Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer
Date of Birth: January 3, 1956
Place of Birth: Peekskill, N.Y., USA
Sign: Sun in Capricorn, Moon in Virgo
Relations: Wife: Robyn Moore; kids: Hannah, Edward, Christian, William, Louis, Milo, Thomas
Education: National Institute of Dramatic Arts, Sydney, Australia

Academy Award-winning actor, director and producer who first appeared in Australian cult films, including Mad Max (1979) and The Road Warrior (1981), before making his mark in Hollywood. His other films include The Year of Living Dangerously (1983), Hamlet (1990), What Women Want, We Were Soldiers. He directed the films The Man Without a Face (1993) and Academy Award-winning Braveheart (1995), in which he also starred.

Facts about Mel Gibson:

In his latest film, SIGNS that was released in August 2002, Gibson has actually set aside some of his most common acting tricks and Joaquin Phoenix (plays his brother Merrill) seems to challenge him at every turn.

Awarded the AO (Officer of the Order of Australia), Australia's highest honor, in mid-1997.

For release of PAYBACK (1999) in Australia, the U.S. tagline "Get ready to root for the bad guy" was changed to "Get ready to CHEER for the bad guy" because, as he himself pointed out, in Australia "to root" is slang for to have sexual intercourse.

Educated at University of New South Wales, Australia.

Franco Zeferelli reportedly decided to offer him the role in Hamlet after seeing his suicide contemplation scene in LETHAL WEAPON (1987).

He and his wife met through a dating service.

He and Greg Henry (PAYBACK) have both starred in movies called THE PATRIOT. Mel Gibson in THE PATRIOT (2000), and Gregg Henry in THE PATRIOT (1986).

He has a horseshoe kidney (two kidneys fused into one)

He took up acting only because his sister submitted an application behind his back. The night before an audition, he got into a fight, and his face was badly beaten, an accident that won him the role.

He was considered for the role of James Bond in GOLDEN EYE (1995).

His father moved the family to Australia in part because he was afraid his sons would be drafted during the Vietnam War.

Was nominated for Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical in 2001 for WHAT WOMEN WANT.

Auditioned for the role of Mozart in AMADEUS (1984).

Director/producer of BRAVEHEART (1995), Gibson was investigated by the RSPCA, who were convinced that the fake horses used were real.

He was supposed to star in Terry Gilliam's (never made) film A TALE OF TWO CITIES but turned it down to star in BRAVEHEART which he then offered to Gilliam to direct, but he declined.

Considered for the role of Simon Templar in THE SAINT.

Because he was relatively unknown in the US, trailers and previews of Mad Max did not feature Mel Gibson, instead focusing on the car crashes and action scenes.

Cast himself in the role of McLeod for THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE (1993) only after he was unable to find any other satisfactory actor willing to take the part.

He has his own production agency (Icon Productions).

Mel Gibson has a home in Montana, Connecticut, Australia, and California.

He eat some dog cookies in order to stop smoking in LETHAL WEAPON 3 (1992). In MAD MAX 2: THE ROAD WARRIOR (1981), Mel eats a can of dog food in order to survive.

His character in THE PATRIOT (2000) was originally scripted to be the real historical figure Francis Marion, THE SWAMP FOX, but after historians informed the filmmakers of some of the more sordid aspects of Marion's life (slaughtering Indians, raping his female slaves) they decided to create a fictional story and a more likeable hero.

His voice in MAD MAX (1979) was dubbed after producers were concerned that American audiences wouldn't understand his then-thick Australian accent.

In MAVERICK, he had special lessons to learn how to draw a gun from a holster.

In one scene of PAYBACK, Detective Hicks tells Mel Gibson's character, "See you later Rocky". This may be a reference to CHICKEN RUN (2000), where Gibson gives his voice to a rooster named Rocky.

(1996) Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.

A big fan of The Three Stooges.

M. Night Shyamalan had originally written the main character in SIGNS (2002) as older. Once Gibson showed interest in the project, however, Shyamalan rewrote the character with Gibson in mind.

The production of RANSOM (1996) was delayed a few days when he needed an emergency appendicectomy.

Turned down the role of Eliot Ness in THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987) before Kevin Costner was signed.

Roommates with Geoffrey Rush in college.

Studied Acting at NIDA (National Insitutute of Dramatic Art), University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia.

(CHICKEN RUN (2000)) After Rocky leaves, there is another joke at Mel Gibson's expense. Bunty says, "I don't even think he was American", a reference to the common misconception that Gibson is actually Australian. (Although he was born in the USA and didn't move to Australia until he was 12, the belief persists, especially in the UK, that he's Australian.)

Mel's children were most impressed when he was the voice of John Smith in Disney's Pocahontas.

Gibson is desperate to make a movie about the life of Jesus Christ - but only if The Vatican approves as he is developing a new movie entitled PASSION and he has also consulted with theologians and church officials at the highest level to gain an understanding of Christ's final suffering.

Personal quotes:

"That's like asking you to pick your favorite child... I do however, think Bird on a Wire was one of my finest works. Oscar caliber."

"After about 20 years of marriage, I'm finally starting to scratch the surface of that one. And I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate." [on what women want]

"It's all happening too fast. I've got to put the brakes on or I'll smack into something."
— Mel Gibson

"I tell you what really turns my toes up: love scenes with 68-year-old men and actresses young enough to be their granddaughter."
- Mel Gibson