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On [[July 25]], [[1997]], Gibson was named an honorary [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] (AO), in recognition of his "service to the Australian film industry". The award was honorary because substantive awards are made only to Australian citizens.<ref>[http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=869892&search_type=simple&showInd=true Search Australian Honours - Simple Search]</ref><ref>[http://www.theorderofaustralia.asn.au/ Order of Australia Association]</ref> Gibson is the first person awarded [[People (magazine)|''People'']] magazine's "[[Sexiest Man Alive]]". Gibson quietly declined the [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Chevalier des Arts et Lettres]] from the French government in 1995 as a protest against France’s resumption of nuclear testing in the Southwest Pacific.<ref>"It was a definite decision to make a protest against the nuclear tests," said Gibson, who is mad at French President Jacques Chirac for deciding to detonate some bombs in the Pacific. “The Hollywood Reporter” October 30, 1995, by Stephen Galloway</ref> ''[[Time Magazine|Time]]'' magazine chose Mel Gibson and Michael Moore as [[Person of the Year|Men of the Year]] in 2004, but Gibson turned down the photo session and interview, and the cover went instead to [[George W. Bush]].<ref>[http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2006/09/michael_moore_d.html Michael Moore Defends Cruise, Slags Gibson] September 16, 2006</ref>
On [[July 25]], [[1997]], Gibson was named an honorary [[Officer of the Order of Australia]] (AO), in recognition of his "service to the Australian film industry". The award was honorary because substantive awards are made only to Australian citizens.<ref>[http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=869892&search_type=simple&showInd=true Search Australian Honours - Simple Search]</ref><ref>[http://www.theorderofaustralia.asn.au/ Order of Australia Association]</ref> Gibson is the first person awarded [[People (magazine)|''People'']] magazine's "[[Sexiest Man Alive]]". Gibson quietly declined the [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Chevalier des Arts et Lettres]] from the French government in 1995 as a protest against France’s resumption of nuclear testing in the Southwest Pacific.<ref>"It was a definite decision to make a protest against the nuclear tests," said Gibson, who is mad at French President Jacques Chirac for deciding to detonate some bombs in the Pacific. “The Hollywood Reporter” October 30, 1995, by Stephen Galloway</ref> ''[[Time Magazine|Time]]'' magazine chose Mel Gibson and Michael Moore as [[Person of the Year|Men of the Year]] in 2004, but Gibson turned down the photo session and interview, and the cover went instead to [[George W. Bush]].<ref>[http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2006/09/michael_moore_d.html Michael Moore Defends Cruise, Slags Gibson] September 16, 2006</ref>

==Landmark films==
===''Mad Max''===
{{main|Mad Max}}
Gibson got his breakthrough role as the leather-clad post-apocalyptic survivor in [[George Miller]]'s ''[[Mad Max]]''. The film was independently financed and had a reported budget of $300,000 AUD — of which $15,000 was paid to Mel Gibson for his performance. The film achieved incredible success, earning $100 million world wide. It held a record in ''[[Guinness Book of Records]]'' as the highest profit-to-cost ratio of a motion picture, and only lost the record in 2000 to ''[[The Blair Witch Project]]''. The film was awarded four [[Australian Film Institute]] Awards in 1979.

Gibson almost did not get the role that made him a star. His agent got him an audition for ''Mad Max'', but the night before, he got into a drunken brawl with three men at a party, resulting in a swollen nose, a broken jawline, and various other bruises. Mel showed up at the audition the next day looking like a "black and blue pumpkin" (his own words). Mel did not expect to get the role and only went to accompany his friend. However, the casting agent told Mel to come back in two weeks, telling him "we need freaks." When Mel did come back, he was not recognized because his wounds had healed almost completely, and received the part. This incident is listed in ''[[Ripley's Believe It or Not!]]''<ref>{{cite book | editor=Mary Packard and the editors of Ripley Entertainment | others= Leanne Franson (illustrations) | year=2001 | title=Ripley's Believe It or Not! Special Edition | edition=1st ed. | publisher=Scholastic Inc. | id=ISBN 0-439-26040-X }}</ref>

When the film was first released in America, all the voices, including that of Mel Gibson's character, were dubbed with U.S. accents at the behest of the distributor, [[American International Pictures]], for fear that audiences would not take warmly to actors speaking entirely with Australian accents.

The original film spawned two sequels: ''[[Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior|Mad Max 2]]'' (known in North America as ''The Road Warrior''), and ''[[Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome|Mad Max 3]]'' (known in North America as ''Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome''). A fourth movie, ''[[Mad Max 4: Fury Road]]'', has been considered but has not been produced.

===''The Bounty''===
{{main|The Bounty}}
In [[1984 in film|1984]], starred as [[Fletcher Christian]] in [[The Bounty|''The Bounty'']]. Reportedly, Gibson and [[Anthony Hopkins]], his costar on the film, did not get along during the shoot. At the time, Anthony Hopkins was a [[teetotaler]]{{Fact|date=July 2007}}, and Mel Gibson was struggling with [[alcoholism]]. Gibson frequently spent his evenings in local saloons and took to mixing two shots of [[Scotch]] with his [[beer]]. He dubbed the concoction "Liquid Violence". In one incident, Gibson's face was severely cut up in a bar room brawl and the film's shooting schedule had to be rearranged while he was flown to a hospital in [[Papeete]].{{Fact|date=July 2007}}

===''Lethal Weapon''===
{{main|Lethal Weapon}}
Gibson moved into more mainstream commercial filmmaking with the popular [[buddy cop]] ''Lethal Weapon'' series, which began with the 1987. In the films he played [[LAPD]] Detective [[Martin Riggs]], an emotionally unstable [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] veteran with a death wish and a penchant for violence and gunplay. In the films, he is partnered with the elder and more reserved [[Roger Murtaugh]] (played by [[Danny Glover]]). This series would come to exemplify the action genre's so-called [[Buddy cop film|buddy film]].

The two actors were trained in two different schools of acting. Gibson is classically trained and Glover is a [[method actor]]. Three sequels were produced in 1989, 1992 and 1998.

===''Hamlet''===
{{main|Hamlet (1990 film)}}
Gibson made the unusual transition from the action to classical genres, playing the melancholy Danish prince in [[Franco Zeffirelli]]'s [[Hamlet (1990 film)|''Hamlet'']]. Gibson was cast alongside such experienced [[Shakespearean]] [[actor]]s as [[Ian Holm]], [[Alan Bates]], and [[Paul Scofield]]. He described working with his fellow cast members as similar to being "thrown into the ring with [[Mike Tyson]]".

The film met with critical and marketing success and remains steady in DVD sales. It also marked the transformation of Mel Gibson from action hero to serious actor and filmmaker.

===''Braveheart''===
{{main|Braveheart}}
Gibson stated that when the ''Braveheart'' script arrived and was recommended by his agents, he rejected it outright because he thought he was too old to play the part. After careful thought, he decided to not only act in the film, but to direct it as well.

Gibson received two [[Academy Awards]], [[Academy Award for Directing|Best Director]] and [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], for his [[1995 in film|1995]] direction of ''[[Braveheart]]''. In the movie, Gibson starred as Sir [[William Wallace]], a thirteenth-century [[Scotland|Scottish]] freedom fighter.

He said in interviews that he was attempting to make a film similar to the epics he had loved as a child, such as [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s [[Spartacus (film)|''Spartacus'']] and ''[[The Big Country]]''. The filming began in the [[Scottish Highlands]]. After learning that the intended filming locations were among the rainiest spots in Europe, the shooting was moved to the [[Republic of Ireland]], where members of the [[Irish Army]] Reserve worked as extras in the battle scenes. The [[Battle of Stirling Bridge|Battle of Stirling]] sequence in ''[[Braveheart]]'' is considered one of the best directed fight scenes in all of [[film]] history.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/29/movie.battles/ The best -- and worst -- movie battle scenes] April 2, 2007</ref>

===''The Passion of the Christ''===
{{main|The Passion of the Christ}}
In 2004 Gibson directed ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' which was based on the last twelve hours of the life of [[Jesus Christ]] according to the [[Four Evangelists]] and Roman Catholic [[Sacred Tradition]]. It was rendered multilingually in [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], and [[Latin]].

Gibson co-wrote the [[screenplay]] with writer [[Benedict Fitzgerald]] and financed the film himself, spending an estimated $40-$50 million of his own money. The filming took place on location in [[Matera, Italy]] and [[Cinecittá Studios]] in [[Rome]]. Prior to making the film, Gibson constructed a [[traditionalist Catholic]] chapel on his California estate.

Reviews were mixed, with critics ranging from praising the film for its realistic depiction of Jesus' final hours from a Catholic point of view and criticism of violence, manipulation and charges of anti-Semitism.<ref>{{cite news|last = Ebert|first = Roger|title = Movie Reviews: The Passion of the Christ|language = English|publisher = Chicago Sun-Times|date = 2004-02-2|url = http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040224/REVIEWS/402240301/1023|accessdate = 2006-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last = Scott|first = A. O.|title = FILM REVIEW; Good and Evil Locked In Violent Showdown|language = English|publisher = New York Times|date = 2004-02-25|url = http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?res=9A07EFD6143CF936A15751C0A9629C8B63|accessdate = 2006-08-05}}</ref>

Asked if his movie would "upset Jews", Gibson responded, "It's not meant to. I think it's meant to just tell the truth. I want to be as truthful as possible."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030127-409570,00.html The Passion of Mel Gibson]</ref> Accusations of anti-Semitism were fueled by news reports that Mel Gibson's father, [[Hutton Gibson]], is a vocal [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust denier]] who has alleged that much of the Holocaust is "fiction".<ref>{{cite news |first=Corrado |last=Giambalvo |pages=|title=Gibson's father: Holocaust was mostly 'fiction' |date=[[February 20]] [[2004]] |publisher=USA Today |url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-02-20-gibson-dad-anti-semite_x.htm}}</ref>

After [[Frank Rich]] of the ''[[New York Times]]'' wrote against the unreleased film and called Gibson's publicist a “[[Holocaust]] denier defender,” Gibson was overheard by ''[[The New Yorker]]'' telling his publicist, "I want to kill him. I want his intestines on a stick. I want to kill his dog."<ref name=usa2day> ''[http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-07-31-gibson-remarks_x.htm Gibson's way with words]''; ''[[USA Today]]'' [[August 1]], [[2006]]; accessed [[August 3]]. 2006.</ref>

On his decision to cut the scene in which [[Caiaphas]] says "his blood be on us and on our children" soon after [[Pontius Pilate]] washes his hands of Jesus, Gibson said in mid-2003:
:I wanted it in. My brother said I was wimping out if I didn't include it. But, man, if I included that in there, they'd be coming after me at my house. They'd come to kill me.<ref>[http://www.seethepassion.com/article.php?id=21 The Jesus War]</ref>
In 2004, he further commented:
:It's one little passage, and I believe it, but I don't and never have believed it refers to Jews, and implicates them in any sort of curse. It's directed at all of us, all men who were there, and all that came after. His blood is on us, and that's what Jesus wanted. But I finally had to admit that one of the reasons I felt strongly about keeping it, aside from the fact it's true, is that I didn't want to let someone else dictate what could or couldn't be said.<ref>Detroit Free Press, "Mel Gibson and Other "Passion" Filmakers say the Movie was Guided by Faith," by Terry Lawson, February 17, 2004</ref>

The movie grossed [[US Dollar|US$]]611,899,420 worldwide and $370,782,930 in the US alone, a figure, at that time, surpassed any motion picture starring Gibson. It became the eighth highest-grossing film in history and the highest-grossing [[rated R]] film of all time. The film was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Original Music Score]], [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]], and [[Academy Award for Makeup|Best Makeup]] at the [[77th Academy Awards]] and won the [[People's Choice Award]] for Best Drama.

===''Apocalypto''===
{{main|Apocalypto}}
Gibson's next historical epic, ''[[Apocalypto]]'', was released to theaters on [[December 8]], [[2006]]. The film is set in [[Mesoamerica]], during the period immediately before the [[Spanish conquest]]. It focuses on the [[Mayan civilization#Decline of the Maya|decline of the Maya civilization]] which reached its zenith around 600 AD. Dialogue is spoken in the [[Yucatec Maya language|Yucatec]] [[Mayan languages|Maya]] language. It features a cast of actors from [[Mexico City]], the [[Yucatán]], and some [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] from the [[United States]].

While Gibson financed the film himself, [[The Walt Disney Company#Studio Entertainment|Disney]] released it in specific markets.

The film is set against the turbulent [[end times]] of the once great [[Maya civilization]].

The title is a [[Greek language|Greek]] term which means "an unveiling" or "new beginning", but the movie is not religiously themed or connected to the [[biblical]] [[Apocalypse]].

Gibson pre-screened ''Apocalypto'' to two predominantly [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] audiences in Oklahoma, at the Riverwind Casino in [[Goldsby, Oklahoma|Goldsby]], owned by the [[Chickasaw Nation]], and at [[Cameron University]] in [[Lawton, Oklahoma|Lawton]].

===Future Films===

In March 2007, Gibson told a screening audience that he was preparing another script with [[Farhad Safinia]] about the writing of the [[Oxford English Dictionary]].<ref>[http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Event-Report-Mel-Gibson-Goes-Mad-At-CSU-4744.html Event Report: Mel Gibson Goes Mad At CSU] 2007-03-23</ref> Gibson has dismissed<ref>[http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/20070901081824/Article/index_html 10 minutes with Mel Gibson: When going green comes naturally] ''The New Straits Times'' September 1, 2007; accessed September 9, 2007.</ref> the rumors<ref>[http://news.opodo.co.uk/articles/2007-03-07/18081178-Mel-Gibson.php Mel Gibson to film in Panama?] 07 March 2007</ref><ref>[http://defamer.com/hollywood/mel-gibson/mel-gibson-thinking-about-setting-next-splatter-film-in-panama-241983.php Mel Gibson Thinking About Setting Next Splatter Film In Panama] March 6, 2007</ref> that he is considering directing a film about Spanish explorer [[Vasco_N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez_de_Balboa|Vasco Núñez de Balboa]]. Asked in September 2007 if he planned to return to acting and specifically to action roles, Gibson said, <blockquote>I think I’m too old for that, but you never know. I just like telling stories. Entertainment is valid and I guess I’ll probably do it again before it’s over. You know, do something that people won’t get mad with me for.<ref>[http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/10/movies/18807086&sec=movies Enter the eco warrior] ''The Star (Malaysia)'' September 10, 2007; accessed September 10, 2007.</ref></blockquote>

==Family & personal life==
On [[June 7]] [[1980]], Gibson married Robyn Moore in a Catholic Church in [[Forestville, New South Wales]]. He met his wife, a nurse, when they were both tenants at the same house. He has referred to Robyn as "my [[Rock of Gibraltar]], only much prettier" and said, "life is about love and commitment and screw anyone who thinks that's a cliché." They have seven children; one daughter and six sons: Hannah (born 1980), twins Edward and Christian (born 1982), William (born 1985), Louis (born 1988), Milo (born 1990), and Thomas (born 1999).

Hannah Gibson, Gibson's eldest child and only daughter, married [[Blues]] musician [[Kenny Wayne Shepherd]] on [[September 16]], [[2006]].<ref>[http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/18/people_milestones/main2020113.shtml Hannah Gibson marrying Shepherd]</ref><ref>[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1535906,00.html Mel Gibson's Daughter Marries Guitarist]</ref> Mel Gibson's spokesman had previously denied the rumor that Hannah was planning to become a nun.<ref> George Rush and Joanna Molloy, "New York Daily News" September 18, 2002</ref>

Gibson has an avid interest in real estate investments, with multiple properties in [[Malibu, CA]], a ranch in [[Guanacaste]], [[Costa Rica]], a private island in [[Fiji]] and properties in [[Australia]].<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20050117/ai_n9497657 Mel Gibson denied bid to reclassify estate as farm] Jan 17, 2005</ref><ref>[http://extratv.warnerbros.com/v2/news/0806/04/1/text.html Mel Gibson: Hollywood Takes Sides] August 4, 2006</ref> In December 2004, Gibson sold his 300-acre Australian ranch in the Kiewa Valley for $6 million.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/goulburnmurray/stories/s1200331.htm Mel Gibson selling up] 16 September 2004</ref> Also in December 2004, Gibson purchased [[Mago Island]] in Fiji from [[Tokyo Kyuko Electric Railway|Tokyu Corporation]] of [[Japan]] for $15 million. Descendants of the original native inhabitants of Mago (who were displaced in the 1860s) have protested the purchase. Gibson stated it was his intention to retain the pristine environment of the undeveloped island.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Displaced-Fijians-sue-islandbuying-Mel-Gibson/2005/03/02/1109700545809.html | title = Displaced Fijians may sue island-buying Mel Gibson | publisher = [[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = [[2005-05-03]] | accessdate = 2007-09-14 }}</ref> In early 2005, he sold his 45,000-acre [[Montana]] ranch to a neighbor for an undisclosed multimillion dollar sum.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20050228/ai_n11834606| title = Gibson's neighbor buys his Beartooth Ranch | publisher = [[Deseret News]] | date = [[2005-02-28]] | accessdate = 2007-09-14 }}</ref> In [[April]] [[2007]] he purchased a 400-acre ranch in [[Costa Rica]] for $26 million, and in [[July]] [[2007]] he sold his 76-acre Tudor estate in [[Connecticut]] (which he purchased in 1994 for $9 million) for $40 million to an unnamed buyer. <ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.andhranews.net/Entertainment/2007/July/17-Gibson-sells-Connecticut-8298.asp
| title = Gibson sells Connecticut mansion for $40 million
}}</ref><ref>[http://www.bergproperties.com/blog/mel-gibson-reportedly-listing-his-greenwich-ct-estate-for-395m-status-of-his-malibu-properties-is-uncertain/1260/celebrities Mel Gibson reportedly listing his Greenwich, CT estate for $39.5M; status of his Malibu properties is uncertain] July 12, 2007</ref> Also that month, he sold a [[Malibu, California|Malibu]] property for $30 million that he had purchased for $24 million two years before.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20042556 Mel Gibson sells Malibu home for $30 million: Star bought the property two years ago for $24 million] July 30, 2007</ref>

In keeping with his interest in organic foods, Gibson has used his ranch properties to produce all-organic beef.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/20070901081824/Article/index_html| title = 10 minutes with Mel Gibson: When going green comes naturally| publisher = [[New Strait Times]] | date = [[2007-09-01]] | accessdate = 2007-09-14 }}</ref>

Mel Gibson has eclectic tastes in music and is particularly fond of [[Italian opera]]. He is a lover of [[Italian Renaissance]] art and a special admirer of the [[Baroque]] [[artist]] [[Caravaggio]]. Much of the [[cinematography]] of ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' was designed to evoke the painter's style.<ref>[http://vbuttons.com/ec/982/index.php?em_id=723822 vbuttons.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.artcyclopedia.com/feature-2004-04.html artcyclopedia.com]</ref>

Gibson's height is disputed. Varied sources place him from 5'6" (170 cm) to 5'11" (180 cm).<ref>''[http://www.celebheights.com/s/Mel-Gibson-36.html Gibsons Height 1]''</ref><ref>''[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000154/bio Gibsons Height 2]''</ref><ref>[http://www.celebheights.com/s/Mel-Gibson-36.html celebheights.com]</ref> In 2002 Gibson stood toe-to-to with [[Michael Parkinson]] (5'11") and demonstrated that they were about the same height.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/03_march/01/parkinsonmelgibson.shtml Mel Gibson sets the record straight on his height and talks about what women want on Parkinson] March 1, 2002</ref>

==Religious and political views==
===Religion===
Based on many of his positions, Gibson may be considered a [[Traditionalist Catholic]]. Despite the rumors<ref>''"As for Mel Gibson, in spite of his silence over the years promoting his film, like his father, I knew he was (and still is) a Sedevacantist. For this reason, I went through great pains to get him and Lucia of Fatima together at Coimbra. My hope was that she would convert him back to the true Church."''<br> Report by author PhD Richard Salbato, who personally met Mel Gibson and brought him to [[Sister Lucy of Fatima]].<br> Source: [http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:zI-KNewuy6wJ:www.unitypublishing.com/NewReligiousMovements/GibsonMatatics.htm+Mel+Gibson+sedevacantist&hl=nl&ct=clnk&cd=50&gl=nl 'Gerry Matatics is not a sedevacantist'] In: Unity Publishing Online Edition</ref> on whether Gibson shares his father’s adherence to [[Sedevacantism]], Gibson has not spoken publicly on the matter, and some of his public interviews give the opposite impression. As part of his response to a question on whether the [[Pope_John_Paul_II|pope]] saw ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'', Gibson said, <blockquote> I’d like to hear what he has to say. I’d like to hear what anyone has to say. This film isn’t made for the elite. Anyone could see this film, even the occupier of the chair of Peter can see this film.<ref> Mike Goodridge in Screen International “The Passion of Mel Gibson” pg 12, [[February 20]], [[2004]]
</ref></blockquote>Gibson also referred to him as “Pope John Paul II” in a 2004 ''[[Reader's_Digest|Reader’s Digest]]'' interview,<ref> Peggy Noonan in Readers Digest “Face to Face with Mel Gibson,” February 2004</ref> and acquaintance [[William Fulco]] has said that Gibson denies neither the [[pope]] nor [[Vatican II]].<ref>[http://annenberg.usc.edu/Events/event200.aspx?p=1 “Whose Passion? Media, Faith & Controversy”] panel discussion video, time 1:05</ref>

Gibson has expressed the belief that [[God]] is pointing out his path, particularly with respect to the making of ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''. In [[2003]], he told ''[[The New Yorker]]'' <blockquote>"There are signals. Signal graces, they are called. It's as clear as a [[traffic light]]. Bing! I mean, it just grabs you and you know you have to listen to that and you have to follow it."<ref name=usa2day> ''[http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-07-31-gibson-remarks_x.htm Gibson's way with words]''; ''[[USA Today]]'' [[August 1]], [[2006]]; accessed [[August 3]], [[2006]].</ref></blockquote> At a screening of the film for clergy, he stated that the [[Holy Spirit]] was making the film through him; "I was just directing traffic".<ref name=usa2day />

When asked about the Catholic doctrine of "''[[Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus]]''", Gibson replied,
<blockquote>"There is no salvation for those outside the Church … I believe it. Put it this way. My wife is a saint. She's a much better person than I am. Honestly. She's, like, Episcopalian, Church of England. She prays, she believes in God, she knows Jesus, she believes in that stuff. And it's just not fair if she doesn't make it, she's better than I am. But that is a pronouncement from the [[Chair_of_Saint_Peter|chair]]. I go with it.”<ref name=pboyer>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/980753/posts The Jesus War], Peter J. Boyer, The New Yorker, [[September 15]], [[2003]]</ref></blockquote>

However, Gibson’s assent to this dogma does not mean he thinks that non-Catholics or non-Christians will go to hell. When Gibson was asked at [[Willow_Creek_Community_Church|Willow Creek]] church whether John 14:6<ref>[Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6]</ref> is an intolerant position, he said that “through the [[Merit_%28Catholicism%29|merits]] of Jesus' sacrifice… even people who don't know Jesus are able to be saved, but ''through'' him.”<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1062185/posts My Experience at a Preview of Mel Gibsons's "Passion of The Christ"]</ref><ref>[http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2004/01/27/passion/index1.html?pn=3 Inside Mel Gibson's "Passion"]</ref><ref>[http://secret-agent.blogspot.com/2004/01/salon-on-passion-two-pods-down.html Salon on The Passion: Two Pods Down] January 27, 2004</ref> Gibson also told Diane Sawyer that he believes non-Catholics can go to heaven.<ref name=2004prime>{{cite news|title="Transcript of February 2004 Primetime" |accessdate=2006-07-31}}</ref>

In [[May 2007]], Mel Gibson flew to [[Hermosillo]], [[Mexico]], where he attended a [[Tridentine Mass]] during which grandchildren of his friends and two of his children received the [[Confirmation|sacrament of Confirmation]], administered by [[Archbishop]] [[emeritus]] [[Carlos Quintero Arce]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May23/0,4670,PeopleGibson,00.html Gibson attends Roman Catholic Confirmation in Mexico]<br>[http://creerenmexico.org/index.php/?cat=22 Mel Gibson y el Obispo emérito de Hermosillo]</ref> The same Archbishop Arce [[consecration|consecrated]] Gibson's own, private, [[traditionalist Catholic|traditional Roman Catholic]] [[church of the Holy Family in Malibu]] in February, 2007.<ref>[http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/metro/184354.php Mel Gibson visits Archbishop]</ref>

Gibson's [[Traditionalist Catholic]] beliefs have also been the target of attacks, especially during the controversy over his film ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''. When the film premiered in [[France]], the newspaper ''[[Libération]]'', considered the voice of French [[liberalism]], dubbed Gibson's religious beliefs "the [[Shiite]] version of [[Christianity]]." Gibson has recently stated in an interview with [[Diane Sawyer]] that he feels that his "[[human rights]] were violated", by the often vitriolic attacks on his person, his family, and his religious beliefs which were sparked by ''The Passion''.

===Politics===
While largely apolitical, Mel Gibson has been called everything from “ultraconservative”<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1174684-2,00.html Apocalypto Now] Mar. 19, 2006</ref> to “politically very liberal” by acquaintance [[William Fulco]].<ref>[http://annenberg.usc.edu/Events/event200.aspx?p=1 “Whose Passion? Media, Faith & Controversy”] panel discussion video, time 1:05</ref> Although he has denied that he is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]],<ref>[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1564173_2,00.html The Year of Living Dangerously]</ref> Gibson is often referred to as one in the press, and [[WorldNetDaily]] once reported that there was grassroots support among Republicans for "a presidential run".<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43659 Mel Gibson Pushed for President]</ref>

Gibson complimented exposé director [[Michael Moore]] and his documentary film ''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]'' when he and Moore were recognized at the 2005 [[People's Choice Awards]].<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,143924,00.html Moore, Gibson: I Love His Work]</ref> Gibson's [[Icon Productions]] originally agreed to back Moore's film, but abruptly sold the rights to [[Miramax Films]]. Moore has claimed that "top Republicans" intimidated Mel Gibson into relinquishing the film.<ref>[http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/movies/documents/03931494.asp Not so hot: Fahrenheit 9/11 is more smoke than fire]</ref>

In a [[July 1995]] interview with ''[[Playboy]]'' magazine, Gibson said President [[Bill Clinton]] was a "low-level opportunist" and someone was "telling him what to do". He said he thought Clinton and other politicians who had won [[Rhodes Scholarship]]s were part of a "stealth" trend of Rhodes scholars becoming politicians who were striving for a "new world order." He said this was a form of [[Marxism]].<ref name=pb>Grobel, Lawrence, "Interview: Mel Gibson". ''[[Playboy]]''. July 1995. Vol. 42, No. 7, Pg. 51. Retrieved [[May 17]] [[2006]].</ref>

In [[2004]], he publicly spoke out against taxpayer-funded [[Stem cell|embryonic stem-cell research]] that involves the [[cloning]] and destruction of human [[embryo]]s.<ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/interrogatory/gibson200411010950.asp Braveheart Stands Athwart a Brave New World] November 01, 2004</ref>

In [[March 2005]], he issued a statement condemning the ending of [[Terri Schiavo]]'s life, referring to her death as "state-sanctioned murder" on [[Sean Hannity]]'s radio show.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43576 It's Modern Crucifixion]</ref>

Gibson first publicly questioned the [[Iraq war]] in March 2004 on [[Sean Hannity]]’s radio show.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/18/1079199319258.html Mel Gibson joins stars to question Iraq war] March 18, 2004</ref>
In [[2006]], Gibson told the ''[[Time Magazine]]'' that the "fearmongering" depicted in his film ''[[Apocalypto]]'' "reminds me a little of [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] and his guys."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1174684-2,00.html Apocalypto Now] Mar. 19, 2006</ref>

==Controversy==
{{criticism-section}}
===Allegations of homophobia===
The [[Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation]] (GLAAD) accused Gibson of [[homophobia]], after a 1992 interview in the [[Spain|Spanish]] [[newspaper]] ''[[El País]]''. Asked what he thought of [[gay]] people, he said, "They take it up the ass." Gibson gestured descriptively, continuing, "This is only for taking a shit." When the interviewer recalled that Gibson previously had expressed fear that people would think he is gay because he's an actor, Gibson replied, "Do I sound like a homosexual? Do I talk like them? Do I move like them? I think not." However, when reminded that he had worked closely with gay students at university, he said they were "kind people." Additionally, he later defended his comments on ''[[Good Morning America]]'', saying, "[Those remarks were a response] to a direct question. If someone wants my opinion, I'll give it. What, am I supposed to lie to them?" In the ''Playboy'' interview, he responded to [[Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation|GLAAD]]'s protests over his comment with "I'll apologize when hell freezes over. They can fuck off".<ref name=pb>Grobel, Lawrence, "Interview: Mel Gibson." ''[[Playboy]]''. July 1995. Vol. 42, No. 7, Pg. 51. Retrieved [[May 17]], [[2006]].<ref name=pb>Grobel, Lawrence, "Interview: Mel Gibson". ''[[Playboy]]''. July 1995. Vol. 42, No. 7, Pg. 51. Retrieved [[May 17]] [[2006]].</ref> Eventually, however, to make amends with the [[gay community]] and show he was not [[homophobic]], Gibson joined GLAAD in hosting 10 [[lesbian]] and gay filmmakers for an on-location [[seminar]] on the set of the movie ''[[Conspiracy Theory (film)|Conspiracy Theory]]''.<ref>[http://www.glaad.org/media/archive_detail.php?id=181 Mel Gibson to Meet Up-and-Coming Lesbian and Gay Filmmakers]</ref>

Although [[Randall Wallace]] wrote the [[screenplay]] for ''[[Braveheart]]'', the depiction of a homosexual character in the film drew accusations of homophobia against Gibson.<ref>[http://www.qrd.org/qrd/media/print/gabriel.rotello/1995/gays.should.beware.men.in.kilts-06.01.95 Gays Should Beware of Men in Kilts]</ref><ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0412/is_n4_v24/ai_19392229/pg_5 Masculinity and marginality in 'Rob Roy' and 'Braveheart'] Winter 1997</ref><ref>[http://www.afterelton.com/archive/elton/columns/2006/9/22-2.html Hey, Caryn! If it walks like a homophobic duck and talkes like a homophobic duck] September 22, 2006</ref> Although historians{{Who|date=June 2007}} agree that Prince (later King) [[Edward II of England]] was a mere puppet of [[Piers Gaveston]], [[Hugh Despenser]] and [[Isabella of France]], they dispute the portrayal of Edward as effeminate{{Fact|date=May 2007}}. Also, [[Edward I of England]] never threw his son's male lover out of a window, as portrayed in the movie.

Gibson was also accused of homophobia based on his portrayal of [[Herod Antipas]] in ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''.<ref>[http://www.shaviro.com/Blog/?p=393 The Passion of the Christ]</ref> In the film, the [[Hellenization|Hellenized]] Antipas is depicted as a luxurious, wig-wearing buffoon who surrounds himself with young male and female drunken revelers. The character of the Jewish [[List_of_High_Priests_of_Israel|high priest]] [[Caiphas]] is shown to be disgusted by the mascara-wearing [[Herod]] and his debauchery. The effeminate portrayal of Antipas in ''[[The Passion of the Christ|The Passion]]'' is common to other representations, including ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar (film)|Jesus Christ Superstar]]''. The origin of this tradition may have been Christ’s description of Herod as a “fox” in Luke 13:32, using a feminine word meaning “vixen” in the original Greek.<ref>[http://ntgateway.com/weblog/2004/05/herod-antipas-in-passion-of-christ.html] Herod Antipas in The Passion of the Christ</ref>

===Allegations of anglophobia===

Because of his films and his Irish and Australian background, accusations of [[anglophobia]], both sincere and joking, have been made against Gibson.

Criticisms have been leveled at the historical accuracy of the Gibson-directed ''[[Braveheart]]'', including its portrayal of English lords asserting [[Droit de seigneur]]. Gibson has acknowledged the reliance on anachronistic elements and the legends about [[William Wallace]] to make ''[[Braveheart]]'' more cinematically compelling. Furthermore, Gibson has dissociated himself from Scottish nationalists using the film to campaign for separation from [[England]].<ref>“Mel's a Bit Stiff Off Camera,” Ruthe Stein, ''The San Francisco Chronicle'', March 12, 1996.</ref>

Gibson was called anti-English following the release of ''[[The Patriot (2000 film)|The Patriot]]'' in 2000, despite neither directing or writing the script for the film. The colonial character played by Gibson (loosely inspired by four people) fought a villainous English character based on [[Banastre Tarleton]]. While promoting ''[[The Patriot (2000 film)|The Patriot]]'', Gibson told reporters, "I'm actually an Anglophile. I like the Brits, you know?" The fact that he keeps battling the British onscreen is "an unhappy accident, really. I'll have to remedy the situation someday."<ref>
“Revolutionary superstar Reserved Mel Gibson drops guard enough to push 'The Patriot' ” The Daily Oklahoman, June 25, 2000, by Gene Triplett </ref>

According to [[Wensley Clarkson]]'s unauthorized biography, the Gibsons have always been openly anti-British. Clarkson cites relatives who allegedly told him that Gibson's maternal grandmother was raped by the [[Black and Tans]] during the [[Irish War of Independence]].<ref>Mel Gibson; Living Dangerously, Page 8, by Wensley Clarkson</ref> {{Verify credibility|date=July 2007}}

Gibson has used an English accent several times in his career, playing [[Fletcher Christian]] in ''[[The Bounty]]'', voicing [[John Smith of Jamestown|John Smith]], in Disney's ''[[Pocahontas (1995 film)|Pocahontas]]'', and narrating the novel ''[[My Cousin Rachel]]''. He has worked with English people in many films, including ''[[The Bounty]]'', ''[[Lethal Weapon 2]]'', ''[[Conspiracy_Theory_(film)|Conspiracy Theory]]'' and ''[[Chicken Run]]''.

Gibson has publicly supported keeping the British monarch as the Australian head of state.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/505631.stm Australia poll promises close result] November 5, 1999</ref>

===Allegations of anti-Semitism===

Gibson has been accused of anti-Semitism on two occasions.

His 2004 film ''The Passion of the Christ'' was [[The Passion of the Christ#Charges of anti-Semitism|criticized for alleged anti-Semitic imagery and overtones]]. Gibson denied that the film was anti-Semitic, but critics remained divided. Many agreed that the film was consistent with a strict interpretation of the [[Gospels]] and traditional [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] teachings, while others argued that it reflected a selective reading of the Gospels<ref>''[http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/resources/education/dramatizing_the_death.htm Some criticism of The Passion]''</ref> and failed to comply with recommendations for dramatization of the [[Passion_%28Christianity%29|Passion]] issued by the Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops|USCCB]] in 1988.<ref>''[http://www.bc.edu/research/cjl/meta-elements/texts/cjrelations/resources/documents/catholic/Passion_Plays.htm USCCB stance on The Passion dramatizations]</ref>
{{main|The Passion of the Christ}}

On [[July 28]], [[2006]], Gibson was arrested in [[California]] for speeding and on suspicion of [[drunk driving]]. According to a leaked arrest report, he was abusive to the Jewish arresting officer and remarked, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world", asking, “Are you a Jew?”<ref name=tmz>''[http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/28/gibsons-anti-semitic-tirade-alleged-cover-up/ Gibson's Anti-Semitic Tirade - Alleged Cover Up]''; [[TMZ.com]]; [[July 28]], [[2006]]</ref> He later issued, through his publicist, two apologies for the incident. In his second statement, he denied being an anti-Semite and apologized specifically to the Jewish community.<ref name="apology2">[http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14135592/ Gibson's statement about anti-Semitic remarks]</ref> [[Anti-Defamation League]] National Director [[Abraham Foxman]] issued a statement accepting Gibson's apology and expressing a willingness to help in Gibson's rehabilitation.<ref name="ADL1">{{cite web|title=ADL Welcomes Mel Gibson's Apology To The Jewish Community|publisher=Anti-Defamation League|accessmonthday=August 2 |accessyear=2006|url=http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/4862_12.htm}}</ref>
{{main|Mel Gibson DUI incident}}

===Apocalypto===
Gibson engaged in an angry confrontation with Alicia Estrada, an Assistant Professor of Central American Studies, during a Q & A session that followed a screening of his film ''[[Apocalypto]]'' to film students at [[Cal State University at Northridge]], California on [[March 22]], [[2007]].

Estrada began by calling Gibson “racist,” “ignorant,”<ref name="cinemablend">[http://www.cinemablend.com/new.php?id=4744 Event Report: Mel Gibson Goes Mad At CSU] 2007-03-23</ref><ref name="livejournal">[http://fox-gloves.livejournal.com/153262.html Apocalypto...and Gibson!batshit insanity] 2007-03-23</ref> and saying, "It's a racist film, and I demand an apology."<ref name="sundial">[http://media.sundial.csun.edu/media/storage/paper862/news/2007/04/12/Opinion/Letter.To.The.Editor-2836479.shtml Letter to the Editor] April 12, 2007</ref> Gibson replied that he was insulted by this accusation. Estrada handed the microphone to her friend KPFK radio host Felipe Perez who began reading a lengthy statement in Spanish. The organizers eventually said, “ask a question or leave” and cut off the microphone, but Gibson said he should be allowed to continue. Estrada took back the mic and began to translate the prepared statement. After officials realized that she was not going to ask a question, they called security to escort her out. Estrada then asked Gibson if he was aware of certain scholars, and Gibson replied that he knew them well, and he detailed his research for the film. Although Estrada said that Gibson used profanity in his response, [[Cal_State_University_at_Northridge|CSUN]] spokesman John Chandler disagreed: ``He didn't respond with a profanity. He responded by answering the question." After Estrada's microphone was turned off, Gibson said, "No, let her talk. Please." Estrada became angry that she was being “silenced,” and Gibson responded, "I'm listening to you! I can still hear you!" As Estrada and Perez were being escorted out, the audience applauded, and Gibson shouted a parting shot: “Lady, fuck off! Make your own movie!” Later in the Q&A session, Gibson expressed regret at the incident”<ref name="sfgate">[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/03/23/entertainment/e141124D56.DTL Cohen, Sandy; "Gibson at center of campus uproar after prof challenges movie" SFGate.com; March 23, 2007]</ref> and the evening ended with a standing ovation for the filmmaker.

Soon afterwards, student newspaper photographer Khristian Garay sold his photographs to the paparazzi, resulting in a story at TMZ.<ref>[http://www.tmz.com/2007/03/23/mel-goes-ballistic-f-you/ "Mel Goes Ballistic -- "Lady, F**k Off!"; TMZ.com story and video on Gibson and Estrada's confrontation.]</ref>
Gibson's publicist told journalists, "This was just a reaction to someone being disruptive and rude. He went on and completed the session and said it was successful. It's unfortunate it was tarnished with a momentary confrontation." Estrada defended herself, saying, "In no way was my question aggressive in the way that he responded to it. These are questions that my peers, my colleagues, ask me every time I make a presentation. These are questions I pose to my students in the classroom." Estrada furthermore demanded an apology, "not only to me but to the Central American program at CSUN, to the university and most importantly to the Mayan people and Mayan community." University spokesman John Chandler commented, "The students were very appreciative of Mr. Gibson being there. He spent a lot of time answering questions about moviemaking."

==Prankster==
Mel Gibson is known for his sense of humor on the set of his movies.<ref>''[http://anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=10022 Mel Gibson: Clowning Around]''; Anecdotage.com Accessed [[August 3]] [[2006]]</ref> He has a reputation for practical jokes, puns, [[Three_Stooges|Stooge]]-inspired physical comedy, and doing outrageous things to shock people. Gibson is fond of drawing caricatures and hiring high school marching bands to play tribute to his coworkers. As a director he sometimes breaks the tension on set by having his actors to perform serious scenes wearing a red clown nose.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101030127-409570,00.html The Passion of Mel Gibson] Jan. 19, 2003, Time.com Accessed [[September 9]] [[2007]]</ref> [[Helena Bonham Carter]], who appeared alongside him in ''[[Hamlet (1990 film)|Hamlet]]'', said of him, "He has a very basic sense of humor. It's a bit lavatorial and not very sophisticated."<ref>Wensley Clarkson's "Mel Gibson: Living Dangerously", page 287</ref> On the set of ''[[Maverick_%28film%29|Maverick]]'' Gibson played a joke on costar [[Jodie Foster|Jodie Foster’s]] birthday by secretly rewritting the script to give her character all corny dialogue. Foster returned the favor by hiring a [[Bagpipes|bagpiper]] in full Scottish regalia to follow Mel around at the [[Vanity_Fair_(magazine)|Vanity Fair]] Oscar party after he won for ''[[Braveheart]]''. On the set of ''[[Ransom_(film)|Ransom]]'', Gibson presented [[Ron Howard]] and [[Brian Grazer]] with a mock ''[[Braveheart]]'' [[For Your Consideration]] ad when both ''[[Braveheart]]'' and ''[[Apollo_13_(film)|Apollo 13]]'' were nominated for [[Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture|Best Picture]]. The ad was for “Best Moon Shot,” and featured a picture of ''[[Braveheart|Braveheart’s]]'' Scottish army [[mooning]] the English.<ref>http://www.mel-at-carinya.com/archives/interviews/ToMelandBack/2.html</ref> While filming ''[[Conspiracy Theory]]'', he and co-star [[Julia Roberts]] played a series of pranks on each other, beginning with Gibson welcoming Roberts to the set with a gift-wrapped freeze-dried rat.<ref>Mel's Other 'Passion': Practical Jokes Accessed [[September 2]] [[2007]], etonline.com</ref> In addition to inserting several homages to the [[Three_Stooges|Three Stooges]] in his ''[[Lethal_Weapon|Lethal Weapon]]'' movies, Gibson produced a television movie on the comedy group in 2000. As a gag, Gibson inserted a single [[subliminal]] frame of himself smoking a cigarette into the 2005 teaser trailer of ''[[Apocalypto]]''.

==Alcohol abuse==

Mel Gibson has said that he started drinking at the age of thirteen.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21062683-5005961,00.html Rant aftermath a gift, says Gibson] January 15, 2007</ref> According to Gibson biographer [[Wensley Clarkson]], Gibson's repeated attempts to stop drinking have led to relapses whenever his stress level increased. A feature article on Gibson published on the DailyCatholic website [[March 17]] [[2004]], described as having been written four years previously and before ''[[The Passion of The Christ]]'', states, <blockquote>"He has made it known that from an early age he suffered from being [[bipolar disorder|manic depressive]], but through his strong faith and appropriate medicines he has been able to overcome these shortcomings to attain the heights of stardom."<ref>[http://www.dailycatholic.org/issue/04Mar/mar17fcs.htm What Hollywood didn't want you to know is now known to the world!] March 17, 2004</ref></blockquote>

In [[1984]], Gibson was arrested in [[Toronto]] for driving with a blood alcohol level between 0.12%-0.13% after he rear-ended a car. According to Clarkson, when the other driver exited his vehicle and began shouting profanity at him, Mel Gibson laughed and offered him a drink. Gibson plead guilty and was fined $300 and banned from driving in [[Ontario]] for 3 months. In court he apologized to the Toronto community and thanked the police.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/Issues/1995-05-25/film/film_3.html | title=Mel Gibson talks about Braveheart, movie stardom, and media treachery | author=Matt Zoller Seitz | publisher=Dallas Observer | accessdate=2006-07-29}}</ref><ref>The Associated Press, May 3, 1984</ref>

In [[1985]], Gibson retreated to his Australian ranch for over a year to recover, but he continued to struggle with drinking. In a [[2004 in television|2004]] [[Primetime (TV series)|''Primetime'']] interview with [[Diane Sawyer]], Gibson admitted at one point to drinking five pints of beer before work.<ref name=2004prime /> Gibson said in 2003 that his despair in his mid-thirties led him to contemplate suicide, and he meditated on Christ’s [[Passion_%28Christianity%29|Passion]] to heal his wounds.<ref name=pboyer> He took more time off acting in 1991 and sought professional help. That year, Gibson’s attorneys were unsuccessful at blocking the [[Sunday_Mirror#The_Sunday_Mirror|Sunday Mirror]] from publishing what Gibson shared at [[Alcoholics_Anonymous|AA]] meetings.<ref>The Advertiser, September 22, 1991</ref> In [[1992]], Gibson provided financial support to Hollywood's Recovery Center, saying, "[[Alcoholism]] is something that runs in my family. It's something that's close to me. People do come back from it, and it's a miracle."<ref>By Bill Higgins, Los Angeles Times, December 14, 1992</ref>

{{main|Mel Gibson DUI incident}}
On [[July 28]], [[2006]], Gibson was arrested for [[Driving_under_the_influence|DUI]] while speeding in his vehicle with an open container of alcohol. He admitted to making anti-Semitic remarks during his arrest and apologized for his "despicable" behavior, saying the comments were "blurted out in a moment of insanity" and asked to meet with Jewish leaders to help him "discern the appropriate path for healing." When pressed for what his thoughts were at the time in a later interview with Diane Sawyer, he cited the vitriolic attacks on his film [[The_Passion_of_the_Christ|The Passion of the Christ]] and Israel-Lebanon [[2006_Lebanon_War|conflict]]. After Gibson’s arrest, his publicist said he had entered a recovery program to battle alcoholism. On August 17, 2006, Gibson pleaded [[nolo contendere|no contest]] to a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge and was sentenced to three years on probation. Superior Court Judge Lawrence Mira ordered him to attend self-help meetings five times a week for four and a half months and three times a week for the remainder of the first year of his probation. He was also ordered to attend a First Offenders Program, was fined $1,300, and his license was restricted for 90 days. He also volunteered to record a public service announcement.

In a [[October 12]], [[2006]] interview with [[Diane Sawyer]], Gibson spoke on his struggle to remain sober. <blockquote>"The risk of everything -- life, limb, family -- is not enough to keep you from it… You cannot do it of yourself. And people can help, yeah. But it's God. You've got to go there. You've got to do it. Or you won't survive…This whole experience in a way, for me, I'm sort of viewing it now as a kind of a blessing because, firstly, I got stopped before I did any real damage to anyone else. Thank God for that. I didn't hurt myself, you know. I didn't leave my kids fatherless…The other thing is sometimes you need a cold bucket of water in the face to sort of snap to because you're dealing with a sort of a malady of the soul, an obsession of the mind and a physical allergy. And some people need a big tap on the shoulder. In my case, public humiliation on a global scale seems to be what was required."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Entertainment/Story?id=2561919&page=1 | title=Gibson: 'Public Humiliation on a Global Scale' Made Him Address Alcoholism| accessdate=2007-09-04}}</ref></blockquote> At a May 2007 progress hearing, Judge Mira praised Gibson for complying with the terms of his probation, saying, <blockquote>"I know his extensive participation in a self-help program - and I should note he has done extensive work, beyond which was required."<ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/11/153226.shtml Mel Gibson Praised for Progress in Alcohol Rehab] May 12, 2007</ref></blockquote>

==Philanthropy==
Although the Gibsons have avoided publicity over their [[philanthropy]], they are believed to spend much money on various charities.<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1316471/posts Power behind the passion]</ref> One known charity is [[Healing the Children]]. According to [[Cris Embleton]], one of the founders, the Gibsons have given millions to provide lifesaving medical treatment to needy children worldwide.<ref>[http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=5562&menu=fullsearchresults Actor and Director Mel Gibson Donates $10 Million]</ref><ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/13/1097607264626.html?from=storyrhs Mel's $14m donation]</ref> The Gibsons have also supported the arts, funding the restoration of [[Renaissance]] artwork<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/07/16/wdavid16.xml| title = Mel Gibson and Sting to fund David restoration
| publisher = [[The Telegraph]] | date = [[2003-07-16]] | accessdate = 2007-09-23 }}</ref> and giving millions of dollars to [[National_Institute_of_Dramatic_Art|NIDA]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://quadrant.org.au/php/article_view.php?article_id=783| title = Mel An Interview with John Clark | publisher = [[Quadrant Magazine]] | date = [[May 2004]] | accessdate = 2007-09-23 }}</ref>

While filming the movie ''[[Apocalypto]]'' in the jungles of Mexico's [[Veracruz]] state, Mel Gibson donated one million dollars to the [[Rotary Club]] (<ref> [http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/programs/060411_gibson.html Mel Gibson gives Rotary $1 million for Mexico disaster recovery]</ref>) to build houses for poor people in the region after some severe flooding wiped out many homes, stating: <blockquote>''"[T]hey had a lot of floods down there. It was like Louisiana down there in the southern regions. They had severe flooding and something like a million people were displaced and washed out. I've always been of the opinion that if you go into someone else's country to make a film you don't just go in there and stomp all over the place. You bring a gift. It's like going to somebody's house. You bring them a bottle of wine or a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates and it's the same sort of thing on a big scale when you're going in to somebody's country and they are going to help you make your film. You help them first somehow or you give them a gift or you help in what way you can. So we sort of assisted with the flood relief stuff down there."''<ref>[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=17262 Mel Gibson Reveals His Apocalypto] October 30, 2006</ref></blockquote>

Gibson has a reputation for discreetly assisting members of the entertainment community with substance abuse problems. He worked behind the scenes to get [[Robert Downey, Jr.]] some help at [[California_State_Prison%2C_Corcoran|Corcoran State Prison.]]<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-et-showbiz7s-2oct02,1,2424049.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews&ctrack=3&cset=true | title = SHOWBIZ 7s: The delicate art of the celebrity interview | publisher = [[Los Angeles Times]] | date = [[2007-10-02]] | accessdate = 2007-10-03 }}</ref> [[Hole (band)|Hole]] rocker [[Courtney Love]] praised Mel Gibson for saving her from a drug relapse after the Hollywood actor helped force her into rehab. Gibson sought to help the musician at a hotel in Los Angeles when he heard she was using drugs again. Love later recalled, <blockquote>"I kept slamming the door in (Gibson's) face. There were two drug people with me who wouldn't leave, so they couldn't get me to rehab. But because of Mel, two drug people ran off to have a cheeseburger with him because he's Mel, and then Warren [Boyd] (her drug minder) could get me into rehab."<ref>[http://contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/gibson%20saves%20love%20from%20drugs_1011728 Gibson Saves Love From Drugs]</ref></blockquote>

Gibson has donated $500,000 to the [[Mirador_Basin|El Mirador Basin]] Project to protect the last track of virgin rain forest in Central America and to fund archeological excavations in the "cradle of Mayan civilization." <ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/10/movies/18807086&sec=movies| title = Enter the eco warrior | publisher = [[The Star (Malaysia)]] | date = [[2007-09-10]] | accessdate = 2007-09-13 }}</ref> In [[July 2007]], Gibson again visited [[Central America]] to make arrangements for donations to the indigenous population. Gibson met with [[Costa Rica]]n President [[Oscar Arias]] to discuss how to "channel the funds."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=3361230&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 Mel Gibson Meets With Costa Rican Leader] Jul 10, 2007</ref> During the same month, Gibson pledged to give financial assistance to a Malaysian company named Green Rubber Global for a tire recycling factory located in [[Gallup, New Mexico]].<ref>[http://www.ecorazzi.com/?p=3296 Mel Gibson Backs Green Rubber] July 12, 2007</ref> While on a business trip to Singapore in [[September 2007]], Gibson donated to a local charity for children with suffering from chronic and terminal illnesses.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mel Gibson makes S$25,000 donation to charity organisation | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/299690/1/.html | publisher = [[Channel NewsAsia]] | date = [[2007-09-14]] | accessdate = 2007-09-14 }}</ref>

==Quotations==
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*"[[Vatican II]] corrupted the institution of the church. Look at the main fruits: dwindling numbers and [[pedophilia]]." — ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'', [[January 27]] [[2003]]

* On [[the Holocaust]]: "The thing with him [my father] was that he was talking about numbers. I mean when [[World War II|the war]] was over they said it was 12 million. Then it was six. Now it's four. I mean it's that kind of numbers game." [[Readers Digest]] 2004<ref>[http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=28713 Mel Gibson: Has He Gone Too Far?] August 2, 2006</ref>

*"Hollywood is a factory. You have to realize that you are working in a factory and you're part of the mechanism. If you break down, you'll be replaced." On the nature of "the industry." Excerpted from Wensley Clarkson's "Mel Gibson; Living Dangerously", page 202.

==Satire==
Gibson has been parodied by popular culture, even joining in some of the satire himself.

When hosting [[Saturday_Night_Live|SNL]] in 1989, Gibson used his monologue to mock his occupation of “movie star” as “high reward, low effort.”<ref>[http://snltranscripts.jt.org/88/88pmono.phtml SNL transcripts, 04/01/1989, Mel Gibson's Monologue]</ref>

In 1997 Gibson assumed the roles of both surly actor and sycophantic journalist in an interview with himself, writing that he was surprised to find Gibson to be <blockquote>“thoughtful, courteous and magnanimous, contrary to the reports I've read in the past. Nor was he the least bit "goofy", the word most often used to describe him.”<ref>[http://members.tripod.com/Liza1999/melarticle1.html The Unbelievable Truth about Mel Gibson by Mel Gibson, US September 1997]</ref></blockquote>

In 1999, Gibson, satirized his persona as an [[action hero]] during a guest appearance on ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode titled ''[[Beyond Blunderdome]].''<ref>[http://www.tv.com/episode/1512/summary.html The Simpsons: Beyond Blunderdome] September 26, 1999</ref> During the episode, Gibson complains that his remake of [[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]] is "missing something." When assured by producers that nothing is wrong with it, he frets, <blockquote>"But I don't shoot anybody!"</blockquote>

In the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[The Passion Of The Jew]]," Mel Gibson is portrayed as being completely insane, defecating on buildings and repeatedly asking people to torture him. In another episode of ''South Park'', [[Miss Teacher Bangs a Boy]], Ms. Stephenson, the South Park [[Kindergarten]] teacher, explains her sexual relationship with Kyle's three-year-old brother Ike by saying, <blockquote>"I'm an alcoholic."</blockquote> [[Cartman]] responds, <blockquote>"Oh, no! She used the Mel Gibson defense!" (see [[Mel Gibson DUI incident]]).</blockquote>

He was also spoofed in the [[Family Guy]] episode titled [[North by North Quahog]], in which [[Peter Griffin]] steals the negatives for the sequel to [[The Passion of the Christ]] and is chased by Gibson through a series of satirised [[Alfred Hitchcock]] scenes.

In the 2007 film ''[[Epic Movie]]'' when [[Kal Penn]]'s character is in the jail cell his cellmate has a close resemblance to Mel Gibson, and is apparently in jail because of a DUI incident.

==Filmography==
{{Mel Gibson Films}}

==Awards and accomplishments==
*[[Australian Film Institute]]: Best Actor in a Lead Role, ''[[Tim (film)|Tim]]'' (1979)
*[[Australian Film Institute]]: Best Actor in a Lead Role, ''Gallipoli'' (1981)
*[[People's Choice Awards]]: Favorite Motion Picture Actor (1991)
*[[MTV Movie Awards]]: Best Action Sequence, ''Lethal Weapon 3'' (1993)
*MTV Movie Awards: Best On-Screen Duo, ''Lethal Weapon 3'' (1993) - shared with Danny Glover
*[[ShoWest Award]]: Male Star of the Year (1993)
*[[National Board of Review of Motion Pictures|National Board of Review]]: Special Achievement in Filmmaking, ''Braveheart'' (1995)
*[[American Cinematheque Gala Tribute]]: American Cinematheque Award (1995)
*ShoWest Award: Director of the Year (1996)
*[[Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards]]: Best Director, ''Braveheart'' (1996)
*[[Golden Globe Awards]]: Best Director, ''Braveheart'' (1996)
*[[Academy Awards]]: Best Director, ''Braveheart'' (1996)
*Academy Awards: Best Picture, ''Braveheart'' (1996)
*People's Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Actor (1997)
*[[Hasty Pudding Theatricals]]: Man of the Year (1997)
*[[Blockbuster Entertainment Awards]]: Favorite Actor - Suspense, ''Ransom'' (1997)
*Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actor - Suspense, ''Conspiracy Theory'' (1998)
*People's Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Star in a Drama (2001)
*People's Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Actor (2001)
*Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actor - Drama, ''The Patriot'' (2001)
*Australian Film Institute: Global Achievement Award (2002)
*People's Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Actor (2003)
*Honorary Doctorate Recipient and Undergraduate Commencement Speaker, [[Loyola Marymount University]] (2003)
*People's Choice Awards: Favorite Motion Picture Actor (2004)
*Named as the world's most powerful celebrity by US business magazine ''[[Forbes]]'' (2004)

{{start box}} {{s-awards}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
| years=1979<br>'''for ''[[Tim (film)|Tim]]'' '''
| before=[[Bill Hunter (actor)|Bill Hunter]]<br>for ''[[Newsfront]]''
| after=[[Jack Thompson]]<br>for ''[[Breaker Morant (film)|Breaker Morant]]''
}}
{{succession box
| title=Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
| years=1981<br>'''for ''[[Gallipoli (1981 film)|Gallipoli]]'' '''
| before=[[Jack Thompson]]<br>for ''[[Breaker Morant (film)|Breaker Morant]]''
| after=[[Ray Barrett]]<br>for ''[[Goodbye Paradise]]''
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Academy Award for Best Director]]
| years=1995<br>'''for ''[[Braveheart]]'' '''
| before=[[Robert Zemeckis]]<br>for ''[[Forrest Gump]]''
| after=[[Anthony Minghella]]<br>for ''[[The English Patient (film)|The English Patient]]''
}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture]]
| years=1996<br>'''for ''[[Braveheart]]'' '''
| before=[[Robert Zemeckis]]<br>for ''[[Forrest Gump]]''
| after=[[Milos Forman]]<br>for ''[[The People Vs. Larry Flynt]]''
}}
{{end box}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Published sources==
*{{cite book | title=The Films Of Mel Gibson | last=McCarty | first=John | publisher=Citadel | year=2001 | month=September | id=ISBN 0806522267}}
*{{cite book | title=Mel Gibson, Man on a Mission | last=Clarkson | first=Wensley | publisher=John Blake | year=2004 | month=September | id=ISBN 1-85782-537-3}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons|Mel Gibson}}
*{{imdb name|id=0000154|name=Mel Gibson}}
*{{nndb name|583/000022517|Mel Gibson}}
*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1174684,00.html/ Time Magazine: Apocalpto Now]
*{{dmoz|Arts/People/G/Gibson,_Mel/}}
*[http://www.notstarring.com/actors/gibson-mel Roles turned down by Mel Gibson]

{{Mel Gibson}}

{{Persondata
|NAME=Gibson, Mel
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[United States|American]] [[film actor|actor]], [[film director|director]], and [[film producer|producer]]
|DATE OF BIRTH=[[January 3]], [[1956]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Peekskill, New York]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibson, Mel}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Action film actors]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:American philanthropists]]
[[Category:Best Director Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Director Golden Globe]]
[[Category:Creationists]]
[[Category:Irish-Americans]]
[[Category:Australian Americans]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Paleoconservatives]]
[[Category:People from Westchester County, New York]]
[[Category:Traditionalist Catholics]]

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[[uk:Мел Гібсон]]
[[zh:梅尔·吉布森]]

Revision as of 16:04, 15 October 2007

This article is about the actor. For the basketball player, see Mel Gibson (basketball).
Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson at the 1990 Air America premiere.(photo by Alan Light).
Born
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson
Occupation(s)Actor,
Director,
Producer
SpouseRobyn Moore (1980-)
ChildrenSeven

Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3 1956) is an American-born actor, director, and producer. Born in the U.S., he moved to Australia when he was 12 years old and he later studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. After establishing himself as a household name with the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series, Gibson went on to direct and star in the Academy Award-winning Braveheart. Gibson's direction of Braveheart made him the sixth actor-turned-filmmaker to receive an Oscar for Best Director.[1] In 2004, he directed and produced The Passion of the Christ, a blockbuster movie[2] that portrayed the last hours of the life of Jesus. Gibson is an honorary Officer of the Order of Australia and was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity in the annual list by Forbes magazine in 2004.[3]

Early life

Gibson was born in Peekskill, New York, the sixth of eleven children. He is the second son of Hutton Gibson and Irish-born Anne Reilly Gibson. His paternal grandmother was the Australian opera singer, Eva Mylott. One of Mel's younger brothers, Donal, is also an actor. Gibson's first name comes from a 5th century Irish saint, Mel, founder of the diocese of Ardagh which contains most of his mother's native county, while his second name, Columcille is also linked to an Irish saint.[4] Columcille is the name of the parish in County Longford where Anne Reilly was born and raised.

Hutton Gibson relocated his family to Sydney, Australia in 1968, after winning a work related injury lawsuit against New York Central. After a seven day trial on February 14, 1968, the jury awarded him $145,000.[5][unreliable source?] The family moved when Gibson was twelve. The move to his mother's native Australia was for economic reasons and because Hutton thought the Australian military would reject his oldest son for the Vietnam War draft. [6]

Film career

Gibson graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney in 1977. His acting career began in Australia with appearances in television series, including The Sullivans, Cop Shop and Punishment. He made his film debut in the 1977 Australian film Summer City.

Gibson's good looks made him a natural for leading male roles in action projects such as the "Mad Max" series of films, Peter Weir's Gallipoli, and the "Lethal Weapon" series of films. Later, Gibson expanded into a variety of acting projects including human dramas such as Hamlet, and comedic roles such as those in Maverick and What Women Want. His greatest artistic and financial success came with films where he expanded beyond acting into directing and producing, such as 1993's The Man Without a Face, 1995's Braveheart, 2004's Passion of the Christ and 2006's Apocalypto. Gibson was considered for roles in Batman, GoldenEye, Amadeus, Gladiator, The Golden Child, X-Men, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Runaway Bride and Primary Colors.[7] Actor Sean Connery once suggested Gibson should play the next James Bond to Connery's M. Gibson turned down the role, reportedly because he feared being typecast.[8]

On July 25, 1997, Gibson was named an honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), in recognition of his "service to the Australian film industry". The award was honorary because substantive awards are made only to Australian citizens.[9][10] Gibson is the first person awarded People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive". Gibson quietly declined the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government in 1995 as a protest against France’s resumption of nuclear testing in the Southwest Pacific.[11] Time magazine chose Mel Gibson and Michael Moore as Men of the Year in 2004, but Gibson turned down the photo session and interview, and the cover went instead to George W. Bush.[12]

  1. ^ 1995 Academy Awards
  2. ^ Box Office Mojo.com Domestic Total Gross:$370,782,930 60.6% + Foreign: $241,116,490 39.4%
  3. ^ Jesus helps Mel hit No. 1: Controversial film gives Gibson the most weight on Forbes power list; Britney off the chart again June 18, 2004
  4. ^ Michael Dwyer, The Irish Times film critic, interviewed on RTÉ Radio 1's This week programme, 6 August 2006.
  5. ^ Mel Gibson: Living Dangerously, Wensley Clarkson, Thunder's Mouth Press, New York, 1993, page 30.
  6. ^ Wendy Grossman. "Is the Pope Catholic?". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  7. ^ Roles turned down by Mel Gibson
  8. ^ Mel Gibson: Living Dangerously, pages 170-171, by Wensley Clarkson
  9. ^ Search Australian Honours - Simple Search
  10. ^ Order of Australia Association
  11. ^ "It was a definite decision to make a protest against the nuclear tests," said Gibson, who is mad at French President Jacques Chirac for deciding to detonate some bombs in the Pacific. “The Hollywood Reporter” October 30, 1995, by Stephen Galloway
  12. ^ Michael Moore Defends Cruise, Slags Gibson September 16, 2006
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