Mel Gibson: the rise and fall of a Hollywood star
A superstar at 23 - Mel Gibson's arrival in Hollywood was overwhelming. His second film, 'Mad Max' (1979), made him a superstar and one of the most desirable men in the world.
A career of ups and downs - For a long time, this New Yorker lived a fantastic career, but 40 years after his film debut, he faced many a cancellation.
Many talents - Mel Gibson (born on January 3, 1956) had all the necessary tools to take over the world. Acting talent, blue eyes and a mischievous (half) smile that melted the cameras.
Steve McQueen's heir - At the time, people said he was the new Steve McQueen. The kind-hearted rebel with whom every day would be an adventure.
When Mel Gibson became Martin Riggs - In 1987 he became Martin Riggs, a legendary character, in the 'Lethal Weapon' saga.
A global citizen - Born in New York, raised in Sydney (Australia) and of Irish descent, Mel Gibson gave viewers across the world the feeling that he was one of them.
Adorable - Mel Gibson dazzled the press and the public with his charm, humor, smile and eyes.
Mel Gibson's famous movies - To the 'Lethal Weapon' and 'Mad Max' sagas, he added successes like 'Hamlet' (1990), 'Forever Young' (1992) and 'Maverick' (1995).
Oscar winner - 'Braveheart', released in 1995, showed Mel Gibson's directing talent. The movie earned him the Oscar in five categories: Best Film, Director, Photography, Sound and Makeup.
He was a the peak of his career - Mel Gibson's success was such that producers would have given everything to have him in their movies.
An idyllic marriage (in the beginning) - In real life, Mel Gibson was a happy and loving family man. He married Robyn Moore in 1980 and had seven children with her.
Alcohol, his most important problem - Over the years, Mel Gibson has been involved in controversies brought on by his alcohol problems.
Anti-Semitic statements - During one of his encounters with the police while driving druk, in July 2006, Gibson told them that "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."
Mel Gibson and 'The Passion of the Christ' - His anti-Semitic thinking was clear in the film 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004), which he directed.
A big box office hit, self-financed - The script was so problematic that no major production company wanted to fund 'The Passion of the Christ.' As a consequence, Gibson funded it himself.