In the 2000 romantic comedy fantasy Bedazzled, Brendan Fraser played Elliot Richards, a shy, lonely man who sells his soul to the devil for seven wishes. Born on April 3, 1968, Fraser was 31 years old at the time of production, having wrapped principal photography in Los Angeles in late 1999. The film marked his second collaboration with director Tom Brady following 1999's Dogma and preceded his next major studio comedy by several years. Below is a concise production and age profile for quick reference.
Age And Production Timeline
Understanding Fraser's age requires aligning his birth date with principal photography dates. Cast and crew were typically underway between February and May 2000 in the greater Los Angeles area.
Key Dates
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Brendan Fraser date of birth | April 3, 1968 | Public biography |
| Principal photography start | February 2000 | Production records |
| Principal photography end | May 2000 | Production records |
| Theatrical release date | April 7, 2000 | Studio scheduling |
| Age during filming | 31–32 years old | Calculated from dates |
At the start of principal photography in February 2000, Fraser had recently turned 31. By the time filming concluded in May 2000, he was 31 for most of the shoot and approaching 32. The theatrical release on April 7, 2000, occurred while the film was still in post-production, placing his on-screen age at 31 for the majority of the marketing and premiere window.
Context Within Fraser's Filmography
Bedazzled exists in a distinctive space in Brendan Fraser's career, bridging the late-1990s wave of adventurous genre work and the early-2000s shift toward broader studio comedies.
Notable Pre-2000 Comedies
- Dogma (1999): A irreverent supernatural comedy that showcased his comfort with fantasy and satire.
- George of the Jungle (1997): A family-friendly action-comedy highlighting physical comedy and heart.
Notable Post-2000 Comedies
- School of Rock (2003): A music-driven role demonstrating physical commitment and vocal performance.
- Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008): High-concept adventure with a family appeal.
In this timeline, Bedazzled represents an intentional pivot toward fantastical romantic comedy, capitalizing on Fraser's appeal while working within a recognizable moral-fable structure. His performance balances awkward sincerity with enough charm to make the deal-with-the-devil premise relatable rather than cynical.
Fraser's Performance As A Career Milestone
Brendan Fraser brought a particular everyman vulnerability to the role of Elliot Richards. His comedic timing and sincere delivery helped anchor the movie's outlandish premise. Industry observers often point to Bedazzled as a showcase of Fraser's range within a broad studio framework, demonstrating his willingness to lean into fantasy while retaining an awkward, identifiable everyman quality.
Critical And Commercial Reception
Bedazzled arrived at a moment when studios were cautiously optimistic about genre-blending comedies. The film performed solidly at the domestic box office and developed a lasting footprint in pop-culture discussions around wish-fulfillment narratives and Faustian bargains in contemporary settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was Brendan Fraser's age during principal photography? He was 31 for most of the shoot, turning 32 near its conclusion.
- Why is age context relevant to Bedazzled? Age informs the portrayal of earnest desperation and romantic idealism central to Elliot's character.
- Did Fraser work with Tom Brady before Bedazzled? Yes, with Dogma (1999), making this their second collaboration.
- How does this role compare to his other comedies from that era? It occupies a middle ground between the edginess of Dogma and the broader family adventure tone of later projects.
Production Notes And On-Set Circumstances
Filming in Los Angeles during early 2000 brought typical studio schedules for fantasy comedies, with significant VFX work required to realize the devil sequences and surreal set pieces. Fraser was reportedly prepared for the physical and comedic demands, which helped maintain continuity across imaginative scenes. Collaborative notes from costume and art direction indicate attention to period-appropriate textures that grounded the heightened premise.
Enduring Cultural Impact
Even two decades after its release, Bedazzled continues to be referenced in conversations about deals-with-the-devil, wish-fulfillment narratives, and early-2000s studio comedies. Fraser's performance remains a key reason for this endurance, as he successfully balances self-aware humor with emotional sincerity. This balance allows the film to function both as a period artifact and as a surprisingly durable entry in the romantic comedy-fantasy canon.
Conclusion
Brendan Fraser was 31 years old at the start of principal photography for Bedazzled, turning 32 near the end of the shoot in May 2000. The alignment of his age, the production timeline, and the film's release highlights a deliberate creative window in which Fraser's blend of earnest charm and comedic commitment suited the film's fantastical premise. For viewers revisiting the movie or exploring Fraser's filmography, the role remains a distinctive, evergreen example of genre blending in early-2000s studio comedy.