Brendan Fraser has spoken out about his eldest son, Griffin, saying he “understands” what it’s like to be close to someone living with obesity.
The 53-year-old actor plays an overweight father in his latest film The Whale, and he was thinking about living with his own son Griffin, who is autistic and obese, when he discussed the role.
Brendan shares three sons — Griffin, 20, Holand, 18, and Leland, 16 — with ex-wife Afton Smith, who he divorced in 2007 after nine years of marriage.
Father: Brendan Fraser has spoken out about his eldest son, Griffin, saying he “understands” what it’s like to be close to someone living with obesity
Speaking about his son Griffin, Brendan said he “perfectly understands” what it’s like to know someone living with obesity when discussing his role on “The Whale.”
He told Interview Magazine: “I have three children of my own, my eldest son Griffin has special needs – he is autistic.
“He just turned 20, he’s a big kid, he’s 6’1”, he has big hands and feet, big body. I understand exactly what it means to be close to a person living with obesity.’
Opening: The actor, 53, plays an overweight father in The Whale (pictured) and he was thinking about living with his own son Griffin, who is autistic and obese, when he discussed the role
The father-of-three went on to say that Griffin is the “happiest person” in his life, explaining that he doesn’t know what “cynicism” is because of his autism.
In the psychological drama The Whale, Brendan underwent a physical transformation to play an overweight man confined to a wheelchair trying to reconnect with his daughter (Sadie Sink).
To play the 600-pound English teacher Charlie, he had to wear prosthetics and spend four hours every day fitting the 300-pound suit.
Brendan described the role as the “hardest” thing he’s ever done, but said he can understand what’s important to Charlie because of the love he has for his own children.
Family: Brendan shares sons – Griffin, 20, Holand, 18, (both pictured with his ex-wife Afton) and Leland, 16 – with his ex-wife Afton Smith, who he divorced in 2007 after nine years of marriage
Project: In The Whale, Brendan underwent a physical transformation to play an overweight man confined to a wheelchair trying to reconnect with his daughter (Sadie Sink).
Weeks before The Whale is slated to hit theaters, Brendan walked the red carpet with his two youngest sons on Tuesday.
He appeared with his handsome sons Holden, 18, and Leland, 16, on the red carpet at a screening of “The Whale” in New York City.
He was also joined by his longtime partner, makeup artist Jeanne Moore, at the screening at Alice Tully Hall.
The Whale follows Brendan’s character Charlie as he attempts to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter Ellie (Sadie) after he abandoned her and her mother for another man years earlier.
Guilt over his relationship with the man – who would later die – causes Charlie to overeat and reach his current weight of 600 pounds.
The official synopsis reads: “A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity seeks to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.”
The film is based on the Off-Broadway play of the same name, written by Samuel D. Hunter, who came on board as a screenwriter.
Darren Aronofsky, best known for directing films such as The Wrestler (2008), Mother! (2017) and Black Swan (2010), which earned him an Oscar nomination, first saw the play in 2012 and asked the writer to work on a screenplay.
The Whale is Brendan’s first Hollywood venture in nearly a decade and his first starring role in a movie since 2013’s direct-to-DVD thriller Breakout.
He rose to stardom after being cast in the most popular children’s film franchises, George of the Jungle and The Mummy.
Family: Weeks before The Whale is due to hit theaters, Brendan walked the red carpet on Tuesday with his two youngest sons, Leland, 16, and Holden, 18