Mel Gibson's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Punishment (AU) Rick Monroe

Main Movie Roles 2010 - Edge of Darkness 2004 - Paparazzi 2003 - The Singing Detective 2002 - We Were Soldiers 2002 - Signs 2000 - What Women Want 2000 - The Million Dollar Hotel 2000 - Chicken Run 2000 - The Patriot 1999 - Payback 1998 - Lethal Weapon 4 1997 - Fathers' Day 1997 - FairyTale: A True Story 1997 - Conspiracy Theory 1996 - Ransom 1995 - Pocahontas 1995 - Casper 1995 - Braveheart 1994 - Maverick 1993 - The Man Without a Face 1992 - Forever Young 1992 - Lethal Weapon 3 1990 - Air America 1990 - Bird on a Wire 1990 - Hamlet 1989 - Lethal Weapon 2 1988 - Tequila Sunrise 1987 - Lethal Weapon 1985 - Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome 1984 - The River 1984 - Mrs. Soffel 1984 - The Bounty 1983 - The Year of Living Dangerously 1982 - Attack Force Z 1981 - Gallipoli 1979 - Mad Max 1979 - Tim 1977 - Summer City

BIOGRAPHY:

Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson was born on January 3, 1956, in Peekskill, New York, USA as the sixth of eleven children to parents Hutton Gibson, a railroad brakeman, and Ann Gibson, who was born in Australia and died in December of 1990. Though born in the US, Mel and his family moved to New South Wales, Australia. After high school, Mel studied at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, performing at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts alongside future film thespians Judy Davis (I) and Geoffrey Rush. After college, Mel had a few stints on stage and starred in a few TV shows. Eventually, he was chosen to star in Mad Max (1979) and in a movie called Tim (1979), co-starring Piper Laurie. The small budgeted movie Mad Max (1979) made him known worldwide, while Tim (1979) garnered him an award for Best Actor from the Australian Film Institute (equivalent to the Oscar). Later, he went on to star in Gallipoli (1981), which earned him a second award for Best Actor from the AFI. In 1980, he married Robyn Moore and had seven children. In 1984, Mel made his American debut in The Bounty (1984), which co-starred Anthony Hopkins. Then in 1987, Mel starred in what would become his signature series, Lethal Weapon (1987), in which he played "Martin Riggs". In 1990, he took on the interesting starring role in Hamlet (1990/I), which garnered him some critical praise. He also made the more endearing Forever Young (1992) and the somewhat disturbing The Man Without a Face (1993). 1995 brought his most famous role as "Sir William Wallace" in Braveheart (1995), for which he won two Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. From there, he made such box office hits as The Patriot (2000), Ransom (1996), and Payback (1999/I). Today, Mel remains an international superstar mogul, continuously topping the Hollywood power lists as well as the Most Beautiful and Sexiest lists. His $25 million paycheck for The Patriot (2000) is the latest milestone for actor's salaries.


TRIVIA:

• His wife Robyn field for divorce in April 2009. They had already been separated since August 2006.
• Was considered for the role of Robert Clayton Dean in _Enemy of the State (1998)_ (qv).
• Pleaded no contest to DUI on 17 August 2006 and was ordered to attend one year of Alcholics Anonymous meetings. For the first four-and-a-half months, he must attend those meetings five times a week, and for the remainder of the time, he must attend three times a week. Gibson was also ordered to pay $1200 in fines and penalties and $100 in restitution.
• He was a part of the movment dubbed the "Australian New Wave" by the press. They were a group of filmmakers and performers who emerged from Down Under at about the same time in the early 1980's and found work in other parts of the world. Other members included actress 'Judy Davis (I)' (qv) and directors 'George Miller (I)' (qv), 'Gillian Armstrong' (qv) and 'Peter Weir' (qv).
• Was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in May 2003, and gave the commencement address.
• In interviews promoting _The Passion of the Christ (2004)_ (qv), Gibson admitted that depression had led him to contemplate suicide, and that he made the film to "heal" himself.
• Turned down the role of Sgt. 'John McLoughlin (II)' (qv) in _World Trade Center (2006)_ (qv) to direct _Apocalypto (2006)_ (qv) instead.
• In the movie _Forever Young (1992)_ (qv), he needed to appear older in the last few scenes. Because his eyes were so bright blue, no matter how many wrinkles they put on him, he did not look authentically older. So, he had to wear gray contacts, in order to look old.