Mel Gibson: Biography, Diagnoses, Charges, and Personal Life

Mel Gibson has spent four decades in the spotlight — first as a blockbuster star, then as an Oscar-winning director, and more recently in the headlines for reasons beyond the screen. Born on January 3, 1956, he was the sixth of eleven children in a devout household, a background that shaped both his art and his personal battles. This article pieces together the key facts about his health, legal history, family, and faith, drawing on court records, interviews, and biographical archives.

Born: January 3, 1956 · Age: 68 (as of 2024) · Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) · Net worth: Estimated $425 million · Children: 9 · Marriages: 1 (to Robyn Moore, 1980–2011)

Here are the essential biographical details at a glance.

What has Mel Gibson been diagnosed with?

What is the nature of his bipolar disorder?

In a 2010 interview with The Guardian, Gibson said he experienced periods of depression and that his family doctor prescribed antidepressants — though he stopped taking them. However, a formal bipolar diagnosis has not been publicly confirmed by medical records or his representatives. The actor has avoided naming a specific disorder in most public comments.

How has his diagnosis affected his career?

Industry insiders have pointed to Gibson’s personal struggles as a factor in the gaps between his directorial projects. After Apocalypto (2006), Gibson did not direct again until Hacksaw Ridge (2016), a period that also included his legal troubles and widely reported outbursts.

The pattern: periods of personal crisis have repeatedly interrupted a once-steady career trajectory, making his professional comeback cycles nearly as notable as the films themselves.

What was Mel Gibson charged with?

What happened during his 2006 DUI arrest?

On July 28, 2006, Gibson was arrested in Malibu for driving under the influence. According to Business Insider, the arrest report included anti-Semitic remarks that later forced a public apology from Gibson. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge and was sentenced to three years of probation.

What were the anti-Semitic remarks?

During the arrest, Gibson reportedly said, “Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” The comment was widely condemned by civil rights groups. Gibson later apologized through a statement, calling his words “despicable” and asking for help from the Jewish community. The BBC reported that Gibson’s 2011 misdemeanor battery charge stemmed from a separate incident involving his then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

How many times has Mel Gibson been married and how many children does he have?

Who is Robyn Moore?

Robyn Moore met Gibson in 1980 while he was still a relatively unknown actor. They married that same year and had seven children together. According to IMDb, the couple separated in 2006 and divorced in 2011, 31 years after their wedding.

Who is Rosalind Ross?

Rosalind Ross is a writer and former stuntwoman who began a relationship with Gibson in 2014. She gave birth to their first child in 2017 and their second in 2019. Ross has remained largely out of the media spotlight, though she has been credited as a stabilizing influence on Gibson.

List of his children

• Hannah (b. 1980), twin of another child, with Robyn
• Edward (b. 1982), with Robyn
• Christian (b. 1985), with Robyn
• Willow (b. 1987), with Robyn
• Louis (b. 1990), with Robyn
• Milo (b. 1992), with Robyn
• Thomas (b. 1999), with Robyn
• Lars (b. 2017), with Rosalind
• Another child (b. 2019), with Rosalind

What religion does Mel Gibson belong to?

What is traditionalist Catholicism?

Gibson was raised in a strict traditionalist Catholic household that rejected many reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Wikipedia describes this as a sedevacantist position, which holds that the current papacy is invalid. Gibson built a private chapel on his Malibu property to practice the Tridentine Mass.

How has his faith influenced his films?

His religious convictions directly inspired The Passion of the Christ (2004), which grossed over $600 million worldwide. Turner Classic Movies notes that Gibson said he made the film after a period of personal struggle, using it as a form of spiritual therapy. The film faced accusations of anti-Semitism, a charge Gibson denied, pointing to his own Hebrew and Aramaic language research.

The irony: the same faith that produced his greatest commercial triumph also became the lightning rod for the controversy that would define his public image for years.

Is Mel Gibson a nice person in real life?

What do colleagues say about him?

Contradictory accounts abound. Several co-stars have praised his generosity: after filming Braveheart, Gibson reportedly gave a large bonus to the extras from his own salary. Others — including executives on The Passion — described him as demanding and short-tempered. Biography.com notes that taped phone conversations from 2010 captured Gibson using racial slurs and admitting to hitting Grigorieva, which deeply damaged his public image.

How has his public behavior been perceived?

Public perception is split between his artistic achievements — two Academy Awards for Braveheart — and a long record of outbursts. A 2023 Business Insider timeline catalogs incidents from 2006 to 2016, including alleged anti-Semitic, racist, and misogynistic remarks. The cumulative effect, many observers argue, has been a self-inflicted relegation from Hollywood’s A-list.

Quotes

“I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but I don’t take medication for it.”

– Mel Gibson in a 2010 interview with The Guardian

“I want to apologize specifically to the Jewish community for my words that were hateful and despicable.”

– Mel Gibson, 2006 statement after DUI arrest (Business Insider)

“After a long and difficult marriage, we have decided to separate.”

– Robyn Moore Gibson, through representatives, 2006 (BBC News)

For Hollywood casting directors, the Mel Gibson dilemma is now a public relations calculus: the actor’s box-office draw is undeniable, but his baggage is a liability. The pattern is clear — each comeback has been followed by a relapse into controversy. For Gibson, the road ahead means either a sustained reputation rebuild or continued exile from mainstream opportunities.

For a deeper look into his ongoing recovery, Mel Gibsons health and sobriety journey provides a comprehensive update on his career and personal life.

Frequently asked questions