Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson AO
Born	Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (1956-01-03) January 3, 1956 (age 68) Peekskill, New York, USA
Occupation(s)	Actor, film director
Years active	1979 - present
Spouse(s)	Robyn Moore Gibson (m. 1980–2011)[1]
Children	8
Parent(s)	Hutton Gibson Anne Patricia (née Reilly)
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Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson AO (born January 3, 1956)^[2] is an American actor and film director.^[3][4][5][6] He is mostly known for his roles in action. Among his most famous roles are in Mad Max (1979), Gallipoli (1981), The Bounty (1984), Lethal Weapon (1987), and Braveheart (1995).^[2] He directed The Passion of the Christ in 2004. He loosely based it on the visions of St. Catherine Emmerich.

Gibson was born in Peekskill, New York, United States. His father, Hutton Gibson, was a veteran soldier during World War II, and was also a famous writer. His family moved to Australia in 1968, when he was 12.^[7] He studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. He also has Irish citizenship.^[8]

During the 1980s, Gibson founded Icon Entertainment, a production company, which Atom Egoyan described as "an alternative to the studio system". When director Peter Weir cast him as a major character in World War I drama Gallipoli, he earned a Best Actor from the Australian Film Institute Awards,^[9] which cemented him as an serious, versatile and recognisable actor.

In 1995, Gibson received the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Academy Award for Best Director for his work on Braveheart. He later directed and produced The Passion of the Christ in 2004, a controversial^[10] drama regarding Jesus, which was viewed as antisemitic by many people. Allegations of antisemitism and racism by Gibson led to a downfall in his career,^[11] and later revived his career, particularly with the 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge, which won two Academy Awards^[12][13] and was nominated for an additional four.

1. ↑ Sacks, Ethan (December 24, 2011). "Mel Gibson officiallly divorces wife of 31 years". New York: NY Daily News. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Mel Gibson and his girlfriend welcome a baby girl". Retrieved October 2, 2009.^{[permanent dead link]}
3. ↑ Cite error: The named reference morris was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference hiscock was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
5. ↑ Cite error: The named reference probert was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
6. ↑ Cite error: The named reference enews was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
7. ↑ Clarkson, Wensley (1993). Mel Gibson: Living Dangerously. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 30.
8. ↑ Stephen M. Silverman. "Jonathan Rhys Meyers Crowned Best Actor in Ireland". People Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
9. ↑ "The Australian Film Institute | Past Winners". Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
10. ↑ Madden, Caroline (December 1, 2021). "The Passion Of The Christ Controversy Explained". /Film. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
11. ↑ Nolan, Emma (June 23, 2020). "All the Times Mel Gibson Has Been Accused of Anti-Semitism and Racism". Newsweek. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
12. ↑ "'Hacksaw Ridge' wins 2 Oscar awards, honoring local Desmond Doss - WSMV Channel 4". March 1, 2017. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
13. ↑ "Oscar Winners 2017: See the Complete List! - Oscars 2023 News | 95th Academy Awards". ABC. Retrieved February 26, 2023.