Brendan Fraser was one of the biggest names in Hollywood in the ’90s. We know all about his onscreen exploits, but his romantic life is a little less well-known. Did you know he and his former wife Afton Smith co-starred in one of his biggest hits?
Here’s everything we know about Smith and her relationship with Fraser.
Fraser’s Romance With Fellow Actor Afton Smith
Fraser started acting in the early ’90s, and his career quickly took off. In 1993, the actor attended a Fourth of July barbecue at Winona Ryder’s house. It was there that he met Afton Smith, an actress who had appeared in the hit movie Less than Zero, and alongside Ryder in Reality Bites.
The couple began dating and even appeared in a movie together: 1997’s George of the Jungle. Fraser played the titular role, while Smith played one of co-star Leslie Mann’s friends. The pair tied the knot a year later, and share three sons: Griffin, Holden, and Leland.
Even though Smith had previously said that acting was always her dream, she soon lost interest in her career, saying, “The passion kind of died for me in the acting world, and I thought best leave it to people who are really great at it.”
The Couple’s Split
In 2007, Fraser and Smith announced that they were getting a divorce. “They continue to maintain a close and caring friendship,” Fraser’s publicist said in a public statement. The former couple sold their Beverly Hills home and the actor moved to Bedford, New York.
Fraser was ordered to pay alimony and child support, but in 2013, the actor petitioned the courts for a reduction in his payments; he was previously ordered to pay Smith $900,000 a year, along with $30,000 in child support.
At the time, Fraser was not regularly working as an actor, and he claimed he could no longer afford to pay that amount. Smith accused her ex-husband of hiding financial assets and claimed he hid $9 million in new film contracts while they were settling the details of their divorce.
Smith Is A Published Author
Although she left acting behind, Smith has embarked on a second career as a writer. In 2004, she published her first book, Hollywood Picks the Classics: A Guide for the Beginner and the Aficionado. A love letter to the movies, it guides readers to select the best classic movies made between 1930 and 1960.
Her experiences raising a special needs child inspired her to write again. With her mother and sister, Smith decided to create a book specifically for kids on the autism spectrum after struggling to find material that met her son’s needs. Point to Happy: For Children on the Autism Spectrum was released in 2011.
Fraser’s Career Resurgence
Although Fraser’s child support was previously lowered due to the fact that he had no upcoming acting gigs, the actor is now experiencing a resurgence in his career. The once-struggling actor received accolades for his role in The Whale and boasts starring roles in upcoming projects like the Martin Scorsese project Killers of the Flower Moon and Behind the Curtain of Night.
Fraser’s marriage to Smith might not have worked out, but it’s nice to see that the beloved actor is continuing to be recognized for his work years after his Hollywood beginnings.
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