Mel Gibson has been a major film star now for more than 20 years. In this time he has become one of the most respected Hollywood actors and has now commenced a successful career in film directing, as well.

Gibson was born in the United States in 1956 but his family moved to Australia in 1968.  He completed his education in Sydney and began his acting career there, in the National Institute of Dramatic Art.  He appeared in several Australian TV series, but got his big break in 1979, in a film called Mad Max.  He since made two more "Max' films.  He went on to make several other successful films in Australia before he moved to Hollywood.  Gibson made more than thirty films, many of which became great commercial successes. He has never been afriad to take on challenging roles such as, Hamlet and The Man without a Face, which also marked his directoral debut. He has directed films for the last few years. To date he has directed three successful films.

Unusually for the turbulent world of Hollywood romance, Gibson has lived with the same woman for over 20 years- his wife Robyn, whom he married in 1980.  Up to the present time, they have seven children.