Mel Gibson is an American actor, director, and producer, who made his acting debut on the Australian television drama series The Sullivans (19761983). While a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, he was given an uncredited role in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and subsequently appeared as a leading actor in the micro budget surf drama Summer City (both in 1977). Gibson rose to prominence during the Australian New Wave cinema movement in the early 1980s, having appeared in his breakthrough role in George Miller's dystopian action film Mad Max (1979), portraying the eponymous hero. He reprised the role in its sequels, Mad Max 2 (1981) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985). He appeared in Peter Weir's war drama Gallipoli (1981) and the romantic drama The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). Five years later he played Martin Riggs in the buddy cop action comedy Lethal Weapon alongside Danny Glovera role he later reprised in its sequels Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), and Lethal Weapon 4 (1998).
Gibson starred in Franco Zeffirelli's Hamlet in 1990, as the eponymous character of the Shakespearean tragedy of the same name. It was the first film produced by Icon Productions, a production company he co-founded with Bruce Davey. Gibson's directorial debut was The Man Without a Face (1993), an adaptation of Isabelle Holland's novel of the same name. Two years later he directed and produced Braveheart, a historical epic drama in which he also portrayed Sir William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish knight. The film earned him a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Director, and the film won an Academy Award for Best Picture. Gibson went on to star in Ransom (1996), Payback (1999), What Women Want and The Patriot (both in 2000), and We Were Soldiers (2002).
Gibson co-wrote, directed and produced The Passion of the Christ in 2004, a Biblical epic drama which chronicled the Passion of Jesus. On its release, the film garnered mixed reviews as well as notoriety for its graphic violence from critics. It grossed $370.3 million in the United States and $611.4 million worldwide, making it Gibson's highest-grossing film to date (as a director). Two years later he co-wrote, directed and produced Apocalypto, an epic adventure set in Central America depicting the last days of Mayan civilization before Spanish arrival in the 16th century. Gibson then took a ten-year hiatus from directing during which time he landed roles in Edge of Darkness (2010), Machete Kills (2013), The Expendables 3 (2014), and Blood Father (2016). He directed Hacksaw Ridge in 2016, a biographical war drama focusing on American World War II veteran Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. The film garnered praise from critics and audiences alike, as well as various accolades.
Film
+ Year Title Director Writer Producer Actor Role Notes 1977 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Uncredited Summer City Scallop 1979 Mad Max Max Rockatansky Tim Tim Melville 1980 The Chain Reaction Mechanic Cameo The Chain Reaction 1981 Attack Force Z Paul Kelly Gallipoli Frank Dunne Mad Max 2 Max Rockatansky 1982 The Year of Living Dangerously Guy Hamilton 1984 The Bounty Fletcher Christian The River Tom Garvey Mrs. Soffel Ed Biddle 1985 Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome Max Rockatansky 1987 Lethal Weapon Martin Riggs 1988 Tequila Sunrise Dale McKussic 1989 Lethal Weapon 2 Martin Riggs 1990 Bird on a Wire Rick Jarmin Air America Gene Ryack Hamlet Prince Hamlet 1992 Forever Young Daniel McCormickExecutive Lethal Weapon 3 Martin Riggs 1993 The Man Without a Face Justin McLeod 1994 Maverick Bret Maverick 1995 Braveheart William Wallace Casper Himself Cameo Pocahontas John Smith Voice role 1996 Ransom Tom Mullen 1997 Fathers' Day Scott the Body Piercer Cameo Conspiracy Theory Jerry Fletcher FairyTale: A True Story Major Sargent Griffiths Cameo One Eight Seven Executive 1998 Lethal Weapon 4 Martin Riggs 1999 Payback Porter 2000 Chicken Run Rocky Voice role Benjamin Martin What Women Want Nick Marshall The Million Dollar Hotel Agent Skinner 2002 We Were Soldiers Lt. Col. Hal Moore Signs Father Graham Hess 2003 The Singing Detective Dr. Gibbon 2004 The Passion of the Christ Paparazzi Anger Management Therapy Patient Cameo 2006 Apocalypto 2010 Edge of Darkness Thomas Craven 2011 The Beaver Walter Black 2012 Get the Gringo Richard "The Gringo" Johnson Get the Gringo 2013 Machete Kills Luther Voz 2014 The Expendables 3 Conrad Stonebanks Stonehearst Asylum 2016 Blood Father John Link Hacksaw Ridge 2017 Daddy's Home 2 Kurt Mayron 2018 Dragged Across Concrete Brett Ridgeman 2019 The Professor and the Madman James Murray 2020 Force of Nature Ray Barrett Fatman Chris Cringle 2021 Boss Level Colonel Clive Ventor Dangerous Dr. Alderwood 2022 Last Looks Alastair Pinch Panama Stark Agent Game Olsen Father Stu Bill Long Hot Seat Wallace Reed Bandit Tommy Kay On the Line Elvis CooneyExecutive 2023 Confidential Informant Kevin Hickey Sound of Freedom Executive Desperation Road Mitchell Gaines 2024 Boneyard Agent Petrovick Monster Summer Gene Carruthers 2025 Flight Risk Hunting Season Bowdrie 2027 2028
Production consultant Air Strike (2018)
Television + Year Title Director Executive Producer Actor Role Notes 1978 The Sullivans Ray Henderson 4 episodes 1979 Cop Shop Peter Lang 2 episodes The Hero Rob MilliganShort 1981 Punishment Rick Munro 2 episodes Tickled Pink Episode "Honeymoon, Honeymoon" 1989 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Mel Gibson / Living Colour" 1995 World of Discovery Narrator Voice role; episode: "Australia's Outback: The Vanishing Frontier" 1999 The Simpsons Himself Voice role; episode: "Beyond Blunderdome" 2000 The Three Stooges Television film 2001 Invincible 2003 Family Curse 2004–2005 Clubhouse Complete Savages Officer Steve Cox 3 episodes (director, actor) 2008 Carrier Documentary 2023 The Continental: From the World of John Wick Cormac O'Connor Miniseries
Theatre
+ Year Title Venue Notes 1976 Le Chateau d'Hydro-Therapie Magnetique Jane Street Theatre, Sydney With Steve Bisley 1977 Mother and Son NIDA Theatre, Sydney With Steve Bisley and Judy Davis The Hostage With Steve Bisley Once in a Lifetime With Steve Bisley and Judy Davis 1978 Oedipus the King Adelaide Festival of the Arts With Colin Friels Cedoona With Colin Friels and Judy Davis The Les Darcy Show 1979 Romeo and Juliet Perth & Sydney With Angela Punch-McGregor Waiting for Godot With Geoffrey Rush On Our Selection Sydney Directed by George Whaley 1981 No Names, No Pack Drill With Noni Hazelhurst 1982 Death of a Salesman Directed by George Ogilvie 1993 Love Letters Telluride, Colorado With Sissy Spacek
References
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