The Tale of Brendan Fraser’s Rise and Fall

Subtitle 1 – The Early Days of Success

Few actors are remembered as fondly as Brendan James Fraser. Through the course of his career, Fraser has charmed audiences all over the world with his portrayal of characters in adventure, comedy and drama. He rose to fame in the late nineties and early 2000s, with memorable roles like Rick O’Connell in The Mummy, George of the Jungle and Encino Man. He was often cast as the quintessential all-American hero, the kind-hearted and naïve everyman in several children’s films.

Subtitle 2 – A Sudden Hiatus

However, as the years went by, Fraser’s career saw a sudden descent from public attention. After a few forgettable box office duds, Fraser suddenly vanished from the Hollywood spotlight. Some claimed that it was merely a mid-career dip, but the truth turned out to much darker. In 2018, The New York Times published an exposé about what Fraser described as a “long, painful and intensely uncomfortable saga”.

Subtitle 3 – The Allegations and Fallout

Hollywood Reporter chairman Phillip Berk had allegedly groped Fraser and the accusation was corroborated with another witness. Fraser claimed that Berk cornered him at a luncheon in 2003 and grabbed his buttocks, before introducing himself. The incident was allegedly linked to why Fraser’s career suddenly went downhill around that time and why he hadn’t been seen onscreen much in recent years. Berk completely denied the allegation.

As a consequence, Fraser stepped away from the limelight, dealing with physical, mental and spiritual pain due to what he endured. While Fraser was not able to bring closure to his case with a financial settlement, he eventually decided to speak out and move forward with his life. Since then, Fraser has made a few select on-screen returns, but is still far from achieving the same status he once did.

It’s a difficult reminder that even the most beloved actors can be subject to personal attack, abuse of power and humiliation. It is also a reminder to take allegations seriously and to always be vigilant about protecting the rights of the vulnerable. Here’s hoping for a big comeback for Fraser’s career, which he certainly deserves.