If you saw the 2023 Oscars, you probably remember that moment. Brendan Fraser, clutching a gold statue, weeping through a speech that felt less like a celebrity flex and more like a guy finally catching his breath after a decade underwater.
Beside him were two tall, incredibly handsome young men who looked like they stepped out of a Viking epic. Those are his sons, Holden and Leland. But the story of Brendan Fraser and family isn't just a red-carpet victory lap. It’s a lot messier, quieter, and honestly, way more relatable than the headlines usually let on.
We often see the "Brenaissance" as a career comeback. For Fraser, it was a family survival story.
The Secret Strength of the Fraser Boys
People obsessed over Holden and Leland’s "model looks" (and yeah, they both actually model now), but the eldest brother, Griffin, is the one Brendan calls the "curative."
Griffin is on the autism spectrum.
He’s 23 now. Growing up, Brendan was famously protective of him, but in recent years, he’s opened up about how Griffin shaped their entire household. He’s the reason Brendan doesn't take things too seriously anymore.
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"He needs extra love in the world, and he gets it," Brendan told GQ. It's not just a quote; it’s a lifestyle. On his horse farm in Bedford, New York, the family dynamic revolves around making sure Griffin is supported.
Holden and Leland? They aren't just the "cool younger brothers." Brendan describes them as Griffin’s "spokesperson" and "enforcer" since they were toddlers. That’s a lot of responsibility for kids. But you can see it in how they handle the spotlight—there’s a groundedness there that you don’t usually see in Hollywood "nepo babies."
The Real Story Behind the Divorce
Let’s talk about Afton Smith.
The internet loves a villain, and for a long time, the narrative around their 2007 split was centered on a brutal alimony battle. By 2013, Brendan was famously struggling to keep up with $900,000 a year in payments while his health was failing and the roles dried up.
But it’s 2026. Looking back, the "war" wasn't as one-sided as the tabloids made it out to be.
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They co-parent. Seriously.
Despite the legal drama of the past, they managed to raise three boys who clearly adore their dad. Brendan lives on that farm in Bedford, and the kids are there "all the time." You don’t get that kind of loyalty from your adult children if the home life was a disaster.
Life in 2026: The New Normal
Right now, Brendan is busy promoting Rental Family. It's a movie about a guy who literally gets hired to be a "stand-in" family member in Japan.
Kinda ironic, right?
He spent years feeling like he was failing at the "real" thing, and now he’s playing a character who performs it for a living. Off-screen, though, he’s finally found some stability. He’s been with his girlfriend, Jeanne Moore, for a few years now.
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She was there in London with him just last month for the Rental Family photocall. Fans love her because she’s "normal." She’s a professional makeup artist, not a 22-year-old starlet. She fits into the Bedford farm life.
What We Can Learn from the Fraser Way
Brendan’s journey isn't just about winning an Oscar. It’s about the "trial and error" of being a dad. He’s 57 now, and he’s the first to admit he’s still a student of his own kids.
- Put the kids first, even when it’s hard. The "goal is always the kids," Brendan says. That meant swallowing his pride during the lean years and keeping the door open for his sons even when he was struggling.
- Vulnerability is a superpower. He doesn't hide his emotions from his sons. He cries in front of them. He tells them he’s scared. That’s probably why they felt comfortable surprising him with balloons and cake when his nomination was announced—they actually like him.
- Find your "curative." Whether it’s a person or a place (like his farm), everyone needs something that pulls them out of their own head. For Brendan, it was Griffin.
If you’re looking to apply some of that "Fraser Energy" to your own life, start with the "Broccoli Rule." Whenever his kids told him they didn't like broccoli, he’d just say, "Well, broccoli loves you."
It’s a dumb dad joke. But it’s also a reminder that sometimes, love is just showing up and being there, even when things feel a little bitter.
Next Steps for Fans
If you want to keep up with what the family is doing, keep an eye on the runway. Holden and Leland are increasingly active in the fashion world, often appearing at major shows in New York and Europe.
For the "The Mummy" fans holding out hope for a 2026 reunion with Rachel Weisz, keep your expectations in check. While the rumors of a revival are everywhere, Brendan has been cautious in recent interviews, noting that he only wants to do "unicorn projects" that actually have something to say.
The best way to support the "Brenaissance" right now is to check out Rental Family when it hits streaming. It’s arguably his most personal work yet, reflecting a man who finally knows what it means to belong to a family—real or "rented."