Brendan Fraser

The son of a Canadian tourism official, Brendan Fraser was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up in a number of European and Canadian cities. By the time he hit high school, Fraser's family had settled in Toronto, Canada. Pursuing drama at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington, he earned a fine arts degree with an emphasis on physical performance. He soon found steady work with local theaters, but Hollywood beckoned. So, in January of 1991, he headed for Southern California. By 1992, Fraser had landed the role of Link the Cro-Magnon in Encino Man, which was followed by School Ties (also 1992) on the strength of his initial audition. The latter secured his ability to land dramatic roles, despite the poorly received Encino Man.

From the utterly forgettable comedy Airheads to the story of a law student whose thesis is intercepted by a homeless man, With Honors, Fraser has always rated higher praise than the films in which he appears. As the lead in George of the Jungle, Fraser came full circle, returning to the physical comedy of his baptismal starring role. He has also appeared in Bill Condon's biopic exploration of the final days of horror director James Whale, Gods and Monsters, the blockbuster action, The Mummy and The Mummy Returns as well as playing a leading role in the drama The Quiet American (2003) and joining the ensemble cast of Crash (2005).