Mel Gibson's life in pictures

By Bryanne Salazar 8:41am PDT, Aug 1, 2017

The action-packed thriller "Conspiracy Theory" starring Mel Gibson is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Aug. 8, 2017! In honor of this iconic '90s film turning the big 2-0, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at Mel's life in pictures. Keep reading to see how far this Hollywood star has come…

Mel Colmcille Gerard Gibson isn't originally from Australia as many believe. He was actually born in Peekskill, New York — the sixth of 11 children — on Jan. 3, 1956, to an Australian mother and an American father. When Mel was 12, his father decided to move the family to his mother-in-law's property in Australia for financial reasons (and to avoid eldest son Donald being drafted into the Vietnam War).

After graduating from an all-boys Catholic high school in Australia, Mel Gibson initially planned to become a journalist. That all changed when his sister sent in an application in his name to the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney (NIDA), which earned him an audition. Mel, who'd never acted before, did so well at the audition that he was offered enrollment at the elite performing arts school. Soon after, he was cast in a NIDA stage production of "Romeo and Juliet" and in 1976, he got his first break on TV in the Australian series "The Sullivans." Just one year later, he'd get his major big-screen break: a starring role in "Mad Max" (pictured).

Shortly after appearing in the low-budget film "Summer City," Mel Gibson got the break of a lifetime when he was cast in the Australian movie "Mad Max" in 1977. At the time, Mel was relatively unknown in the acting world. The dystopic film about the societal collapse of a future Australia, with vengeance, murder and the fight for survival dominating the landscape, wasn't well-received by critics upon its release in 1979. However, the movie slowly gained traction with fans, eventually crossing over to American audiences, and became a cult hit. It also earned the distinction of being the highest grossing Australian film at the time.

In 1977 after filming "Mad Max," Mel Gibson met and fell in love with dental nurse Robyn Moore, reportedly when both were tenants in the same house in Adelaide. They wed on June 7, 1980, in a Roman Catholic ceremony. That same year, Mel and Robyn (seen here in 1991) welcomed their first child, a daughter named Hannah.

In the early 1980s, Mel Gibson (seen here in 1981 having beers with friends including Richard Chamberlain) experienced what would be the first of several legal troubles due to his drinking when he was arrested for driving under the influence while in Toronto filming "Mrs. Soffel." As a result, the star was banned from driving for three months. Much later on in his life, Mel would share that he began drinking at the age of 13. Alcohol would be a constant presence in the star's life over the years and would lead to some of his most cringe-worthy moments.

Over the next few years, Mel Gibson was cast in several movies in Australia, including "Gallipoli" (pictured) and "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior," both in 1981. In 1984, Mel worked alongside Anthony Hopkins in the historical drama "The Bounty." Eager to land a role in an American film, Mel pleaded with director Mark Rydell to allow him to audition for the starring role in the drama "The River." Rydell has claimed that Mel proved himself worthy by reading and chatting with the director in a perfect Tennessee accent, winning himself the part. The movie received four Academy Award nominations and was, by all accounts, a success.

In 1985, Mel Gibson reprised his role as Max Rockatansky in "Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome," this time working alongside pop and R&B star Tina Turner. The film wasn't a blockbuster hit, but critics and fans alike agreed that Mel's acting and creative fight scenes were worth watching. His star was quickly rising and more people were beginning to notice the hunky actor from Down Under. That February, People magazine named Mel the "Sexiest Man Alive." The same year, Mel and wife Robyn welcomed their third child, son William.

In 1987, Mel Gibson headlined the movie that would become one of his greatest legacies: "Lethal Weapon." Co-starring Danny Glover, the buddy-cop film featured Mel as Martin Riggs, a former Green Beret struggling with life after a tragic car accident killed his wife. The action-packed movie had a budget of $15 million but grossed more than $120 million and even won an Academy Award for best sound. The film also cemented Mel as an action star and Hollywood heartthrob.

Mel Gibson's star continued to shine brightly. After appearing in blockbuster hits like "Tequila Sunrise" and "Lethal Weapon 2" in 1989 — and showing off his comedic chops on TV's "Saturday Night Live" (pictured) — Mel and business partner Bruce Davey launched Icon Productions, an independent film production company born from the frustration Mel had in trying to find funding for his film "Hamlet." Instead of waiting for investors, Mel financed the film himself. It became the first film produced with Icon and later earned two Academy Award nominations.

From 1990 to 1994, Mel Gibson starred in a constant stream of hit movies, including "Lethal Weapon 3," "The Man Without a Face" and "Maverick," alongside Jodie Foster (pictured). In '91, he won the People's Choice Award for favorite motion picture actor and was widely considered to be the biggest male star in Hollywood. Along with his fame, Mel's family continued to grow. By 1990, he and wife Robyn had five children under the age of 10.

In 1995, Mel Gibson directed and starred in the historical war drama "Braveheart." The movie was an enormous success, earning 10 Academy Award nominations. It took home Oscars for five: best picture, best director, best cinematography, best sound editing and best makeup. In addition to his directing and acting work, Mel also took the time to voice Capt. John Smith in the Disney animated movie "Pocahontas."

Following his Academy Award wins, Mel Gibson continued to churn out major hits at the box office. In 1996, he starred alongside Rene Russo and Gary Sinise in the crime thriller "Ransom." The following year, Mel starred alongside Julia Roberts in the political thriller "Conspiracy Theory." (They're seen here at its 1997 premiere.) Although the film was panned by critics, it opened at No. 1 at the box office, proving that any movie Mel touched turned to gold.

In 1998, Mel Gibson appeared in "Lethal Weapon 4," which debuted at No. 1 at the box office. That same year, he and wife Robyn Moore discovered they were expecting their seventh child — and sixth son. Following Milo's birth in 1999, Mel starred in the crime-noir film "Payback" and in 2000, the epic war drama "The Patriot" alongside young Australian actor Heath Ledger. The film, which centered around a father and son during the Revolutionary War, was later nominated for three Academy Awards.

Also in 2000, Mel Gibson took a departure from his usual action film roles to star in the romantic comedy "What Women Want" alongside Helen Hunt. Playing a man who discovers he can hear women's thoughts, Mel reminded fans that comedy was in his acting repertoire. The film was a major hit, grossing $374 million at the box office.

In 2002, Mel Gibson — now a veteran in Hollywood — returned to a familiar genre by starring in the historical war drama "We Were Soldiers." He also took on the lead role in the psychological thriller "Signs," directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film, which starred a young Abigail Breslin, Rory Culkin and Joaquin Phoenix as a family fighting for survival amidst an alien invasion, was a smashing success at the box office, grossing more than $277 million. To date, it's still revered among many fans as completely terrifying and, somehow, absolutely heartwarming.

Honoring his deep commitment to his Catholic faith, Mel Gibson embarked on one of the biggest theatrical projects of his lifetime when he wrote, produced and directed the 2004 biblical drama "The Passion of the Christ" starring James Caviezel. The film was a New Testament account of Jesus's last 12 hours on earth and was widely viewed as a cinematic success. Also notable is that Mel independently funded the whole thing without major studio support, through his Icon Productions company. While there was controversy over the violence depicted in the film, it was nominated for three Academy Awards and went on to become the highest grossing non-English-speaking movie in history.

The downfall of Mel Gibson began in 2006 when the actor was pulled over in Malibu on suspicion of driving under the influence. Police officers on the scene reported that Mel was cooperative during their questioning but became belligerent when they informed him they were taking him into custody. The officers also reported that they found an open container of alcohol in Mel's car. Upon realizing he was being arrested, Mel went on a shocking tirade, first using profanity to express fear over how the arrest would impact his career, then turning his anger against the officers, threatening to seek revenge against them before screaming anti-Semitic expletives.

The fallout from Mel Gibson's tirade on July 28, 2006, was swift as media outlets around the world reported on the offensive and profanity-laden incident. The following day, Mel apologized to fans, claiming he said things he "does not believe to be true" that were "despicable." The star mostly disappeared from the spotlight afterward, only resurfacing that December to promote "Apocalypto" — a movie he produced and directed, which performed surprisingly well at the box office, considering the lingering controversy. He's seen here at a photocall for the film.

Not long after Mel Gibson's headline-making anti-Semitic tirade and arrest, he and his wife of 26 years, Robyn Moore, separated. In 2009, Robyn filed for divorce after news broke revealing Mel had fathered a daughter, Lucia — his seventh child — with Russian singer, songwriter and pianist Oksana Grigorieva, who also has a son with former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton. Mel and Robyn's divorce — one of the most expensive in Hollywood history (she reportedly got half of his $850 million fortune) — was finalized in 2011.

The full incineration of Mel Gibson's 30-plus year career in Hollywood began in earnest in 2010 — the same year he played a homicide detective in the political thriller "Edge of Darkness" (pictured) — when girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva filed for a restraining order against the actor, claiming he'd punched her more than once, which resulted in a broken tooth, a knocked-out veneer and a concussion. While Mel vehemently denied her version of events, in court papers he did admit to slapping her "in an attempt to bring her back to reality." But things would only get worse for the troubled star.

Mel Gibson's troubles with Oksana Grigorieva mounted when recorded phone calls between them were leaked in July 2010. In the tapes, Mel is heard using the N-word and delivering a slew of insults and threats against Oksana. Later leaks revealed Mel knew about the tapes and at one point had agreed to pay Oksana $15 million to keep them under wraps. Her allegations, compounded by the tapes, ultimately led to Mel pleading no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in a Los Angeles courtroom in March 2011. A judge sentenced him to three years of probation, a year of counseling and community service.

For a few years following his domestic violence scandal, Mel Gibson (seen here at a 2013 charity event) kept a low profile. He attempted to soften his image by starring in the film "The Beaver," a comedy about a mentally unstable man who forms a friendship with a hand puppet, but fans weren't taking the bait. After several action films including "Expendables 3" in 2014, Mel's career hadn't regained its former luster.

In 2016, a bearded Mel Gibson reappeared on the scene with "Hacksaw Ridge" — the first film he'd directed since "Apocalypto" in 2006. The biographical war drama starring Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington and Vince Vaughn earned six Academy Award and three Golden Globe nominations — including best director nods for Mel — and ultimately took home two Oscars. It was widely viewed as Mel's triumphant return to Hollywood.

Although it seemed at one point that Mel Gibson's career was all but over, the determined actor, director and producer proved that he had the grit to recover his reputation and stand tall once again on the red carpet. In January 2017, the 61-year-old star and girlfriend Rosalind Ross, then 26, welcomed son Lars Gerard — Mel's ninth child. (They're seen here at the 2017 Golden Globes, less than two weeks before their baby's arrival.) In November 2017, Mel will co-star in the comedy sequel "Daddy's Home 2." He also has two more movie projects in the works.

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