By Michael Childers

Melvin Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor, director, and producer.

Born in in America the family moved to Australia when he was 12. Mel began his acting career on Australian television but he made his film debut as the leather-clad post-apocalyptic survivor in George Miller's Mad Max. Later he moved into more mainstream commercial filmmaking with the popular Lethal Weapon series.

After establishing himself as a household name with the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series, Gibson expanded from acting into directing and producing.

He directed and starred in the Academy Award-winning Braveheart. His direction of Braveheart made him the sixth actor-turned-filmmaker to receive an Oscar for Best Director.

In 2004, he directed and produced The Passion of the Christ, a blockbuster movie that portrayed the last hours of the life of Jesus.

Gibson is an honorary Officer of the Order of Australia.