Brendan Fraser's sons hilariously called him out on his cheesy dad jokes on the Oscars red carpet

Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 14, 2023. It has since been updated.

Fathers play a crucial role in the upbringing of their children. They provide love, valuable guidance, support and whatnot. Dad jokes, while often cheesy and groan-inducing, can also serve an essential function in family dynamics. They can lighten the mood, bring a smile to someone's face and create a sense of connection and shared humor within the family. In a way, dad jokes are also a means for strengthening the bond between fathers and their children.

As it turns out, the famous Brandon Fraser is quite the dad joke enthusiast. Fraser won the highest acting accolade at the 95th Academy Awards by bagging the Best Actor award for his role in "The Whale."

"The Mummy" star was joined on the Oscars champagne-colored carpet by three of his loved ones, including his girlfriend, Jeanne Moore, and his sons Holden and Leland. Even though their father was nominated for one of the most highly-accredited acting awards, Holden and Leland did not shy away from using the opportunity to call him out on his cheesy dad jokes.

A video shared on Reddit by u/Sufficient-Bug-9112 shows an Entertainment Tonight reporter asking the young men: "Does [your] dad have major cool points or do you guys still give him a hard time?" They replied, "He's pretty cool. I think it's a bit of both." Leland added: "He's our old man. He's always been cool, but we're always going to rag him just a little bit."

Holden chimed in: "The dad jokes still don't hit. Like at the end of a conversation, I'll say, 'Oh yeah, right,' [and] he'll go, 'Left.'" Leland also went on to share his all-time favorite dad joke of Fraser's. He said, "I think my personal favorite has always been when we were kids, I'd say, 'I don't like Broccoli,' and he'd reply, 'Broccoli loves you,'"

The actor was not at all embarrassed by his sons teasing him and instead grinned wide in typical dad fashion while looking extremely proud of both his son and jokes. Reddit user, u/SparseGhostC2C, noted: "He's so proud of his terrible dad jokes, the man is a treasure." u/evie_quoi commented: "Turns out he's always been a dork who was just surprisingly hot I guess." Another Reddit user, u/Ahoymaboi, wrote, "The fact he navigated a brutal divorce and to hear this as a single dad must feel better than winning the Oscar." 

"Seems like he has always been one of the gems of Hollywood. I hope this is the start of an ever brighter career than he had in his youth," commented u/jdragun2.

Fraser's win at the Oscar is being hailed by many as the biggest comeback ever. The accomplished actor, who rose to prominence in the 1990s and 2000s with a string of blockbuster hits, has been recognized for his remarkable performance in the thought-provoking and contentious movie, "The Whale." The film has been the subject of much debate due to its daring exploration of themes that challenge conventional societal norms, reports Rotten Tomatoes. 

Accepting the prestigious award on March 12, 2023, Fraser told the audience: "I started in this business 30 years ago, and things, they didn't come easily to me, but there was a facility that I didn't appreciate at the time until it stopped."

Despite his early success in the entertainment industry, Fraser opted to take a step back from the limelight and focus on his personal life for some time. His return to acting has been marked by a deliberate choice to take on roles that allow him to showcase his range and versatility as an actor. Besides, his performance in "The Whale" is a testament to his talent and dedication. He puts his family first but still possesses the talent that has the power to sweep the world.