Brendan Fraser is no stranger to our screens since many of us can recall his iconic role as Rick O'Connell in The Mummy trilogy. He has played many other leading roles in numerous comedy and fantasy films, including Encino Man, Airheads, George of the Jungle, Dudley Do-Right, Monkeybone, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Inkheart, and Furry Vengeance.
In many of the aforementioned films, Fraser had been known for maintaining a fit physique since many of his roles required a high level of endurance. Like most superheroes who wear capes, Brendan did not need a cap to fight the bad guys and by extension, save the world.
Really, anyone who has been on the chunkier side most of their lives know how uncomfortable carrying excess weight can be. This leaves fans to wonder if Fraser somehow feels the same way because viewers have also stated that he is almost unidentifiable on the screen.
Now, could Brendan's weight gain be a reason for him being wrongfully canceled by Hollywood?
Updated on January 20th, 2023 by Abigail Thomas: Brendan Fraser is a big name in Hollywood. He has starred in numerous large productions, including his most famous role in The Mummy film franchise. The franchise damaged his body, however, and he needed a partial knee replacement as well as serious work done on his back. That physical damage was nothing compared to the mental damage done by an abuse scandal. President of HFPA Philip Berk pinched Fraser's butt at an event in 2003, and though Berk claimed it was a joke, Fraser felt he had been sexually assaulted. The toll resulted in serious weight gain, but Fraser is making a comeback after starring in The Whale and gaining Oscar buzz.
Brendan Fraser Is Well Known For His Role In 'The Mummy'
If you were to look at the person next to you and ask, "have you seen the film, 'The Mummy'?", it would come as no surprise that their answer would most likely be a resounding, "YES!" The film which was released in 1999, became a hit internationally almost immediately after being released.
Brendan Fraser became an immediate Hollywood sensation when he starred in The Mummy franchise in the early 2000s alongside Rachel Weiz. Since then, Brendan Fraser has said about a possible 'Mummy' sequel which many fans are highly anticipating.
Fans fell in love with his quick wit, incredible athletic prowess and impressive mummy-fighting abilities. However, recently Brendan Fraser has put on a bit of extra weight and fans noticed this in his new movie No Sudden Moves.
Fraser Creates Oscar Buzz For The Whale
Unless one's metabolism is built like a race car, it is almost inevitable to avoid excess weight as one ages. This might just be the case for the actor who seems to be packing on the extra pounds. This sudden weight gain is said to be a way of preparing for his new film The Whale, which was released in December 2022, where he plays a morbidly obese recluse. The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky, of Mother and Black Swan fame, and stars Fraser as an English teacher suffering from obesity and depression who wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter.
Fans were also worried about Fraser as he had previously taken some time away from acting. The George Of The Jungle star struggled with a series of injuries after his work on The Mummy films. He stated: “I needed a laminectomy. And the lumbar didn’t take, so they had to do it again a year later.”
He had a partial knee replacement, work on his back, and even had to have work done on his vocal cords. Over the subsequent seven years the constant surgeries and treatment meant Fraser was regularly in hospital.However, fans will be glad to know Fraser is beginning to return to Hollywood, with recent roles in Doom Patrol and Professionals.
Is Brendan Doing Anything To Deal With His Weight Gain?
The actor’s weight gain had been a subject of conversation in recent years, and it’s started up again thanks to his leading role in The Whale. In the drama film, Brendan plays a 270kg schoolteacher slowly eating himself to death while grieving the death of his wife. The Doom Patrol actor had to spend hours in the makeup chair having prosthetics applied to change his appearance, but having packed on some kilos in real life made getting into character easier, he says.
“This is certainly far removed from anything I’ve ever done, and I know it’s going to make a lasting impression,” he told Newsweek recently.
Brendan, who also starred in the film Bedazzled, has previously spoken about the weight he gained after undergoing multiple operations necessitated by the physical strain he endured performing stunts in the late ’90s for movies such as George of the Jungle (1997) and The Mummy (1999).
Currently, it does not seem like the actor is affected much by his weight gain and how it affects his physical appearance. The weight gain, aside what was done purposefully for The Whale, could simply be a result of aging and surgeries. When he received a Critic's Choice Award in January 2023 for The Whale, the public shifted the conversation to how well-dressed he was.