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“Having offspring enhances one’s life, it’s that straightforward,” Brendan Fraser shared with Redbook in 2008. Although Brendan has navigated numerous ups and downs, he has consistently had three individuals supporting him: his sons, Griffin Fraser, Holden Fraser, and Leland Fraser. As Brendan garnered an Oscar nomination for his 2022 comeback film, The Whale, helmed by Darren Aronofsky, the spotlight has once again found the ’90s heartthrob and the children he has helped nurture.
Holden and Leland were present to witness one of their father’s most significant career moments at the 95th Academy Awards. Brendan’s two sons accompanied him and his partner, Jeanne Moore, on the red carpet prior to the March 2023 event in Los Angeles. Given their consistent support at screenings and other award ceremonies, they would not have missed his momentous occasion.
Jeanne, Brendand, Holden, and Leland (Christopher Polk/Shutterstock)
Brendan’s three sons celebrated his Academy Award nomination with an unexpected gesture! “My kids surprised me with cake and balloons. They managed to get into the house undetected; they had a plan,” Brendan disclosed to Extra. “That, along with the sensation of sharing that experience with my loved ones, has now become a cherished memory.”
Brendan shares his children with his former spouse, Afton Smith. Brendan and Afton, who transitioned from acting to writing, were married from 1998 to 2008. In 2018, Brendan informed GQ that his sons reside with their mother in Greenwich, Connecticut, a convenient distance from his own residence in Bedford, New York. “They visit frequently,” he remarked.
Here’s a closer look at Brendan Fraser’s sons!
Griffin Fraser
Griffin Fraser in 2017 (Queensofthenorth/MEGA)
Griffin Arthur Fraser was born in 2002. “Griffin is identified on the autism spectrum,” Brendan stated in a 2018 conversation with GQ. “He requires additional affection in the world, and he receives it. And his brothers, since they were young, one has always been the designated spokesperson, while the other acted as the enforcer.”
According to his father, Griffin has a “healing effect on everyone he encounters, I’ve observed. Individuals sometimes possess rough edges. He simply brings things into sharper focus, perhaps enabling them to cultivate greater compassion. They tend not to prioritize themselves quite so much in his presence.”
Brendan elaborated on his eldest son during a discussion with Freddie Prinze Jr. for Interview magazine. “I have three children of my own. My oldest son, Griffin, has special requirements; he is autistic. He just reached the age of 20. He is a large young man, standing six foot five, with sizable hands, feet, and physique. I understand intimately the experience of being close to someone who lives with obesity. And due to the beautiful nature of his spectrum—you may call it a disorder, but I disagree—he is unfamiliar with irony.
“He possesses no knowledge of cynicism,” Fraser continued. “You cannot offend him. He cannot offend you. He is the most joyful individual and represents, in my life and in the lives of many others, the very embodiment of love. Being with my children, their mother, and our family has imbued me with such profound love that if I ever needed to hold up something of value to translate it to what mattered to [Brendan’s character in The Whale] Charlie, I did not have to search far.”
Holden Fraser
Holden Fraser (Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock)
Holden Fletcher Fraser was born in 2004. He accompanied Brendan to a screening of The Whale in New York City in November 2022 and had already surpassed his renowned father in height.
In 2008, Brendan shared an anecdote with Redbook about something Holden had said. “The other day, my four-year-old spotted a blooming tree and remarked, ‘Daddy, it’s showering petals,’” Fraser recalled. “That was poetry that utterly dissolved my heart into a sweet, creamy Fudgsicle.”
At that time, the Fraser children were unaware of Brendan’s professional endeavors. “They have no idea,” he told Redbook. “They are 5, 4, and 2 years old, so their interests lie more with SpongeBob SquarePants. When I announce I’m going to work, and they inquire about its meaning, I might show them an image of myself soaring through the air with a creature. They’ll respond with, ‘Cool,’ and that’s the extent of it. To them, I am simply the person who provides Pirate Booty when they are hungry.”
Leland Fraser
Leland Fraser and his father (Kristina Bumphrey/Shutterstock)
Leland Francis Fraser entered the world in 2006, making him the youngest. Similar to his siblings, Leland has been raised away from the public eye.
Brendan described Leland as a “resilient little trooper” during an appearance on The Rachel Ray Show in 2010, according to PEOPLE. “He navigates obstacles and emerges on the other side, perhaps with a few scratches but still smiling. It’s all part of the adventure!”
Fraser also discussed his devotion to his children in a 2010 interview with Parade magazine. “I always embrace and kiss them, whether they are receptive or not. I say, ‘Come here, you,’ and proceed to playfully blow raspberries on them. That is my way.”
“It makes my heart momentarily cease to beat when I consider the possibility of my children facing any form of peril,” he added. “Frankly, it terrifies me. Naturally, I would do whatever is necessary to ensure their safety. What parent wouldn’t? I would step in front of a moving train if it meant protecting them. This does not imply that one can shield them from every conceivable threat, but the effort must be made.”