1968 zieht mit seiner Familie nach Australien * 1974-77 Studium an National Institute of Dramatic Art [University of New South Wales] in Sydney * 1976 erste Fernsehrolle in Serie The Sullivans * Kinodebüt in Summer City (1976/77) * Mitglied der State Theatre Company of South Australia in Adelaide (Oedipus; Henry IV; Cedoona, alle 1978; Romeo and Juliet; Waiting for Godot, beide 1979; No Names, No Pack Drill, 1980; Death of a Salesman, 1982) * 1978 erste Hauptrolle (und Beginn seiner Karriere) als geistig Behinderter in Tim * großer internationaler Erfolg und Aufstieg zum Star mit der Titelrolle in Mad Max[-Trilogie, 1979-85] - in folgenden Jahren etabliert sich vor allem als Actionheld * festigt seine Popularität mit Parts in Filmen von Peter Weir (Gallipoli, 1981; The Year of Living Dangerously, 1982) * seit 1984 wirkt (fast) ausschließlich in amerikanischen Produktionen mit * 1986 erster Auftritt als schräger Polizist Martin Riggs (und Partner von Danny Glover) in Lethal Weapon (bis 1997 folgen drei Sequels) - zugleich erste Zusammenarbeit mit Richard Donner und Aufstieg in die Riege der Superstars * Gründung der Produktionsfirma Icon Productions (Hamlet, 1990) * Debüt als Regisseur mit The Man without a Face (1992/93) * 2004 löst weltweite Kontroversen aus (Vorwurf der expliziten Gewaltdarstellung und des Antisemitismus) mit seiner dritten Regiearbeit (The Passion of the Christ) über die letzten zwölf Stunden im Leben von Jesus Christus * 2006 sorgt für weitere Schlagzeilen nach seiner Verhaftung wegen Trunkenheit am Steuer (bekommt eine dreijährige Bewährungsstrafe)
"He's a stand-up guy - he's always has been for me - and certainly when I was not hire-able, he put his ass on the line and said, 'I'll take that chance'. He will always have my friendship, and that's just talking about business and Hollywood stuff, which to me is nowhere as important as friendship." Robert Downey, Jr.
Tim (Tim - Kann das Liebe sein?, 1978-AUS * Michael Pate / Tim)°
Mad Max (Mad Max, 1978/79-AUS * George Miller / Max Rockatansky)
Attack Force Z (Die grünen Teufel vom Mekong, 1980-AUS/Hongkong * Tim Burstall / Captain Paul Kelly)
Gallipoli (Gallipoli, 1981-AUS * Peter Weir / Frank Dunne)
Mad Max 2 (Mad Max II - Der Vollstrecker, 1981-AUS * George Miller / Max Rockatansky)
# The Year of Living Dangerously (Ein Jahr in der Hölle, 1982-AUS * Peter Weir ... Guy Hamilton) (Roman von C.J. Koch) (8212)
# The Bounty (Die Bounty, 1983-GB; R: Roger Donaldson, B: Robert Bolt, K: Arthur Ibbetson, M: Vangelis, D: MG-Fletcher Christian, Anthony Hopkins) 133m-Abenteuerdrama (Buch von Richard Hough) (8405-USA)
# The River (Menschen am Fluß, 1983/84-USA * Mark Rydell ... Tom Garvey) (8412)
# Mrs. Soffel (Flucht zu dritt, 1984-USA; R: Gillian Armstrong, B: Ron Nyswaner, K: Russell Boyd, M: Mark Isham, D: Diane Keaton, MG-Ed Biddle) 110/2m-Melodram
Mad Max beyond Thunderdome (Mad Max - Jenseits der Donnerkuppel, 1985-AUS * George Miller, George Ogilvie / Max Rockatansky)
# Lethal Weapon (Zwei stahlharte Profis, 1986-USA * Richard Donner ... Martin Riggs) (8703)
Tequila Sunrise (Tequila Sunrise, 1988-USA * Robert Towne / Dale McKussic)
Lethal Weapon 2 (Brennpunkt L.A., 1988/89-USA * Richard Donner / Martin Riggs)
# Bird on a Wire (1989-USA * John Badham ... Rick Jarmin) (04-07; 9005)
# Air America (1989/90-USA * Roger Spottiswoode ... Gene Ryack) (Buch von Christopher Robbins) (9008)
Hamlet (Hamlet, 1990-USA * Franco Zeffirelli / Hamlet)
Lethal Weapon 3 (Brennpunkt L.A. - Die Profis sind zurück, 1991-USA * Richard Donner / Martin Riggs)
# Forever Young (Forever Young, 1992-USA * Steve Miner ... Daniel McCormick) (02-05; 9212)
The Man without a Face (Der Mann ohne Gesicht, 1992/93-USA * Mel Gibson / Justin McLeod)
Maverick (Maverick - Den Colt am Gürtel, ein As im Ärmel, 1993-USA * Richard Donner / Bret Maverick)
Braveheart (Braveheart, 1994-USA * Mel Gibson / William Wallace)
Ransom (Kopfgeld - Einer wird bezahlen, 1996-USA * R: Ron Howard, B: Richard Price, Alexander Ignon, K: Piotr Sobocinski, M: James Horner, D: MG-Tom Mullen, Rene Russo) 120m-Thriller
Conspiracy Theory (Fletchers Visionen, 1996-USA * R: Richard Donner, B: Brian Helgeland, K: John Schwartzman, M: Carter Burwell, D: MG-Jerry Fletcher, Julia Roberts) 135m-Psychothriller
Lethal Weapon 4 (Lethal Weapon 4, 1997-USA * Richard Donner / Martin Riggs)
# Payback (Payback - Zahltag, 1997-98-USA * Brian Helgeland ... Porter) (Roman von Richard Stark=Donald E. Westlake) (09-11.97 + 06-08.98; 9902)
The Million Dollar Hotel (The Million Dollar Hotel, 1999-USA * Wim Wenders / Skinner)
# The Patriot (1999/00-USA * Roland Emmerich ... Benjamin Martin) (09-01; 0006)
What Women Want (Was Frauen wollen, 2000-USA * R: Nancy Meyers, B: Josh Goldsmith, Cathy Yuspa, K: Dean Cundey, M: Alan Silvestri, D: MG-Nick Marshall, Helen Hunt) 126m-Komödie
# We Were Soldiers (Wir waren Helden, 2001-USA * Randall Wallace ... Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore) (Buch We Were Soldiers Once... and Young von Harold G. Moore & Joseph L. Galloway) (03-07; 0203)
Signs (Signs - Zeichen, 2001-USA * M. Night Shyamalan / Graham Hess)
The Singing Detective (The Singing Detective, 2002-USA * Keith Gordon / Dr. Gibbon) (DZ: 04-06)
# Edge of Darkness (2008-USA/GB * Martin Campbell ... Thomas Craven) (1001)
# The Beaver (2009-USA * Jodie Foster ... Walter Black) (1105)
# Get the Gringo / How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Get the Gringo, 2010-USA * Adrian Grunberg / Driver) (03-06; 1302-D)
# Machete Kills (Machete Kills, 2012-USA * Robert Rodriguez / Voz) (06-07; 1310)
# The Expendables 3 (The Expendables 3, 2013-USA * Patrick Hughes / Conrad Stonebanks) (08-10/+03-04; 1408)
# Blood Father (Blood Father, 2014-F * Jean-François Richet / John Link) (06-07; 1608)
# The Professor and the Madman (The Professor and the Madman, 2016-USA/MEX; R: P.B. Shemran, B: Todd Komarnicki, P.B. Shemran, K: Kasper Tuxen, M: Bear McCreary, D: Mel Gibson: James Murray * Sean Penn: Dr. William Chester Minor, Natalie Dormer: Eliza Merrett, Eddie Marsan: Muncie, Jennifer Ehle: Ada Murray, Jeremy Irvine: Charles Hall, David O'Hara: Church & Ioan Gruffudd: Henry Bradley & Stephen Dillane: Dr. Richard Brayne & Steve Coogan: Frederick Furnivall) 124m-Biopicdrama (Buch The Surgeon of Crowthorne von Simon Winchester, 1998) (09-8 Wochen; 1903-I)
# Daddy's Home 2 (Daddy's Home 2, 2017-USA * Sean Anders / Kurt Mayron) (03-?; 1711)
# Dragged across Concrete (Dragged across Concrete, 2017-USA; R+B: S. Craig Zahler, K: Benji Bakshi, M: Jeff Herriott & S. Craig Zahler, D: Mel Gibson: Brett Ridgeman * Vince Vaughn: Anthony Lurasetti, Tory Kittles: Henry Johns, Michael Jai White: Biscuit, Jennifer Carpenter: Kelly Summer, Laurie Holden: Melanie Ridgeman, Fred Melamed: Mr. Edmington & Thomas Kretschmann: Lorentz Vogelmann & Don Johnson: Chief Lt. Calvert) 159m-Thriller (07-09; 1903)
# Boss Level (Boss Level, 2018-USA; R: Joe Carnahan, B: Chris Borey, Eddie Borey, Joe Carnahan, K: Juanmi/Juan Miguel Azpiroz, M: Clinton Shorter, D: Frank Grillo: Roy Pulver * Mel Gibson: Colonel Clive Ventor, Naomi Watts: Jemma Wells, Annabelle Wallis: Alice, Ken Jeong: Chef Jake, Will Sasso: Brett, Selina Lo: Guan Yin, Meadow Williams: Pam & Michelle Yeoh: Dai Feng) 94m-Sci-Fi-Action (03-05; 2102-AUS)
# Last Looks (Last Looks, 2019-USA; R: Tim Kirkby, B: Howard Michael Gould, K: Lyle Vincent, M: Peter Nashel, D: Charlie Hunnam: Charlie Waldo, Morena Baccarin: Lorena Nascimento, Lucy Fry: Jayne White, Cliff Smith=Method Man: Swag Doggg, Jacob Scipio: Don Q, Clancy Brown: Big Jim Cuppy, Dominic Monaghan: Warren Gomes, Robin Givens: Fontella Davis, David Pasquesi: Darius Jamshidi, Paul Ben-Victor: Lt. Pete Conady & Rupert Friend: Wilson Sikorsky & Mel Gibson: Alastair Pinch) 111m-Krimikomödie (Roman von Howard Michael Gould, 2018) (06-07; 2202)
# Force of Nature (Force of Nature, 2019-USA; R: Michael Polish, B: Cory Miller, K: Jayson Crothers, M: Kubilay Uner, D: Emile Hirsch: Cardillo * Kate Bosworth: Troy * Mel Gibson: Ray, David Zayas: John, Stephanie Cayo: Jess Peña, Will Catlett: Griffin, Swen Temmel: Hodges, Tyler Jon Olson: Dillon, Jorge Luis Ramos: Bergkamp) 91m-Thriller (07-08; 2007-NL)
# Fatman (2020-USA; R+B: Ian Nelms, Eshom Nelms, K: Johnny Derango, M: Mondo Boys, D: Mel Gibson: Chris * Walton Goggins: Skinny Man * Marianne Jean-Baptiste: Ruth) 100m-Actionkomödie (01-02; 2011)
# Dangerous (Dangerous, 2020-CDN/USA; R: David Hackl, B: Christopher Borrelli, K: Mark Dobrescu, M: Todd Bryanton, D: Scott Eastwood: Dylan "D" Forrester * Kevin Durand: Cole * Famke Janssen: Agent Shaughnessy & Tyrese Gibson: Sheriff McCoy & Mel Gibson: Dr. Alderwood, Brenda Bazinet: Linda Forrester, Ryan Robbins: Felix, Brendan Fletcher: Massey, Leaane Lapp: Susan Forrester, Chad Rook: Blanchard, Brock Morgan: Pike) 99m-Actionthriller (12; 2111)
# Panama (Panama - The Revolution is Heating Up, 2020-USA; R: Mark Neveldine, B: Daniel Adams, William Barber, K: Pedro Juan López, M: Mick Fury, D: Cole Hauser: Becker ° Mel Gibson: Stark) 95m-Actionthriller (12 > 14 Tage in 3 Wochen; 2203)
# Agent Game (2021-USA; R: Grant S. Johnson, B: Mike Langer, Tyler W. Konney, K: David Kruta, M: Kiley Norton, D: Dermot Mulroney: Harris, Adan Canto: Kavinsky, Katie Cassidy: Miller, Annie Ilonzeh: Visser, Rhys Coiro: Reese, Barkhad Abdi: Omar & Jason Isaacs: Bill & Mel Gibson: Olsen) 90m-Actionthriller (03-04; 2204)
# Father Stu (2021-USA/ROK; R+B: Rosalind Ross, K: Jacques Jouffret, M: Dickon Hinchliffe, D: Mark Wahlberg: Stuart Long, Mel Gibson: Bill Long, Jacki Weaver: Kathleen Long / Malcolm McDowell: Monsignore Kelly) 124m-Biopicdrama (05 > 30 Tage/+09; 2204)
# Bandit (2021-USA/CDN; R: Allan Ungar B: Kraig Wenman, K: Alexander Chinnici, M: Aaron Gilhuis, D: Josh Duhamel: Robert ° Elisha Cuthbert: Andrea, Nestor Carbonell: Snydes & Mel Gibson: Tommy) 126m-Krimi (Buch von Robert Knuckle mit Ed Arnold, 1996) (05-06/+09 > 21 Tage; 2209)
# On the Line (On the Line, 2021-F/USA; R+B: Romuald Boulanger, K: Xavier Castro, M: Clément Perin, D: Mel Gibson: Elvis Cooney, William Moseley: Dylan, Alia Seror-O'Neill: Mary, Nadia Farès: Sam Dubois, Enrique Arce: Tony, Paul Spera: Gary / James & Kevin Dillon: Justin) 104m-Thriller (06-?; 2211)
# Hot Seat (2021-USA; R: James Cullen Bressack, B: Collin Watts, Leon Langford, K: Bryan Koss, M: Timothy Stuart Jones, D: Kevin Dillon: Orlando Friar * Mel Gibson: Wallace Reed, Shannen Doherty: Chief Pam Connelly, Michael Welch: Enzo, Sam Asghari: Sergeant Tobias, Eddie Steeples: Jackson, Lydia Hull: Kim, Anna Harr: Zoey, Kate Katzman: Ava) 99m-Actionthriller (11-?; 2207)
# Confidential Informant (New York Confidential, 2022-USA; R: Michael Oblowitz B: Michael Kaycheck, Michael Oblowitz, Brooke Nasser, K: Christopher/Chris Squires, M: Roy Hay & DJ Muggs, D: Dominic Purcell: Tom Moran, Nick Stahl: Mike Thornton, Kate Bosworth: Anna Moran, Erik Valdez: Carlos, Russell Richardson: William Learner, Jon Lindstrom: Joe Mangano, Meadow Williams: Jenny Sullivan, Michael Kaycheck: Kurt Harnischer & Mel Gibson: Kevin Hickey) 88m-Thriller (07-?; 2306)
# Desperation Road (Desperation Road, 2022-USA; R: Nadine Crocker, B: Michael Farris Smith, K: Simon/Sy Turnbull, M: Haim Mazar, D: Garrett Hedlund: Russell ° Willa Fitzgerald: Maben, Ryan Hurst: Larry & Mel Gibson: Mitchell) 112m-Thrillerdrama (Roman von Michael Farris Smith, 2017) (10 > 16 Tage; 2310)
Australian Film Institute Award für Gallipoli (bester Hauptdarsteller, 1981)
National Board of Review Award für Braveheart (special achievement in filmmaking, 1995)
Academy Award (Oscar) für Braveheart (beste Regie, 1996)
Golden Globe für Braveheart (beste Regie, 1996)
Global Achievement Award [Australian Film Institute 2002]
John Hanrahan: Mel Gibson. St. Peters: Litle Hills Press, 1986
Keith McKay: Mel Gibson. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1986
Nadine Schmidt: Mel Gibson. Clamart: Sévigny, 1990
James Oram: Reluctant Star: The Mel Gibson Story. London: Fontana, 1991
Neil Sinyard: Mel Gibson. London: Bison Books, 1993
Dirk Manthey, Jörg Altendorf [Hg.]: Mel Gibson. Hamburg: Zweite-Kino-Verl., 1994
Adolf Heinzlmeier: Mel Gibson - Schauspieler und Regisseur. München: Heyne, 1996
Roland Perry: Mel Gibson: Actor, Director, Producer. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, 1996
Brian Pendreigh: Mel Gibson and His Movies. London: Bloomsbury, 1997
Karin Lobinger, Andrea Rennschmid: Mel Gibson. Landshut: Weber, 1999
John McCarty: The Films of Mel Gibson. New York: Citadel Press, 2001
Corinne Doucet: Mel Gibson: passion sur grand écran. Boulogne-Billancourt: Horizon Illimité, 2004
Fabio Zanello [Red.]: Il cinema di Mel Gibson. Piombino: Ed. Il Foglio, 2004
Wensley Clarkson: Mel Gibson: Man on a Mission. London: Blake, 2004