographer.





Has recorded more than a few plays for broadcast on the radio, including works by Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill

Has three older brothers: Kevin Fraser, Sean Fraser and Regan Fraser.



Has developed a reputation for being extremely approachable and friendly to fans who meet him on the streets.





He was in consideration to play Superman Returns (2006) when Brett Ratner was still attached to the film.



Was considered for the role of Dr. Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in Fantastic Four (2005).

The son of a Canadian travel executive. Among the places he lived in his younger days include Cincinnati, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Ottawa, Canada; and Holland.



Wife Afton gave birth to their third child and third son, Leland, on May 2, 2006 in Los Angeles, California.





He is not ambidextrous as it might appear in Monkeybone (2001). If you listen to the director's commentary, that is a left hand artist's hand seen painting the characters, and the artist isn't Brendan.

Parents: Carol Fraser and Peter Fraser.





He was the first choice for playing the lead role in Inspector Gadget (1999), but the role ultimately went to Matthew Broderick . Fraser had to turn down the role in favor to perform as the title character in George of the Jungle (1997).

His parents are Canadian, his father from Saskatchewan and his mother from Nova Scotia. He has Irish, Scottish, German, Czech, French-Canadian, and English ancestry.



Appearing in the stage version of "Cat on the Hot Tin roof" in London. [December 2001]



In Singapore for the 3-D film fest. The first film festival specifically dedicated to 3-D technology (3DX: 3D Film & Entertainment Technology Festival). [November 2008]





Filming Inkheart (2008) at Shepperton Studios in London. [November 2006]



Was considered for the role of Phil Dunphy on Modern Family (2009).



Listed on the 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominating Ballot for Performers (in the Supporting Actor In A Drama Series category) for The Affair (2014).

He is the first actor to play the DC Comics character Cliff Steele/Robotman in a live-action adaptation.



Personal Quotes (38)

I believe you have a responsibility to comport yourself in a manner that gives an example to others. As a young man, I prayed for success. Now I pray just to be worthy of it.



As sophisticated as the technology gets, the less sophisticated you have to become as an actor.





What if William Shakespeare had had a test audience for "Romeo and Juliet" or "Hamlet"?

[on turning forty] I feel all giddy inside. It's like when I turned 13 and I felt like I finally became a teenager. Now I feel like I'm finally becoming an adult. It's like earning another stripe in life.



You do a movie, Hollywood loves you for a while. They love you, they love you, they love you until...oh, they love someone else now. It's not cyclical, it's ... it's ... ficklical!



I still don't understand the music industry that much. Everything I learned was from hanging out with rock musicians in studios. I certainly have respect for those who make music their livelihood.



I guess darkness serves a purpose: to show us that there is redemption through chaos. I believe in that. I think that's the basis of Greek mythology.



I have so much satisfaction in my life. I have a beautiful wife and the great stimulation of an interesting career. I'm the most happy fellow that I know.



I think you have to show homage to creators.



George of the Jungle is a cartoon. He's a guy who swings around on a vine all day. Are you not buying that?



I'm starting to judge success by the time I have for myself, the time I spend with family and friends. My priorities aren't amending; they're shifting.



I don't believe that wishing works. I think we get the things we work for.



Horrible things happen, but were they horrible? No, they were just circumstances of the world.





Graham Greene , as I understand it, was quite outspoken in his criticism of American foreign policy.

I'm just glad that I have bragging rights to working with Bugs and Daffy.



I always approach comedy roles pretending they aren't funny.



Most people go, I wish for world peace. But chaos has a place in balancing out the light and the dark in the world. I don't know if I would wish for world peace.



When you throw punches at actors, you stop, you pull it, and it looks like you pulled it. When you throw punches at cartoon characters, they are not there, so you can swing through. It looks like you really decked them.



I suppose if it has a practical purpose, I appreciate a pat on the back. I suppose it's rewarding, ultimately.



If you run an Internet search on Vietnam and the war, most of the information you get begins at about 1962. I think this is telling. It is missing the whole period that led up to the reasons the war happened in the first place.



I wish I could have 25,000 years of my personal family history documented in a very powerful computer or a CD-ROM that I could just pop in and my computer would never crash.





I mean, it was a mummy movie. It was a good film independent of it's source, in that looks like Lawrence of Arabia (1962) on steroids in a lot of ways.

Maybe my caveman ancestors invented the wheel or something. I'm not sure.



They had a hard time miking me in my loin cloth, I mean, where were they gonna tape it?





I recently watched Peter Brook 's Lord of the Flies (1963), and it wasn't a favorite film. Then I saw the one that was made in 1990, which in my opinion didn't match up to the original.

I wanted to have the opportunity to travel to Vietnam and Sydney, and have the chance to work there.



Burroughs was never really that pleased with the way popular culture and society treated his character. He tried to make a few movies of his own as a result, but they weren't very good.



I remember thinking, I want to work for the camera.



I would act whether or not I was paid. I would be involved in ensemble groups. I would have the desire to tell stories.



All you have to do is just believe in what's there; then, the audience will, too.



Saigon is hot, full of atmosphere, activity, and commerce.



The test audience holds a great deal of power in the process of film making in the United States.



I wish the rock 'n' roll scene to be back in.





Elizabeth Hurley and I had a lot of fun together. She's a very beautiful, confident woman.

I was molded, spent my time underneath a lot of goo. And then the bits and pieces were sculpted. It took probably 10 days to create each character after all those camera tests.





I've been grateful enough, smart enough to take the work with Ian McKellen in Gods And Monsters.

Forget acting. It's all about rock 'n' roll.





Ian McKellen is brilliant with research. I paid really close attention to the sources he goes to. He's a very, very intelligent man.

Salary (5)