Brendan Fraser's failed soap audition that led him to 'Encino Man'
Synopsis
Brendan Fraser's path to Hollywood stardom began with a door slamming shut. Rejected for a role on 'All My Children', he pivoted to 'Encino Man' in 1992 — and Kelly Ripa, who was on that very soap, says she saw it coming before Fraser did. It's a rare behind-the-scenes look at how a missed break became a defining one.
Key Takeaways
Brendan Fraser , 57 , revealed on 'Live With Mark and Kelly' that he failed an audition at ABC Capital Cities for soap opera 'All My Children' early in his career.
Co-host Kelly Ripa starred on 'All My Children' from 1990 to 2002 and recalled reading about Fraser's failed audition in an in-flight magazine after 'Encino Man' released.
Fraser went on to star in 'Encino Man' ( 1992 ), 'George of the Jungle' ( 1997 ), and 'The Mummy' ( 1999 ).
Fraser is father to three sons: Griffin Arthur Fraser ( 23 ), Holden Fletcher Fraser ( 21 ), and Leland Francis Fraser .
Hollywood actor Brendan Fraser has revealed how a rejected audition for a daytime soap opera inadvertently set him on the path to movie stardom. The 57-year-old actor, speaking on a recent episode of 'Live With Mark and Kelly', recalled how missing out on a role in 'All My Children' turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to his career.
The Audition That Never Was
Fraser recounted that shortly after moving to New York, he auditioned at ABC Capital Cities for the long-running daytime soap opera 'All My Children'. 'I came in, and I auditioned. I did not get the job, right?' he said during the show. The rejection, which might have seemed a setback at the time, would prove pivotal.
Kelly Ripa's Unexpected Connection
Co-host Kelly Ripa — who herself starred on 'All My Children' from 1990 to 2002, meeting her now-husband and talk show co-host Mark Consuelos on set in 1995 — said she remembered the timeline clearly. Ripa recalled reading about Fraser in an in-flight magazine aboard an American Airlines flight shortly after he had made 'Encino Man'. 'You were talking about how your first audition was for this role on All My Children and how you wouldn't have become a movie star if you had gotten the job,' she told Fraser, adding with a laugh, 'So, you're welcome.'
The Role That Changed Everything
Denied a foothold in daytime television, Fraser landed the lead in 1992's 'Encino Man', playing an unfrozen primitive human thrust into modern suburban life. The film became a cult hit and launched his Hollywood profile. He followed it with crowd-pleasing blockbusters including 'George of the Jungle' in 1997 and the iconic adventure franchise opener 'The Mummy' in 1999.
Fraser Today
The actor, who staged a widely celebrated career comeback in recent years, is father to three sons: Griffin Arthur Fraser, 23, Holden Fletcher Fraser, 21, and Leland Francis Fraser. His candid retelling of the early rejection resonates with a career arc that has come to symbolise resilience in Hollywood — a second act few saw coming after years away from the spotlight.
Point of View
But it also underlines a structural truth about Hollywood casting: the parts actors don't get often define them more than the ones they do. His 'All My Children' rejection forced a pivot that a steady daytime contract might have smothered. What makes this moment culturally interesting is Ripa's role in it — she was on that soap, she saw the Fraser profile in a magazine, and she connected the dots years before anyone was writing comeback narratives. The story also lands differently now, given Fraser's widely covered return to prominence; audiences are primed to receive his career as a redemption arc, which gives even a light talk-show anecdote outsized resonance.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which soap opera did Brendan Fraser audition for early in his career?
Brendan Fraser auditioned for the daytime soap opera 'All My Children' at ABC Capital Cities after moving to New York. He did not land the role, which ultimately redirected him toward film work.
How did the failed audition lead to Brendan Fraser's breakthrough?
After missing out on 'All My Children', Fraser went on to star in the 1992 film 'Encino Man', which launched his Hollywood career. The role as an unfrozen primitive human became a cult favourite and opened doors to major studio films.
What is Kelly Ripa's connection to Brendan Fraser's audition story?
Kelly Ripa starred on 'All My Children' from 1990 to 2002 — the very show Fraser auditioned for. She told Fraser on 'Live With Mark and Kelly' that she had read about his failed audition in an American Airlines magazine shortly after 'Encino Man' released, joking that his rejection from the show was her doing.
What major films did Brendan Fraser make after 'Encino Man'?
Following his 1992 breakthrough in 'Encino Man', Fraser starred in 'George of the Jungle' in 1997 and 'The Mummy' in 1999, both of which became major commercial successes.
How many children does Brendan Fraser have?
Brendan Fraser has three sons: Griffin Arthur Fraser, aged 23, Holden Fletcher Fraser, aged 21, and Leland Francis Fraser.
