Brendan Fraser's career is impressive and admirable, but he has not always had it easy. Most people reading this might remember the actor telling a story about how he suffered from sexual assault. This happened in 2003, and not long after that he split up with his then-wife, Afton Smith. Needless to say, it was a very difficult time for him, but with patience and help, he managed to work through it.
Luckily, there were three people in his life that always filled him with joy: his three sons. They are now teenagers and young adults, but parenthood will always be the most important thing in Brendan's life. There is not much information out there about them, but here is everything we know.
Updated on April 18, 2023: Brendan Fraser continues to prioritize his relationship with his sons over everything else. His two youngest, Leland and Holden, accompanied him to the 2023 Oscars this year, where he took home an award for his performance in The Whale. The kids took an opportunity while on the red carpet to tease their dad, saying "I mean, he’s our old man, and he’s always been cool. But we’re always gonna rag on him at least a little."
Holden and Leland are both signed on with a modeling agency, and Leland is an aspiring musician. After his Oscar win, Fraser attended a performance at the Sunset Strip bar, where his youngest took the stage with his guitar. The actor could not have been more proud of his son and continues to encourage their passions.
How Long Were Brendan Fraser And Afton Smith Together?
While Brendan Fraser's marriage to actress Afton Smith, the mother of his children, ended in divorce, it does not mean that the relationship wasn't very loving while it lasted. After all, they spent over a decade together and had three kids.
The former couple met through a mutual friend, as many people do, but in their case, their friend was none other than movie star Winona Ryder. She had hosted a party at her house in 1993 and Brendan and Afton had been invited. Reportedly, they had an instant connection, and it was practically love at first sight. Still, they took their time, and it was not until 1998 that they tied the knot. They welcomed their first child, Griffin Arthur Fraser, in 2002.
Two years later they had their second son, Holden Fletcher Fraser, and their youngest, Leland Francis Fraser, was born in 2006.
A year after Leland was born, their marriage came to an end, and they separated in what seemed to be a sad but straightforward process, clarifying that there was no animosity between them.
Afton Smith's Accusation Against Brendan Fraser
Although initially they seemed to have ended on good terms, complications between Brendan Fraser and his ex-wife came up a few years after their divorce.
Their original arrangement, which stated that they would share custody of their children and Brendan would pay spousal support, changed through the years. The problems arose when Fraser sought to have the spousal support reduced, claiming he could not afford it at the time.
In response to that, Afton accused him of fraud, saying that he was withholding information about his net worth.
Brendan explained that he hadn't hidden anything from her, simply that his financial situation had changed since they had first made their agreement, and that in addition to that, he'd had health issues that would make it difficult to afford the alimony.
They went back and forth for a while, but eventually, things resolved somewhat peacefully, and they continued to have shared custody of their boys.
Brendan Fraser's Sons Take After Their Father
Despite their personal issues, one thing that was always clear was that Brendan Fraser and Afton Smith care about their kids deeply and unconditionally.
Brendan in particular loves being a father more than anything in this world. Ever since they were little, he has supported them every step of the way. Apparently, they have always had very different personalities, but that did not stop them from getting along. And according to Brendan, they inherited his artistic talents.
"All children are actors, and I think they are the best actors," he said years ago when his sons were toddlers. "They’re like little Greek tragedians. They’re so pure. 'No, I will not go to bed! No!' 'I love you so much!' 'I hate you!' It’s rage, fear, lust, joy. That’s what they teach in actor’s school, and all kids do is that," Brendan continued.
This is no surprise, since the boys have been exposed to their father's work from a very early age. They used to watch George of the Jungle when they were little, although they were not always fans of Brendan's show.
"To tell you the truth, the first time they saw George of the Jungle they walked out!" Brendan said laughing.
Brendan's Support Of His Oldest Child
Brendan Fraser undoubtedly loves all of his children equally, but when it comes to his oldest son, Griffin, he does not mind admitting that he pays extra attention to him in some situations. This is due to the fact that, when Griffin was young, they found out he was on the autism spectrum.
Since then, both Brendan and Afton Smith have done everything in their power to make sure their son receives the support he needs and deserves. Not only that, but through supporting Griffin, they have become advocates for other families with children with autism.
"Griffin's rated on the autism spectrum. Um, and so he needs extra love in the world, and he gets it. And his brothers, ever since they were small, one was always the spokesperson, and the other was the enforcer," he shared. Brendan's appreciation for his son is heartwarming.
Apparently, he has seen how Griffin is "a curative on everyone who meets him, I noticed. People have some rough edges to them. Or he just makes them, I don't know… put things into sharper relief and maybe find a way to have a little bit more compassion. They don't put themselves first so much around him."
Brendan Fraser's life has not always been easy, but it is beautiful to see that he has maintained his positive outlook on life and that he has such a loving family.