Mel Gibson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mel Gibson
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Gibson in 2016
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| Special Ambassador to Hollywood | |
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Nominee
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| Assumed office TBD Serving with Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson
January 3, 1956 Peekskill, New York, U.S. |
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| Spouse |
Robyn Moore
(m. 1980; div. 2011) |
| Domestic partner | Rosalind Ross (2014–present) |
| Children | 9, including Milo |
| Parent |
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| Relatives | Donal Gibson (brother) Eva Mylott (grandmother) |
| Education | National Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA) |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Works | Full list |
| Years active | 1976–present |
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has won many awards for his work. He is famous for directing historical movies. He is also known for his action hero roles. These include Max Rockatansky in the Mad Max film series (1979–1985). He also played Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon series (1987–1998).
Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved to Sydney, Australia, when he was 12. He studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. There, he acted with Judy Davis in a play called Romeo and Juliet. In the 1980s, he started his own production company, Icon Entertainment. Director Peter Weir chose him for the World War I movie Gallipoli (1981). For this role, Gibson won a Best Actor Award from the Australian Film Institute.
In 1995, Gibson produced, directed, and starred in the war film Braveheart. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Director and two Academy Awards for this film. He later directed and produced The Passion of the Christ (2004). This was a movie about the Bible that made a lot of money. He also directed Apocalypto (2006). This action-adventure film was set in Mesoamerica in the early 1500s. During this time, he also acted in movies like Ransom (1996) and Signs (2002).
After some personal challenges, Gibson's career slowed down. He then starred in Edge of Darkness (2010) and Jodie Foster's The Beaver (2011). Ten years later, he directed Hacksaw Ridge (2016). This movie won two Academy Awards.
Early Life and Education
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson was born in Peekskill, New York, on January 3, 1956. He was the sixth of 11 children in an Irish American family. His father, Hutton Gibson, was a writer. His mother, Anne Patricia, was born in Ireland. Gibson's grandmother, Eva Mylott, was an opera singer from Australia. His younger brother, Donal, is also an actor.
Gibson's family moved to Sydney, Australia, in 1968. He was 12 years old then. They moved for financial reasons. His father also hoped his oldest son would not be drafted for the Vietnam War.
During high school, Gibson went to St Leo's Catholic College. It was run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers.
Career in Film
Overview
When Mel Gibson first started acting, critics praised him a lot. They compared him to famous movie stars. In 1982, a critic said Gibson had "star quality." He was also compared to actors like Clark Gable and Humphrey Bogart. His roles in Mad Max, Gallipoli (1981), and Lethal Weapon made him known as an "action hero."
Later, Gibson acted in different types of movies. These included dramas like Hamlet (1990). He also did comedies like What Women Want (2000). He started directing and producing films too. Some of these were Braveheart (1995) and The Passion of the Christ (2004). A writer from Time magazine compared Gibson to Cary Grant.
Acting Roles
Gibson studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. As a student, he and actress Judy Davis played the main characters in Romeo and Juliet. After graduating in 1977, Gibson started filming Mad Max. He also continued to act on stage.
Gibson's first movie was Summer City in 1977. He was paid $400 for it. Then he played the main character in Mad Max (1979). He earned $9000 for this role. After Mad Max, Gibson played a young man with a learning disability in Tim (1979). He also appeared in Australian TV shows.
Gibson joined the cast of the World War II film Attack Force Z. Director Peter Weir then cast Gibson in the World War I drama Gallipoli (1981). This movie earned Gibson another Best Actor Award. Gallipoli helped him become known as a serious actor. The sequel Mad Max 2 (1982) was his first big hit in America.
Gibson also got good reviews for his role in The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). After a break, he played Fletcher Christian in The Bounty (1984). He earned his first million dollars for playing Max Rockatansky again in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).
Gibson's first American film was The River (1984). He played a struggling farmer with Sissy Spacek. He then starred in Mrs. Soffel (1984). After a two-year break, he played Martin Riggs in Lethal Weapon (1987). This movie made him a top Hollywood actor. He then starred in Tequila Sunrise (1988) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989). In 1990, he was in Bird on a Wire, Air America, and Hamlet.
In the 1990s, Gibson made both popular and personal movies. His films included Forever Young and Lethal Weapon 3. He also starred in Maverick and Braveheart. Later, he was in Ransom and Lethal Weapon 4. Gibson also voiced John Smith in Disney's Pocahontas.
Gibson was paid $25 million for The Patriot (2000). This movie made over $100 million. Two other films he was in that year, Chicken Run and What Women Want, also made a lot of money. In 2002, Gibson appeared in We Were Soldiers and Signs. Signs became his highest-grossing acting film.
Gibson's popularity changed after some public events. In 2010, he starred in Edge of Darkness. He also filmed Get the Gringo in Mexico.
Gibson played villains in Machete Kills (2013) and The Expendables 3 (2014).
Gibson starred in Dragged Across Concrete (2018). He also appeared in The Professor and the Madman.
Producing Films
After his success with the Lethal Weapon movies, Gibson started producing and directing. He formed Icon Productions in 1989 with Bruce Davey. Their first film was Hamlet.
Icon Productions has also produced TV projects. These include a film about the Three Stooges. They also made the 2008 PBS documentary Carrier. Icon has grown into a company that distributes films internationally.
Gibson is an executive producer for the 2023 movie Sound of Freedom. This film is based on a true story about trafficking of children.
Directing Films
Gibson directed his first film, The Man Without a Face, in 1993. Two years later, he directed Braveheart. For Braveheart, he won the Academy Award for Best Director. Gibson had planned to direct a remake of Fahrenheit 451, but it was postponed.
In 2002, Gibson said he wanted to direct more. In September 2002, he announced he would direct The Passion. He wanted the film to be in Aramaic and Latin with no subtitles. He hoped to "transcend language barriers with filmic storytelling."
In 2004, he released The Passion of the Christ. He co-wrote, co-produced, and directed it. The film became the highest-grossing R-rated film at the time. Gibson also directed episodes of Complete Savages for ABC. In 2006, he directed Apocalypto. This film also had little dialogue and was in a non-English language.
Gibson has said he wants to direct a movie about the Viking Age. He wants it to star Leonardo DiCaprio. Like his other films, he wants it to use period languages. In 2012, he said the project, called Berserker, was still happening.
In 2011, it was announced that Gibson had a screenplay written about the Maccabees. This film would be distributed by Warner Brothers Pictures. In 2012, Gibson said the Maccabees film was still being prepared. He liked the story because it was similar to American Old West stories.
In June 2016, Gibson announced a sequel to The Passion of the Christ. It would focus on the resurrection of Jesus. In November 2016, Gibson said the sequel's title would be The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection. He said it would take about three years to make. In January 2023, reports said filming would start that year.
In May 2018, it was announced that Gibson would direct a World War II film called Destroyer. It will be about the Battle of Okinawa. The film will tell the story of the crew of USS Laffey (DD-724). They defended their ship from many attacks.
In September 2018, Gibson was announced to direct and co-write a remake of the 1969 film, The Wild Bunch. In May 2019, it was reported that Michael Fassbender and Jamie Foxx might star. Jerry Bruckheimer will produce the film.
In 2021, after the death of Lethal Weapon director Richard Donner, Gibson said he would direct Lethal Weapon 5.
In May 2023, it was announced that Gibson would direct Flight Risk, starring Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg will play a pilot transporting a criminal. Filming began in June.
Directing Style
Gibson has said that directors like George Miller and Richard Donner taught him about filmmaking. As a director, Gibson sometimes makes the set fun. He might have actors wear a red clown nose during serious scenes.
Film Work
Gibson's acting career began in 1976. He had a role on the Australian TV series The Sullivans. He has appeared in 63 films. These include the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series. Gibson has also directed six films, including Braveheart. He has produced 11 films and written three. Films starring or directed by Mel Gibson have earned over US$2.5 billion.
Mad Max Series
Gibson became famous for his role as the post-apocalyptic survivor in Mad Max. This independent film made him an international star. The original film led to two sequels: Mad Max 2 and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. A fourth movie, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), starred Tom Hardy.
Gallipoli
The 1981 film Gallipoli is about young Australian men in World War I. They join the army and go to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. The movie shows them losing their innocence about war. The film's ending focuses on a terrible Australian attack.
Peter Weir cast Gibson as Frank Dunne. Frank is an Irish-Australian who doesn't believe in fighting for the British Empire. Gibson later said that Gallipoli is "Not really a war movie. That's just the backdrop. It's really the story of two young men."
This highly praised film helped Gibson's career. He won the award for Best Actor from the Australian Film Institute.
The Year of Living Dangerously
Gibson played a young journalist in Peter Weir's 1982 film The Year of Living Dangerously. He starred with Sigourney Weaver and Linda Hunt. The movie was a success. A critic from The New York Times wrote that the film would make Gibson an international star.
Gibson was not sure about taking the role at first. He said his character was like a "puppet." He also saw some similarities between himself and the character.
The Bounty
Gibson played Fletcher Christian in the 1984 film The Bounty. This movie tells the story of the Mutiny on the Bounty. It is thought to be the most historically accurate version. Gibson has said that his character should have been shown as the bad guy. He also praised Anthony Hopkins's acting as Lieutenant William Bligh.
Lethal Weapon Series
Gibson moved into more popular movies with the Lethal Weapon series. It started in 1987. In these films, he played LAPD Detective Martin Riggs. Riggs is a Vietnam veteran who is partnered with Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover). Starting with the second film, they are joined by Leo Getz (Joe Pesci).
After the first film's success, director Richard Donner and the actors made three sequels. These were Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Lethal Weapon 3 (1993), and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998). The Lethal Weapon series became a classic example of a buddy cop movie.
The film series has also been made into a television show.
On November 15, 2021, Gibson confirmed he would direct the fifth Lethal Weapon film. This was after director Richard Donner passed away. Gibson said Donner had asked him to direct it if he couldn't. In June 2024, Gibson confirmed he would direct the fifth film. He also said he and Glover would return to play Riggs and Murtaugh.
Hamlet
Gibson made a change from action movies to classical drama. He played William Shakespeare's Danish prince in Franco Zeffirelli's Hamlet. Gibson acted with experienced Shakespearean actors like Ian Holm. He said working with them was a great challenge.
Braveheart
In 1995, Gibson directed, produced, and starred in Braveheart. This film was about Sir William Wallace, a Scottish hero. Wallace was executed in 1305 for fighting against King Edward I of England. Gibson won two Academy Awards for this film. He won Best Director and Best Picture. Braveheart helped bring back historical epic films. The battle scenes are considered some of the best ever filmed.
The Passion of the Christ
Gibson directed, produced, co-wrote, and paid for the film The Passion of the Christ (2004). It showed the passion and death of Jesus (Jim Caviezel). The film was shot in Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew. Gibson originally wanted no subtitles, but he added them for theaters. The film received different reviews. Some praised it, others criticized its violence.
The film made US$611,899,420 worldwide. In the U.S., it made $370,782,930. It became the highest-grossing R-rated film at that time. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards. It also won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture.
Apocalypto
Gibson received more praise for directing Apocalypto (2006). This action-adventure film is set in Mesoamerica in the early 1500s. The dialogue is spoken in the Yucatec Maya language. The cast is made up of Native American actors.
Gibson said the film shows how great civilizations can decline. He said, "People think that modern man is so enlightened, but we're susceptible to the same forces." The film starts with a quote from Will Durant: "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within."
The Beaver
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Gibson starred in The Beaver. This drama was directed by Jodie Foster. The Beaver premiered in March 2011. It did not do well at the box office. Director Jodie Foster thought Americans were not comfortable with the film's mix of drama and comedy.
Hacksaw Ridge
In 2014, Gibson agreed to direct Hacksaw Ridge. This World War II drama is based on the true story of Desmond T. Doss. Doss was a conscientious objector, meaning he refused to carry a weapon. Andrew Garfield played Doss.
The film premiered in September 2016. It received very positive reviews. It was nominated for many awards, including Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best Director. Hacksaw Ridge was also nominated for six Academy Awards. It won two of them.
The film made $164 million worldwide. This was four times its production cost.
Personal Life
Gibson has dual Irish and American citizenship because of his mother. He is also an Australian permanent resident.
Relationships
Robyn Denise Moore
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Gibson met Robyn Denise Moore in 1977 in Adelaide, Australia. Robyn was a dental nurse, and Mel was an unknown actor. They married on June 7, 1980. They have one daughter, Hannah (born 1980), and six sons: twins Edward and Christian (born 1982), William (born 1985), Louis (born 1988), Milo (born 1990), and Thomas (born 1999). They have seven grandchildren.
After 26 years of marriage, Gibson and Robyn separated in 2006. Robyn Gibson filed for divorce in 2009. Their divorce was finalized on December 23, 2011. The settlement was reported to be one of the highest in Hollywood history.
Rosalind Ross
Since 2014, Gibson has been in a relationship with Rosalind Ross. She is a writer and former champion equestrian vaulter. Ross gave birth to their son, Lars Gerard, on January 20, 2017. He is Gibson's ninth child.
Philanthropy
Gibson and his former wife have given a lot of money to charities. One of these is Healing the Children. They gave millions to help children worldwide get medical treatment. They also supported the restoration of Renaissance artwork. They gave millions to the NIDA.
Gibson donated $500,000 to the El Mirador Basin Project. This project protects rainforests and funds archeological digs. In July 2007, Gibson visited Central America again. He arranged donations for the local people. He also pledged money to a company that recycles tires. In September 2007, Gibson donated to a charity for children with illnesses in Singapore.
In a 2011 interview, Gibson said about his charity work, "It gives you perspective. If you take a little time out to think about other people, it's good. It's uplifting."
Religion and Politics
Faith
Gibson was raised a Traditionalist Catholic. He founded and funds the Church of the Holy Family in Southern California.
In a 1990 interview, Gibson said: "God is the only one who knows how many children we should have, and we should be ready to accept them." Gibson has stated that he believes non-Catholics and non-Christians can go to Heaven.
Politics
Gibson has expressed anti-war views. In 2006, he said the "fearmongering" in his film Apocalypto reminded him of some political leaders. He later said in 2016 that he appreciates the sacrifices of soldiers.
In a 2011 interview, Gibson spoke about politics. He said he quietly supports candidates. He also said that he votes.
In 2016, Gibson said he voted for neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton. In July 2021, Gibson was seen saluting Trump at an event. This video became very popular online.
In October 2020, Gibson spoke out about the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. He showed support for the Armenian people.
Gibson endorsed Trump in the 2024 United States presidential election.
On January 16, 2025, president-elect Donald Trump announced Gibson would be a "special ambassador" to Hollywood. He will share this role with Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone. Trump said he wants them to help Hollywood become "stronger than ever."
Awards and Honors
Major Film Awards
Gibson has won many major awards for his films. Here are some of them:
| Year | Title | Academy Awards | BAFTA Awards | Golden Globe Awards | |||
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| Nominations | Wins | Nominations | Wins | Nominations | Wins | ||
| 1995 | Braveheart | 10 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| 2004 | The Passion of the Christ | 3 | |||||
| 2006 | Apocalypto | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||
| 2016 | Hacksaw Ridge | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| Total | 22 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 1 | |
Other Awards and Honors
In 1995, Gibson quietly turned down an award from the French government. This was to protest France's nuclear testing.
On July 25, 1997, Gibson was named an honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for his "service to the Australian film industry."
In 2003, he received an honorary doctorate from Loyola Marymount University.
In 2004, Forbes magazine named him the "world's most powerful celebrity." The Hollywood Reporter also named him Innovator of the Year.
In 2007, Gibson received an honorary fellowship in performing arts.
In 2008, he won the Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema Award.
He won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor for Daddy's Home 2. He was also nominated for the same award for The Expendables 3 (2014) and Dangerous (2021).
Images for kids
See Also
In Spanish: Mel Gibson para niños
