CELEBRITIES

Mel Gibson

Credit: Jo Hale/Getty Images

BIO

Born Jan. 3, 1956, in Peekskill, New York, the Braveheart actor's family relocated to Australia when he was a child, which is where he spent the majority of his young life. Mel Gibson's first big break came with 1979's Mad Max, in which he played the title character.

Shortly after, Gibson met Robyn Moore and the two were married on June 7, 1980. To date, the couple has seven children and two grandchildren.

Gibson's leading man looks and tough guy bravado allowed him to play a variety of characters, from Detective Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon franchise to Nick Marshall in What Women Want.

The Man Without a Face, released in 1993, marked his directorial debut. His most controversial film, The Passion of the Christ, was released in 2004.

In 2006, Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence. A tape of the occurrence leaked, which showed Gibson making several anti-Semetic remarks.

Moore filed for divorce in April 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. Gibson split from his latest girlfriend, musician Oksana Grigorieva, in April 2010, five months after she gave birth to their first child, Lucia. A short time later Grigorieva claimed in court documents that Gibson had been abusive and recorded expletive-riddled phone calls between the former couple were released to the media.