The actor Brendan Fraser got emotional as audiences at the Venice Film Festival gave a six-minute standing ovation on Sunday after seeing the world premiere of his upcoming film “The Whale,” according to Variety and social media reports.
Buzz has been building around Fraser’s performance in Darren Aronofsky’s drama from A24, in which Fraser donned prosthetics and makeup to play a 600-pound recluse who uses a wheelchair. The film is based on Samuel D. Hunter’s play of the same name.
As the credits rolled in Venice, Fraser sobbed during the ovation. Video posted on social media shows a teary Fraser reluctantly getting up as the audience, on its feet, claps and cheers for his performance.
Fraser rose to prominence in the 1990s as an action and comedy heartthrob in lighthearted films like 1992’s “Encino Man,” 1997’s “George of the Jungle” and 1999’s “The Mummy.”
Fraser soon faded from prominence to the puzzlement of some fans. In an 2018 interview with GQ, the actor said he retreated from the spotlight after he alleged former Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. President Philip Berk inappropriately touched him at an event in 2003. Berk apologized but admitted no wrongdoing.
“The Whale” is scheduled to be released Dec. 9.
Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.