Brendan Fraser, 1999 | Brendan Fraser, Jeanne Moore, Holden Fletcher Fraser, and Leland Francis Fraser, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
- Brendan Fraser has the touching support of his two handsome sons.
- He made a small tribute to his private son, who is autistic and obese.
- Brendan is still close to his children despite a messy divorce and paying $900,000 in child support.
Brendan Fraser, 54 in early 2023, attended the 95th Oscars with his girlfriend, Jeanne Moore, and two of his three sons. At the time, the actor was nominated for the first time for Best Actor for starring in "The Whale."
His sons whom he shared with his ex-wife Afton Smith - Leland, then 16, and Holden, then 18 - were on hand to give their famous father some support. Besides the two teenagers, Brendan also had Griffin, then 20, whom he welcomed with Smith.
Brendan Fraser, Afton Smith, and their sons Holden and Griffin Fraser at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times 13th Annual Halloween Carnival on October 23, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
While on the red carpet, the actor's sons shared what they thought about their father's nomination. Holden confessed that they were "unbelievably proud" and "over the moon," with Leland echoing the same sentiments.
Brendan credited his sons for helping to make the moment more special. The star said when he first found out about his nomination he was surprised and astonished, and his boys celebrated by buying him balloons and cake.
Leland Francis, Brendan, and Holden Fletcher Fraser at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
Griffin Arthur was born in 2002, with his brother Holden Fletcher arriving in 2004, before the lastborn son, Leland Francis joined the family in 2006. After seeing Brendan's handsome boy's at the Oscars, one drooling Twitter user said:
"Need a better look at Brendan Fraser’s twink sons."
Another person admitted that their takeaway from the Oscars was that the actor's sons were "like really beautiful." The reason why Brendan's oldest son wasn't at the awards with him was not because the family liked cutting him out, but the reason had more to do with his health.
What’s Going On with Brendan’s Hidden Son?
Brendan once revealed that that Griffin was rated on the autism spectrum. The actor said his oldest needed extra love and received it, while with Holden and Leland, one of them was always the spokesperson with the other being the enforcer.
Brendan Fraser, Jeanne Moore, Holden Fletcher Fraser, and Leland Francis Fraser, as Brendan accepts the Best Actor award for "The Whale" during the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023, in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
Going back to Griffin, the star said his son had a "curative" effect on everyone he met. He shared how the boy was able to offer relief and compassion to people's rough edges, and they didn't make everything about themselves as much around him.
Brendan adopted a horse named Pecas - a Spanish word for freckles - and its job was to take care of Griffin. The father of three felt something good happened between his son and the horse, even though the eldest Fraser boy never rode him, but only brushed him.
Brendan Fraser, his wife Afton, and their sons Holden and Griffin Fraser at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times 13th Annual Halloween Carnival on October 23, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
The actor revealed that Pecas loved the repetitive motion that children on the spectrum enjoyed. He advocated for finding strategies and tools to help his son, and when he rode the horse he felt better.
In a different interview, the star revealed that Griffin was six foot five with a big body, big feet, and hands. His father said he understood intimately what it was like to be close to someone who lived with obesity.
Brendan Fraser seen holding a baby car seat on December 28, 2002, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
Brendan's son's difference made him unaware of irony or cynicism, and couldn't be insulted or insult others. He was described as the "happiest person" in the actor's and others' lives, while being the "manifestation of love."
[Jeanne] Moore described the teenager [Holden Fletcher Fraser] as sweet, funny, incredible, kind, and talented.
The star said being with his children and their mother gave him a kind of love that if he ever needed to hold something of value to translate what was important to his character (Charlie) on "The Whale, he didn't have far to look.
Brendan Fraser at the premiere of "The Mummy" on May 4, 1999, in Universal City, California | Source: Getty Images
After winning in his category at the Oscars, he made sure to give a sweet shout out to his special needs son, saying, "Griffin, love you buddy." When his name was called as the winner, his sons and girlfriend both got up to give him a warm hug, with one person who was touched by the moment noting:
"Crying at Brendan Fraser’s sons hugging him after he won his Oscar for Best Actor."
After Brendan's marriage to Smith failed, they went through a difficult separation that played out in the public eye. At one point, the star wasn't earning enough to be able to fulfill his end of the divorce settlement.
Brendan Couldn’t Afford $900,000 Child Support Payment: Inside His Messy Divorce
In 1998, Brendan married Smith, and actress, but nine years later they revealed they were separated. Smith had a role in the television movie "Once Again" in 1987 and met her future husband in 1993 at a party at Winona Ryder’s house.
Brendan Fraser and Afton Smith during the Opening Night Exhibition of Photographs by him in Los Angeles, California, on October 9, 2003 | Source: Getty Images
In 2013, the father of three revealed he couldn't afford to pay $900,000 annually in child support and asked a Connecticut court to reduce the amount. The "Mummy" star said he no longer earned enough to cover the cost, but Smith didn't believe him.
Instead, she'd gone to court earlier, accusing her ex-husband of "fraud" for hiding $9 million in new film contracts during their divorce settlement in February 2009. At the time, Brendan alleged he wasn't going to make any money from his work in the coming years.
Brendan Fraser and Jeanne Moore pose in the press room during the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023, in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
He didn't have any movie deals in the pipeline, but he's since starred in several films, including "A Case of You," "Gimme Shelter," and "Split Decision." However, since then, the actor's found love again with Moore, although it wasn't clear when they started dating.
Brendan Fraser accepts the Best Actor award for "The Whale" by kissing Jeanne Moore during the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023, in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
The first time the relationship was noticed was in August 2022, when she posted a since-deleted Instagram tribute to Holden on his 18th birthday. Moore described the teenager as sweet, funny, incredible, kind, and talented.
Brendan's girlfriend proved that she'd known Holden for a while when she said it was an "honor" to be in his life, before declaring her love to him. Her first red carpet appearance with the actor was when they attended the Venice Film Festival in September 2022, and then she pitched to other awards shows until the end of the year.
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