Brendan Fraser gives special shout out to son Griffin who has autism in Oscars speech

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By Asiya Ali

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Brendan Fraser has made sure to give a special shout-out to his son who has autism after he triumphed in the Best Actor category at the 2023 Oscars.

On Sunday night, the 54-year-old star scooped the prestigious prize for his role as Charlie - a morbidly obese father confined to a wheelchair - in the 2022 drama The Whale.

In the critically acclaimed movie, Fraser underwent a physical transformation that involved prosthetics and spending several hours every day in a weighty 300-pound suit.

The beloved Mummy actor was definitely the fans' choice to win going into the evening as all year long they have been enjoying what social media has anointed as "The Brenaissance".

Watch Fraser's big moment below: 

To win the award for best actor, Fraser beat the likes of Austin Butler (Elvis), Colin Farrell (Banshees of Inisherin), Paul Mescal (Aftersun), and Bill Nighy (Living).

When the George of the Jungle actor's name was announced, he kissed his girlfriend, Jeanne Moore, before embracing his sons Holden Fletcher Fraser, 18, and Leland Francis Fraser, 16, whom he shares with his ex-wife Afton Smith.

As well as Holden and Leland, the former couple is also parents to their 20-year-old son, Griffin Arthur Fraser, who wasn't present in the evening.

In his acceptance speech, Fraser told the audience: "So this is what the multiverse looks like," before thanking Darren Aronofsky for directing such a "bold film" and his fellow nominees for their "whale-sized hearts."

Speaking of his co-star, he then said: "Only whales can swim at the depth of the talent of Hong Chau," and talked about how he started acting three decades ago.

"I started in this business 30 years ago… there was a facility that that I didn’t appreciate at the time until it stopped," he said. "I just want to say thank you for this acknowledgment because it could not be done without my cast."

The father-of-three expressed his gratitude to his teenage sons in the audience before adding a special mention for his eldest son, saying: "Griffin, love you buddy," before wrapping up the speech and walking out with massive applause from the audience.

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Brendan Fraser with girlfriend Jeanne Moore and sons at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Credit: Paul Smith / Alamy

The Bedazzled star has previously opened up about bringing how he drew inspiration from Griffin's experiences for his role as Charlie in the film.

Speaking to Freddie Prinze Jr for Interview magazine, he said: "He just turned 20. He's a big kid, he's 6-foot-5. He’s got big hands and feet, a big body. I understand intimately what it is to be close to a person who lives with obesity."

Fraser also revealed that his eldest son is the happiest person he knows, saying: "Because of the beauty of his spectrum - call it a disorder if you will, I disagree with you - he knows nothing of irony.

"He doesn't know what cynicism is. You can’t insult him. He can't insult you. He's the happiest person and is, in my life and many others', also the manifestation of love," he added.

Featured image credit: Sipa US / Alamy