Fraser’s ‘Encino Man’ Caveman Says It All With Grunts, Groans

Although Brendan Fraser’s vocabulary in his latest role as Link, the defrosted caveman in “Encino Man,” is limited to mostly grunts and groans, he’s certainly, like many actors, at no loss for words when it comes to describing his approach to the part.

“I went at the role as one who has never seen any of what’s going to happen to me, which left me open for discovery and opportunity,” says Fraser, who quickly adds, as though he realizes that what he’s just said doesn’t make a lot of sense, “That all sounds very actor-ish. Actually, I just took the part because I figured I’d have a good time.”

Fraser was one of 125 candidates who auditioned for the role originally written for MTV personality Pauly Shore, who ended up with another starring part in the movie.

Born in Indianapolis, the twentysomething actor was raised in Canada and Europe and insists it was his living abroad that sparked his interest in acting. “My parents dragged me to see ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ four times in London when I was 7 years old,” he says, “and that kind of did it for me. From then on I knew it was going to be acting.”

Fraser attended a prep school in Canada, where he developed his acting skills. His next stop was Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts and from there, he performed in summer stock productions and later had an internship at Washington’s famed Intiman Theatre. After arriving in Los Angeles, it wasn’t long before he made his film debut in “Dogfight” and was soon cast in the television pilot “My Old School.” His other television appearances include the TV movie “Guilty Until Proven Innocent.” Fraser will also be seen in the feature “School Ties,” which will be released later this year.

As for his almost non-speaking role in “Encino Man,” Fraser says, “It just had to do with listening because I was being spoken to. What I found was that you can actually convey a lot more without yapping your chops.”