Mel Gibson Biography
Learn more about Mel Gibson, the well-known actor, filmmaker, and producer. Read about his journey through Hollywood's highs and lows and his four-decade long career. Everything from his breakthrough in Mad Max, where he captured attention on screen, then took charge by acting in and producing Braveheart, and most recently, playing Mark Wahlberg's father in Daddy's Home 2.
We have it all for you below, in our thorough biography of Mel Gibson. Discover the man behind the screen:
Mel Gibson's Early Life In Australia
Mel Gibson was born on January 3, 1956, in Peekskill, New York; however, he didn't stay there long. New York may have laid the foundation, but Mel Gibson's life kicked into high gear when his family set off to the Aussie shores.
Not wanting his sons to be drafted for Vietnam, Gibson's father relocated the family, which included 11 children and his wife, to Australia in 1968, when Mel was 12 years old. This move came after his dad won a good sum of money on the game show Jeopardy.
School plays fueled his passion throughout his childhood. However, he didn't think he was necessarily good enough. His sister did, though. Sheila secretly sent in an application for him to the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, and he was accepted.
Gibson experienced being in the spotlight on stage as Romeo, paired with Judy Davis's Juliette. Not only that, he lived with a young Geoffrey Rush, which provided an additional element of artistic companionship for him.
Gibson gained experience on the long-running Australian drama The Sullivans before making his way to Hollywood. These early adventures help lay the groundwork for the story of an actor originally from New York who discovered his calling in Australia.
Mel Gibson's Career Highlights
Mel Gibson's journey in the entertainment industry is a rollercoaster of highs and lows. It starts off with his breakthrough in Mad Max (1980). The film not only established him as a skilled actor, but also his action-hero persona.
He followed it up in 1982 with Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome in 1985. These three movies brought in a total of $160 million at the worldwide box office, but that's not all.
During the early 1980s, Mel Gibson admittedly had an issue with alcohol. It was so bad that his co-star, Tina Turner, from the third installment of Mad Max, did everything she could to keep him on the straight and narrow and not lose himself to the disease.
The Lethal Weapon series, where his chemistry with Danny Glover became iconic, was another group of movies where Gibson shined. They also did tremendously better at the box office, bringing in a total of $952 million.
| Lethal Weapon Franchise | Year | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Lethal Weapon | 1987 | $120 million |
| Lethal Weapon 2 | 1989 | $227 million |
| Lethal Weapon 3 | 1992 | $320 million |
| Lethal Weapon 4 | 1998 | $285 million |
Source: Box Office Mojo
Gibson's ambition extended beyond acting in 1995. In a bold move, he ventured into directing, and Braveheart emerged as his historic moment. The film not only demonstrated his directorial ability but also earned him Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture.
However, despite the awards, there were historians who were less than impressed with the film. They claimed that there were far too many inaccuracies to make it anywhere near factual.
Other key movies in the 90s for Mel Gibson included:
| Movie | Year | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Bird on a Wire | 1990 | $139 million |
| Maverick | 1994 | $183 million |
| Pocahontas | 1995 | $347 million |
| Ransom | 1996 | $309 million |
| Conspiracy Theory | 1997 | $145 million |
Source: The Numbers
The 2000s brought both success and controversy. What Women Want (2000) and Signs (2002) are two examples of very successful Mel Gibson movies. On the other hand, The Passion of the Christ (2004) stirred conversations. Its intense depiction of Jesus's crucifixion and the portrayal of the Jewish community brought Gibson under scrutiny.
He took a much needed break from the Hollywood scene for a while and returned to directing with Hacksaw Ridge (2016). Recent years have witnessed a small resurgence in Gibson's acting career with his humorous transition in Daddy's Home 2 (2017).
Mel Gibson's Production Company
Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ are just two of the eleven films that Mel Gibson has produced under his production company, Icon Productions. The global box office revenue for the films produced by Gibson's production firm has amounted to $1.3 billion.
Mel Gibson's Relationships And Children
Mel Gibson has only been married once. In 1980, he married Robyn Denise Moore. They had seven children together—one daughter and six sons. However, the couple went through a highly publicized divorce, and their marriage officially ended in 2011 after Robyn filed for divorce in 2009.
After his divorce from Robyn, Mel Gibson had a relationship with Russian pianist Oksana Grigorieva. They have a daughter together named Lucia, born in 2009. However, their relationship also ended in a highly publicized and contentious breakup.
Afterward, Mel went on to meet his current, 34 years younger, partner, screenwriter Rosalind Ross. The couple welcomed Gibson's ninth child, a son named Lars, in 2017.
Mel Gibson's Massive Net Worth
Mel Gibson has a staggering net worth of $425 million. Big difference from one of his first movies, Summer City, where he only made $400.00. Some of his highest paying movies have him clearing $25 million! Those include, but are not limited to: Signs, We Were Soldiers, Lethal Weapon 4, and The Patriot.
Mel Gibson's Controversy
Anti-Semitic Comments (2006): In 2006, Gibson faced severe criticism and backlash when he was arrested for driving under the influence. During the arrest, he made anti-Semitic remarks to the police officer, blaming Jews for all the wars in the world. The incident led to public outrage and strained Gibson's relationship with the Jewish community.
Domestic Violence Allegations (2010): In 2010, Gibson's breakup with Oksana Grigorieva turned highly acrimonious. Grigorieva accused him of domestic violence, and audio recordings surfaced where a man, purportedly Gibson, made racist and misogynistic remarks. This fueled a legal battle and damaged Gibson's public image.
Racist Comments (2010): In addition to the domestic violence controversy, audio recordings revealed Gibson using racial slurs during an argument with Grigorieva. This further damaged his reputation and led to public condemnation.
Subsequent Career Challenges: Following these controversies, Gibson faced challenges in his acting career. He was temporarily ostracized from Hollywood, and some projects faced difficulties due to concerns about his public image.
