'The courage to ask for it': Brendan Fraser shares lessons he learned from son Griffin's autism diagnosis
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Brendan Fraser shared how his son's autism diagnosis taught him a lot at the Greenwich International Film Festival's Inaugural GIFF Inspiration Talk & Award Ceremony on May 3. Fraser was awarded and talked about the impact of his son Griffin, who is now 20 years old.
"I'm no expert on the varieties of spectrum disorders. I'm a dad, and that's what I can talk about. My son Griffin has a verbal delay; he had a verbal delay at an early age," said the 54-year-old actor. "He got a diagnosis, and we were thunderstruck, as I imagine many of you in the audience here can comprehend or understand because of the surprise that came with not knowing what to do." Fraser said that it took a lot for him to avoid taking the cliché 'fix it' mindset.
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'And we can all do this together'
"No matter which medical text or source you consult, it's like trying to get a straight answer from a leprechaun. The answer is for reasons unknown," he recalled. Fraser said that the experience helped him to grow and learn with his son. "Griffin taught us how to give him everything that he needed. What that let me know and what let his mom know too is that there are so many people who are there to help, and it's up to us, their parents, their families, and their loved ones, to just have the courage to ask for it," he continued.
'We are unbelievably proud'
Fraser's two other sons, Holden, 18, and Leland, 16, along with his girlfriend Jeanne Moore, were also present when he won the best actor Oscar award in March. During a red-carpet interview, his sons expressed their pride and happiness for their father's nomination. "We are unbelievably proud. Over the moon," Holden said, while Leland agreed with his brother, according to People.