Everyone loves Brendan Fraser and as a Gen-Xer he’ll always be Encino Man to me. (My memory of an actor is heavily influenced by whatever was playing on HBO in the late 80s.) Fraser is covering the latest edition of AARP Magazine, which just came in the mail for me this week. (They have good discounts!) He’s promoting Rental Family, available now on VOD, in which he plays an American actor in Tokyo hired to fill missing roles in people’s lives. The piece is a highly readable career retrospective for a truly lovely man. You get the sense that you’re there at breakfast with Fraser, listening to his dad jokes and experiencing his kindness in person. My favorite part is when he talks about how much he loves his fans. Here’s part of AARP journalist Chris Nashawaty’s writeup, with more at the source.
That sort of guilelessness isn’t something you can easily fake, even if you’re an actor. And it probably helps explain why Fraser has managed to so often shine in an unforgiving industry for the past 3½ decades. During that time, Fraser has appeared in sensitive, critically acclaimed dramas (Gods and Monsters), goofball kiddie comedies (George of the Jungle), popcorn-friendly blockbusters (three Mummy installments, with a fourth on the way) and award-winning prestige films (The Whale).
He’s the acting equivalent of a Swiss Army knife — always dependable, always prepared and always up to the task.
“For a long time there, I felt like I disappointed people because I hadn’t met their expectations,” he says. “But I’m still here, you know? This is what I do…
“In this job, you live in a constant state of panic, and you can’t get too comfortable,” Fraser says. “I’ve learned to check in with myself and constantly reevaluate what’s important. And you also need to ask for help when you need it. Early on, I didn’t know you could ask for help. I only saw the stigma of it. I was afraid to say, ‘I need a hand.’
When he’s asked if needing a hand means therapy, he says, “Absolutely! Reaching out to friends, getting the exercise you need, even having a bit of breakfast, like we’re doing right now. They’re small things, but when you’re dealing with those feelings, they can make a monumental difference.”
Perhaps surprisingly, given how some stars look down on meet-and-greet fan conventions, Fraser says these interactions have had a huge, positive impact on his mental health. “People will come up to me and show me tattoos of characters from The Mummy or tell me that they became an archaeologist because of my character. That’s the greatest feeling in the world…
“I understood why people were framing it as a comeback, but the truth is, I never went that far away,” he says.
Fraser also talks about his three sons, and his advice for parenting. Griffin, 23, has autism spectrum disorder, and his younger sons are Holden, 21, and Leland, 19. His best advice is not to get in your children’s way. “Children need guidance, but you can micromanage them to their detriment. I never learned as much about anything as I have from just watching and listening and letting them teach me rather than the other way around.” This is so true and wise. My son has been teaching me things since he was little. He often knows more about subjects than I do, but more than that he’s been teaching me how to let him be his own person.
Nashawaty writes about what a great listener Fraser is, and how his emotions are so visible. That sums up why he’s such an effective actor, and how he connects with his audience. He genuinely connects with people in person too, and revels in those moments. So many famous people can’t be bothered, and that’s understandable, but I love to hear about actors who appreciate fan interactions. I’m happy to hear that he’s doing well and I’ll definitely rent Rental Family the minute it’s $5 or less. I’m cheap about the $20 rentals. Oh and AARP has free local movie screenings too! Check them out you don’t need to be a member. (Not an ad, I just like them.)
Photos credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon, AMPAS/Avalon, Justin Ng/Avalon
School Ties is my first memory of Brendan Fraser. And now he’s covering AARP? LOL! I know that’s my generation now, but I still expect it to be Tony Bennett or something. Brendan is lovely.
I’ve been thinking about this recently which is funny. How some of the most charismatic actors are really good listeners, like you can see it in their interviews, and there’s. A kindness there too. Although, I’m sure there are outliers too as in charismatic actors who are assholes. Anyways, I love Brendan Fraser, for real.
Love 💝 him
Saw Rental Family twice in the theater 🎭
Takehiro Hira is in the movie also
He is also a great fav of mine: Shogun & Giri/Haji
The Mummy was on the other night, and it is so watchable, I’ve loved it since it came out. George of the Jungle is one of my mom’s favorite movies (she’s a quiet retired librarian and my husband can’t square loving the movie with her 😂).
He’s such a lovely guy, I’m happy he’s having a resurgence.
I love The Mummy and we even went to see it as a throwback at the cinema a year or two back.
Overall I just wish him happiness and joy in his life, he really seems like a wonderful person and he’s a fantastic actor.
Another member of the Good Canadian Man club.