During the height of his career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Fraser became a household name with blockbuster hits like The Mummy series, George of the Jungle, and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
However, these physically demanding roles took a significant toll on his body. He underwent multiple surgeries, including a laminectomy, a partial knee replacement, and procedures on his vocal cords, resulting in years of recovery and limiting his ability to perform stunts
Fraser also faced personal difficulties, including a high-profile divorce in 2009, which led to financial pressures due to substantial alimony and child support commitments.
Additionally, he has spoken openly about the emotional and psychological toll of being a victim of sexual harassment. Fraser alleged that in 2003, Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, groped him at an event. This incident contributed to Fraser withdrawing from the public eye, as he felt ostracized in the industry following his claims
The fallout from the harassment allegation coincided with a decline in offers for leading roles. Fraser has suggested that speaking out may have led to him being blacklisted to some degree. Combined with the physical toll of his career and the personal struggles he faced, this created a perfect storm that led to his retreat from mainstream Hollywood.