Birth Name: Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson
Birthdate: January 3, 1956
Birthplace: Peekskill, NY
Occupations: Actor, Director, Producer
Quote: On playing Hamlet: "I didn't have control there. It wasn't just difficult because it was a difficult part--it was difficult because of the work situation. I don't want to name names or anything. I should have done it onstage first. Anyway, long story. Boring, boring...making excuses. I'm supposed to know what to do. That's my craft." --Us, June 1995

Family:
Father: Hutton Gibson, railroad brakeman; leading figure in conservative Catholic splinter group The Alliance for Catholic Traditions; won $25,000 on the Art Fleming-hosted Jeopardy in 1968
Mother: Ann Gibson; died December 1990; born in Australia
Siblings: Gibson was the sixth of 11 children
Brother: Donal Gibson; born 1960
Daughter: Hannah Gibson; born 1980
Son: Edward Gibson; twin of Christian; born 1983
Son: Christian Gibson; twin of Edward; born 1983
Son: Willie Gibson; born 1985
Son: Milo Gibson; born in 1990
Son: Has two others

Awards:
1979: Australian Film Institute Award: Best Actor, Tim
1981: Australian Film Institute Award: Best Actor, Gallipoli
1992: NATO/ShoWest Male Star of the Year Award
1993: MTV Movie Award: Best Onscreen Duo, Lethal Weapon 3
1995: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award: Best Director, Braveheart
1995: Golden Globe: Best Director, Braveheart
1995: NATO/ShoWest Director of the Year Award
1995: Oscar: Best Picture, Braveheart
1995: Oscar: Best Director, Braveheart
1995: BAFTA Lloyds Bank Award: Favorite Film, Braveheart
1996: MTV Award: Best Action Sequence, Braveheart
1997: People's Choice Award: Favorite Actor in a Film

Education:
All-boys Catholic school (he was taunted for his American accent)
National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, Australia (1977); his sister sent in an application for him without his knowledge