If Hollywood has proved anything, it’s that you can never truly predict which project will become a lasting masterpiece. Over the years, the film industry has delivered many unexpected box-office hits, overnight transformations, and dramatic comebacks that have completely rewritten the legacies of actors. And Brendan Fraser‘s career is the classic example.
While Fraser’s Hollywood journey would become a legendary rollercoaster, it was kickstarted by a vital assist from a young Matt Damon, who displayed immense talent right from the start of his Hollywood career. Without Damon in the picture, Fraser’s trajectory might have looked entirely different. His future in the business felt like a total gamble until a single audition changed everything.
Brendan Fraser Weathered The Storm To Become A Star
Based on an actual incident from World War II, ‘Pressure,’ starring Fraser and Andrew Scott in lead roles, has stirred considerable interest among audiences following its May release in the States. Slated for a September release in the UK, the movie captures the thrilling 72 hours leading up to the legendary D-Day or Normandy landings in 1944.
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Fraser plays General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who relies on a British meteorologist, played by Scott, to determine whether it is safe to land or whether an approaching storm will doom the entire military operation. The autumn premiere of the wartime movie will test Fraser’s star status overseas.
Apart from the successful ‘The Mummy’ franchise of the late nineties and the magnificent comeback in ‘The Whale,’ his international filmography is not that extensive. In America, however, audiences perceived him as a definite hit of the 1990s.
He emerged as a youth icon whose best works include Disney’s ‘George of the Jungle’ and the 1992 science-fiction comedy ‘Encino Man.’ The same year, a 23-year-old Fraser got involved in a drama which turned out to be a crucial Hollywood break for him.
The film was called ‘School Ties’ and depicted antisemitism at a prep school, where an impressive list of future royalty of the film industry starred, including Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Chris O’Donnell.
Fraser played David Greene, a Jewish quarterback facing discrimination. He won his breakthrough role in the screen test with a young co-star who was not yet famous. It was none other than Damon, who helped Fraser overcome the tension during the casting process. The sweet gesture stayed with Fraser forever.
How Matt Damon Saved The Day
Fraser recalled the audition days in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. “I was appointed to meet with (producer) Sherry (Lancing) after doing a reading; I was wearing an awful shirt by today’s standards. I read with Matt Damon; I got the job because of Matt,” he said.
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The authenticity of Damon’s delivery in the screen test caught Fraser off guard. “I believed everything that came out of his mouth. I remember having this moment of thinking, ‘Just match [his] pitch. Don’t put curlicues on this. Don’t swing for the fences.’ I felt great after that. I had so much admiration for him.”
At the time, Damon was studying at Harvard University and decided to leave it for good to pursue an acting career, writing the creative essay which became the basis for the future movie ‘Good Will Hunting.’
Although ‘School Ties’ did not generate any profits at the box office, it introduced Fraser to Hollywood, leading him to land projects such as ‘With Honors,’ starring Joe Pesci, and ‘George of the Jungle.’ He ultimately secured the iconic role of Rick O’Connell in the billion-dollar franchise, ‘The Mummy.’
In October 2027, there will be a new installment of the legendary movie series featuring Fraser and Rachel Weisz. Back to Fraser’s magical career, it was Damon’s authenticity in the screen test that helped Brendan Fraser achieve his legendary status.
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