Mel Gibson

Nationality: American Born: 03 January 1956 Height: 5' 9" Star sign: Capricorn Famous for: Acting in blockbuster films such as Mad Max, Lethal Weapon and Braveheart. Quirky Quote: I love women. They're the best thing ever created. If they want to be like men and come down to our level, that's fine.

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Born on 3 January, 1956, in Peekskill, New York, Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson is a film actor, producer and director. The sixth of eleven children, Gibson and his family relocated to Sydney, Australia in 1968, where he was educated at a catholic school. Post-high school Gibson attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and graduated in 1977.

Appearances in Australian TV shows such as The Sullivans and Cop Shop launched Gibson’s acting career before he made his film debut in Summer City, a 1977 Australian film. His big break arrived in 1979 when he starred in Mad Max; the first installment of three films.

The 1980s saw Gibson’s success as an actor continue, with starring roles in the films Gallipoli (1981), Mad Max 2 (1981), Attack Force Z (1982), The Year of Living Dangerously (1982), The Bounty (1984), The River (1984), Mrs. Soffel (1984), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (Mad Max 3, 1985), Lethal Weapon (1987), Tequila Sunrise (1988) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).

Gibson’s career soared in the ‘90s, as he branched into producing and directing on top of acting. He directed and starred in The Man Without a Face (1993) and Braveheart (1995), which were considered his most successful films of the decade, winning an Oscar for Best Director for Braveheart. His other well known ‘90s film appearances include Air America (1990), Hamlet (1990), Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), Maverick (1994), Ransom (1996) and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998), among others.

The new millennium saw Gibson star alongside Heath Ledger in The Patriot (2000) and Helen Hunt in What Women Want (2000). His other successes include We Were Soldiers (2002) and Signs (2002). Gibson directed the controversial films The Passion of the Christ in 2004 and Apocalypto in 2006.

In the spotlight for almost three decades, Gibson’s life has not gone without controversies and media scrutiny. Amongst allegations of Racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism, Gibson has publicly battled with alcohol addiction and has been charged with DUI more than once.

Gibson is married to Robyn Moore. They have one daughter, six sons and a grandchild together.