# List of Brendan Fraser performances
**Brendan Fraser** (born 1968, [Indianapolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis), Indiana) is a Canadian-American actor whose screen work spans comic leads, action-adventure franchises, and dramatic roles, from his film debut in *Dogfight* (1991) through his Academy Award-winning performance in *The Whale* (2022).[1](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/brendan-fraser-filmography) • [2](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023) Databases disagree on the size of his filmography because they count different categories of work: Pop Culture Files lists 67 credited roles (53 films and 14 TV series),[1](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/brendan-fraser-filmography) Archytele lists 119 credits (81 films and 38 TV series),[3](https://www.archytele.com/person/brendan-fraser/movies-and-tv-shows) the AFI Catalog records 35 feature-film titles,[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/184840) and IMDb counts 85 acting credits.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000409/?showAllCredits=true)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Film debut | *Dogfight* (1991), as Sailor #1, a one-line role shot in Seattle[1](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/brendan-fraser-filmography) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/brendan-fraser/) |
| 1992 breakout pair | *Encino Man* (Link) and *School Ties* (David Greene), released the same year[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/184840) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) |
| Signature franchise | Rick O'Connell in *The Mummy* (1999), *The Mummy Returns* (2001), and *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor* (2008); the first film earned $417 million in theaters that year[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) • [8](https://advertise.aarp.org/uploads/misc/ATM_FebMar2026_TM5.pdf) |
| Highest rated on RT | *Gods and Monsters* (1998), 96% on the Tomatometer, with Fraser as Clayton Boone[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) |
| Academy Award | Best Actor for *The Whale* (2022), at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023[2](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023) |
| Television leads | James Fletcher Chase in *Trust* (2018) and Clifford Steele / Robotman in *Doom Patrol* (2019–present)[9](https://filmflow.tv/person/18269-brendan-fraser) • [10](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-18216/filmographie/) |
| Upcoming | *Pressure* (2026) as Dwight D. Eisenhower; an untitled *Mummy* sequel (2027) as Rick O'Connell[11](https://www.focusfeatures.com/article/focus-features-working-title-studiocanal-set-pressure-release-date) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000409/?showAllCredits=true) |
## 1990s: debut and breakthrough
Fraser's first paying screen job was a one-line role in *Dogfight* (1991), the [River Phoenix](https://www.edgepedia.org/river-phoenix) film shooting in Seattle; he then forewent graduate school plans and moved to Los Angeles to act.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/brendan-fraser/) His early credits also included the uncredited Link cameo in *Son in Law* (1993) and Sam Mastrewski in *Twenty Bucks* (1993).[1](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/brendan-fraser-filmography) • [4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/184840)
Two 1992 films established the range that defined his early career: the teen comedy *Encino Man*, in which he played the thawed-out caveman Link, and the period drama *School Ties*, in which he played David Greene.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) Through the rest of the decade he alternated comedy and drama: *With Honors* (Monty Kessler) and *Airheads* (Chazz Darvey) in 1994, *The Scout* (Steve Nebraska) in 1994, *The Passion of Darkly Noon* (1995), *Mrs. Winterbourne* (Bill/Hugh Winterbourne) in 1996, and *Still Breathing* (Fletcher McBracken) in 1998.[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/184840) • [12](https://www.biography.com/actors/a44927967/brendan-fraser)
**Stardom.** *[George of the Jungle](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-of-the-jungle-film)* (1997), in which Fraser played the jungle-raised title character, was his first major box office hit, grossing more than $174 million and leading to a direct-to-video sequel in 2003.[12](https://www.biography.com/actors/a44927967/brendan-fraser) Critical recognition followed with *Gods and Monsters* (1998), opposite [Ian McKellen](https://www.edgepedia.org/ian-mckellen), in which Fraser played Clayton Boone; it remains his highest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes at 96%.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) In 1999 he appeared in *Blast from the Past* (Adam), *Dudley Do-Right* (the title role), and *The Mummy*, as adventurer Rick O'Connell.[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/184840) *The Mummy* earned $417 million in theaters that year and launched the most lucrative role of his career.[8](https://advertise.aarp.org/uploads/misc/ATM_FebMar2026_TM5.pdf)
## 2000s: franchise and drama
Fraser reprised Rick O'Connell in *The Mummy Returns* (2001) and *The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor* (2008), and played the lead in *[Bedazzled](https://www.edgepedia.org/bedazzled-2000-film)* (2000) as Elliot Richards, a man who sells his soul to the devil played by [Elizabeth Hurley](https://www.edgepedia.org/elizabeth-hurley).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) • [13](https://lasierra.edu/fileadmin/documents/library/criterion/Vol-72-2000-2001.pdf) Between franchise entries he took serious-minded roles: Alden Pyle in *The Quiet American* (2002), adapted from [Graham Greene](https://www.edgepedia.org/graham-greene)'s 1955 thriller, and Rick Cabot in the Oscar-winning *Crash* (2005).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) • [14](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/rental-family-rental_family_production_notes_final_1_47c9b6ee.pdf) He also headlined *Looney Tunes: Back in Action* (2003) and *Journey to the Center of the Earth* (2008).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser)
## 2010s: smaller films and television
After 2008 Fraser appeared on screen less frequently, in smaller films including the medical drama *Extraordinary Measures* (2010, as John Crowley), *Furry Vengeance* (2010, as Dan Sanders), *Stand Off* (2011, as Joe Maguire), and a cluster of 2013 releases: *Escape from Planet Earth* (voice of Scorch Supernova), *Pawn Shop Chronicles* (Ricky), *A Case of You* (Tony), and *HairBrained* (Leo Searly).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser) • [15](https://www.fandango.com/people/brendan-fraser-221885/film-credits) Voice work in this period included Grayson in *The Nut Job* (2014) and an earlier guest voice role as David Kalaiki-Alii on *King of the Hill* (1997).[15](https://www.fandango.com/people/brendan-fraser-221885/film-credits) • [1](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/brendan-fraser-filmography)
**Television.** Fraser branched into television with the History miniseries *Texas Rising* (2015), the Showtime drama *[The Affair](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-affair-tv-series)* (2016–2017), in whose third season he played Gunther, a menacing prison security guard, the FX anthology series *Trust* (2018), as James Fletcher Chase, and the series *[Doom Patrol](https://www.edgepedia.org/doom-patrol-tv-series)* (2019–present), in which he plays Clifford Steele, also known as Robotman.[9](https://filmflow.tv/person/18269-brendan-fraser) • [14](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/rental-family-rental_family_production_notes_final_1_47c9b6ee.pdf) • [10](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-18216/filmographie/) In film he appeared in *Line of Descent* (2019, as Charu) and *The Poison Rose* (2019, as Dr. Miles Mitchell), the latter his lowest-rated film on Rotten Tomatoes at 0%.[15](https://www.fandango.com/people/brendan-fraser-221885/film-credits) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser)
## Return: 2021 to the present
Fraser's career momentum returned with a series of cable TV shows and [Steven Soderbergh](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-soderbergh)'s *No Sudden Move* (2021), in which he played Doug Jones.[16](https://apnews.com/article/790bc03b6e935e088c7b6765dd6d2f3f) In Darren Aronofsky's *The Whale* (2022) he played Charlie, a reclusive 600-pound gay English teacher trying to reconcile with his estranged daughter; the role required a fatsuit and prosthetics, and the film drew both acclaim and controversy over its portrayal of obesity.[17](https://time.com/6240001/the-whale-fatsuit-controversy/) His portrayal earned standing ovations at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and the [Academy Award for Best Actor](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-award-for-best-actor) at the 95th Oscars, where he beat [Austin Butler](https://www.edgepedia.org/austin-butler), Colin Farrell, Paul Mescal, and Bill Nighy.[16](https://apnews.com/article/790bc03b6e935e088c7b6765dd6d2f3f) • [2](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023) The production notes also credit the performance with a Critics Choice Movie Award, an AACTA International Award, and a Satellite Award, plus BAFTA and Gotham nominations.[14](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/rental-family-rental_family_production_notes_final_1_47c9b6ee.pdf)
Subsequent roles include W.S. Hamilton in Martin Scorsese's *Killers of the Flower Moon* (2023), Farful in the action-comedy *Brothers* (2024), and the lead in [Searchlight Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/searchlight-pictures)' *Rental Family* (2025), released theatrically on November 21, 2025, in which he plays Phillip Vanderploeg, a struggling American actor in Tokyo who works for a Japanese "rental family" agency.[15](https://www.fandango.com/people/brendan-fraser-221885/film-credits) • [18](https://press.searchlightpictures.com/rental-family) AlloCiné also lists him as Firefly in the 2022 production *Batgirl*.[10](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-18216/filmographie/)
**Forthcoming work.** Fraser plays General Dwight D. Eisenhower opposite Andrew Scott's Captain James Stagg in *Pressure* (2026), Anthony Maras's drama about the 72 hours before D-Day.[11](https://www.focusfeatures.com/article/focus-features-working-title-studiocanal-set-pressure-release-date) He voices Jer in the animated comedy series *Breaking Bear* (2026)[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000409/?showAllCredits=true) and is listed as Rick O'Connell in an untitled *Mummy* sequel dated 2027, in production as of IMDb's latest data.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000409/?showAllCredits=true) • [10](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-18216/filmographie/)
## Career interruption
Fraser's reduced output in the 2010s followed personal circumstances he has discussed publicly: a divorce, his mother's death, health problems, and an alleged 2003 assault by [Philip Berk](https://www.edgepedia.org/philip-berk), then president of the [Hollywood Foreign Press Association](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-foreign-press-association), which Fraser described in a 2018 GQ interview; Berk denied the account.[16](https://apnews.com/article/790bc03b6e935e088c7b6765dd6d2f3f) • [19](https://time.com/6245638/brendan-fraser-golden-globes-2023/) Fraser boycotted the 2023 Golden Globes as a result, saying his mother "didn't raise a hypocrite."[16](https://apnews.com/article/790bc03b6e935e088c7b6765dd6d2f3f) • [19](https://time.com/6245638/brendan-fraser-golden-globes-2023/)
## References
1. [Brendan Fraser Filmography: Every Movie and TV Show in Order, Pop Culture Files](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/brendan-fraser-filmography)
2. [The 95th Academy Awards (2023), Oscars.org](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023)
3. [Brendan Fraser: movies and TV shows, Archytele](https://www.archytele.com/person/brendan-fraser/movies-and-tv-shows)
4. [Brendan Fraser filmography, AFI Catalog of Feature Films](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/184840)
5. [Brendan Fraser credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000409/?showAllCredits=true)
6. [Brendan Fraser, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/brendan-fraser/)
7. [Brendan Fraser Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/brendan_fraser)
8. [Brendan Fraser cover feature, AARP The Magazine (Feb/Mar 2026)](https://advertise.aarp.org/uploads/misc/ATM_FebMar2026_TM5.pdf)
9. [Brendan Fraser, FilmFlow.tv](https://filmflow.tv/person/18269-brendan-fraser)
10. [Brendan Fraser : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-18216/filmographie/)
11. [Focus Features, Working Title & STUDIOCANAL Set Pressure Release Date](https://www.focusfeatures.com/article/focus-features-working-title-studiocanal-set-pressure-release-date)
12. [Brendan Fraser: Biography, Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/actors/a44927967/brendan-fraser)
13. [Film review of Bedazzled, The Criterion (La Sierra University), November 2, 2000](https://lasierra.edu/fileadmin/documents/library/criterion/Vol-72-2000-2001.pdf)
14. [Rental Family production notes, Searchlight Pictures](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/rental-family-rental_family_production_notes_final_1_47c9b6ee.pdf)
15. [Brendan Fraser Filmography and Movies, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/brendan-fraser-221885/film-credits)
16. [Brendan Fraser wins best actor Oscar in career comeback, Associated Press (March 13, 2023)](https://apnews.com/article/790bc03b6e935e088c7b6765dd6d2f3f)
17. [What to Know About the Controversy Surrounding The Whale, TIME](https://time.com/6240001/the-whale-fatsuit-controversy/)
18. [Rental Family, Searchlight Pictures Press](https://press.searchlightpictures.com/rental-family)
19. [Brendan Fraser Is Nominated for a Golden Globe. Here's Why He Isn't Going, TIME](https://time.com/6245638/brendan-fraser-golden-globes-2023/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Actor filmographies and performer list articles › Surnames M to T*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license