In the late 1990s and 2000s, Fraser was a highly sought after and respected actor. He had lead roles in 1997’s ‘George of the Jungle’ and 1999’s ‘The Mummy’ and was loved and loved by fans and professionals in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, Fraser’s career and activism in the public eye declined greatly in the 2000s.
Speaking to GQ magazine in February 2018, Fraser opened up about some of the struggles he’s faced over the years, such as the financial toll his acting roles have taken on his body. According to The Straits Times, the actor opened up about how the extreme, physically demanding roles he played in the late 1990s and early 2000s really affected his body, especially since he did his own stunts.
Fraser spent seven years in and out of hospitals performing a variety of surgeries, including partial knee replacements, vocal cord repairs and a lumbar laminectomy – a back procedure to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. spinal cord or nerves. “By the time I took my third ‘mummy’ photo in China, I was bundled up in duct tape and snow — I was building an exoskeleton for myself every day,” Fraser told GQ.
However, upon reappearing, Fraser appears to change again. He was always loved and respected in the industry and started taking on new acting roles with a different look. In October 2021, Unilad reported that Fraser played an “almost unrecognizable role” in the 2021 film “No Sudden Move”.
The period thriller starred Fraser alongside other notable stars such as Don Cheadle, David Harbor and Jon Hamm. Fraser recalled how the cast had to social distance during production to meet safety standards at the time, but it brought them all “closer together”.
While the role may be a change from Fraser’s standard repertoire, the actor has gone through more changes for other roles. The Straits Times reports that Fraser intentionally gained weight for “Whale,” an upcoming film in which he plays an obese person. According to CNN, the actor plays a 600-pound man. Filming for “The Whale” wrapped in April 2021 and premiered in September 2022. It will hit theaters in December, according to A24.
The film will tell the story “of a reclusive, obese English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption,” according to Unilad.
A24 shared images of “The Whale” on Twitter with news that it will premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in late August and early September. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, “Whale” stars Fraser alongside Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton and Ty Simpkins. It is based on Samuel D. Hunter’s play of the same name.
Speaking to Leonard, Fraser said: “It will be like something you’ve never seen before. That’s really all I can tell you.” He also encouraged everyone to “check it out” as soon as it came out.
While Fraser has been pretty busy regaining his fame, it’s safe to say that many fans think his time away from the big screen was definitely worth the wait.
