After years in the industry, Brendan Fraser was awarded an Oscar in 2023, recognizing the actor’s exceptional acting chops. In recognition of his role as Charlie in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale, the American-Canadian actor, 55, received his first Academy Award for Best Actor. He was the first Canadian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his starring role as an obese gay man, which brought him critical acclaim and many other honors.
Still, he has remained modest and affable both on and off set, never allowing his success to get to his head. This is a rare quality in Hollywood, where celebrity and fortune can breed arrogance and entitlement. Acknowledging this, his School Ties co-stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck once mentioned that Fraser has “no ego”.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Have Sweet Things To Say About Brendan Fraser
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, longtime pals and collaborators, had the privilege of collaborating with Brendan Fraser on the 1992 drama film School Ties. During a career discussion in a Vanity Fair interview, Affleck and Damon recalled a poignant moment from their roles in Robert Mandel’s drama film.
Known for his intense method of acting and perfectionist tendencies, Affleck was taken aback by Fraser’s laid-back demeanor and willingness to work with others. The former stated, “[School Ties] was a big break for Brendan, actually”, in a statement about the film. Meanwhile, Damon, 53, went on:
“They searched for a long time before finding Brendan [Fraser for the lead role]. All of us had read for it… we both remember him as being so kind.”
In agreement, Affleck, 51, remarked that The Quiet American star was just a really “good person”, further adding:
“You got that sense from Brendan that there was no ego, and you know young guys can be sort of indistinguishable from chimpanzees. He was kind and gracious and could have easily lauded it over everyone that he was the lead. He came to my house for a barbeque, my mom’s house in Cambridge, he was just sweet. I like the guy, I’m really glad for him.”
In the film, Fraser portrays David Greene, a Jewish high school student who, in his senior year, wins an athletic scholarship to attend a prestigious preparatory school.
Fraser, who has acted in films such as The Mummy and Crash, is well known for his versatility and skill as an actor. Nonetheless, it seems that his humble demeanor has left a lasting effect on his industry peers.
Brendan Fraser Believed He ‘Deserved’ To Suffer While Pulling Off His Own Stunts
Brendan Fraser admitted that his previous self-loathing led him to accept physical pain and injuries from his work. The Whale actor told The Telegraph about the physical abrasions he had early in his Hollywood career, which included surgeries such as a partial knee replacement:
“I got a little banged up from years of doing my own stunts and needed a surgical fix on the spine and the hinges. That took a lot out of me. I knew I would get better, but it took a long time.”
Fraser would dress “like a gladiator” every day while filming The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in China in 2008. He would use
“Muscle tape and ice packs, strapping on this Transformer-like exoskeleton just to get through the scene. Absolutely, there was self-loathing. I think on some level I felt I deserved [a beating] and wanted to be the one who got in the first punch.”
Looking back at his physique for 1997’s George of the Jungle, Fraser also discussed aging and his physical changes, saying he is
“Older now; I do not look the way I did in those days, and I do not necessarily want to. But I’ve made peace with who I am now. And I’m glad that the work I can do is based in an emotional reality that’s not my own life but is one that I can strongly identify with.”
Still, in a career spanning over thirty years, he has only won one Oscar. So, as the movie industry continues to churn out big-budget movies, let’s not forget about unsung heroes like Brendan Fraser, who brings a touch of humility and humanity to the cinema.
His upcoming role will be in the comedy-drama film Brothers, which is helmed by Max Barbakow.
Also, School Ties is available on Hoopla.
