IMPORTANT DATES

1956.- Mel Coluncille Gerard Gibson is born at the Peekskill Hospital (New York), 4.45 p.m, January 3.

1962.- On Sunday, October 7, 1962, Mel received his first Holy Communion at the Holy Croos Catholic Church, in the community of Morris.

1964.- On the morning of December 11, Hutton Gibson is injured while aboard a train engine. He sues the New York Central Railroad for damages. For more than three years the New York Central Railroad refuses to admit responsibility for the accident and fights Huttonīs claims for reparation.

1968.- The trial ends on Valentineīs Day, the jury awards Hutton $145,000. The Gibson family moves to Sidney, Australia.

1974.- Gibson enters the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney to study acting. He performs in such plays as Romeo and Juliet and Waiting for Godot for the next three years.

1977.- Gibson appears in his first film Summer City. Mel gets the part of a surfer called "Scollop". Mel graduates from the NIDA in the fall of this year.

1978.- Mel meets Robyn Moore, who is one of the people sharing an apartment he is interested in. He performs in stage plays and in the Australian television programs The Sullivans, Punishment and The Hero. Mel takes an instant dislike to TV.

1979.- Mel appears in the films Mad Max and Tim. He wins The Australian Film Instituteīs Best Actor award and the Best New Talent Award for TIM.

1980.- Robyn Moore and Mel are married on June 7. The wedding takes place in a church in the community of Forestville, New South Wales.

1981.- His daughter Hannah is born. Gallipoli is released in the United States and Mad Max II (The Road Warrior) is released in Australia. Mel wins his second AFI Best Actor award gor Gallipoli.

1982.- Twin sons Edward and Christian are born. Mel appears on stage as Biff Loman in the Death of a salesman. Mel portrays Australian Broadcasting Service reporter Guy Hamilton in The Year of living dangerously.

1983.- The Year of Living dangerously is released.

1984.- Gibson appears in three films: The Bounty, The River and Mrs. Soffel. In April, Mel is arrested on a drunk-driving charge in Toronto. In June, William is born.

1985.- Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is released. Tina Turner co-stars with Mel in thin international hit.

1987.- Just after the release of Lethal Weapon, Robyn gives birth to the coupleīs fifth child - a boy called Louis.

1988.- Tequila Sunrise is released.

1989.- Gibson stars in the hit sequel Lethal Weapon 2.

1990.- Gibson stars in three films: A Bird on a Wire, Hamlet and Air America. Son Milo is born. In December, just a few weeks before Hamlet is scheduled to open in the U.S, Anne Gibson dies at the age of 69. cause of death is a heart attack, in Wodonga Hospital, northern Vitoria. Mel founds Icon Production.

1991.- Mel receives The Will Award from Washington, DCīs Shakespeare Theatre for his performance in Hamlet.

1992.- Two great successes: Lethal Weapon 3 and Forever young.

1993.- Gibsonīs directorial debut. The Man without a face is released in the US in August. Positive reviews.

1994.- New version of Maverick. Jodie Foster and James Garner co-star with Gibson.

1995.- Mel directs, produces and stars Braveheart. Mel appears in a cameo in Casper. He also performs the voice role of John Smith in Pocahontas.

1996.- Braveheart wins five Academy Awards. Mel receives two Academy Awards (Best Director and Best Picture) and the Golden Globe as Best Director for Braveheart. Gibson stars in Ransom, whose filming is disrupted when Mel develops acute appendicitis on a flight from LA to New York. he has an emergency operation.

1997.- Julia Roberts co-stars with Gibson in Conspiracy Theory. He appears in cameo roles in Fathersī Day and Fairy Tale: A True Story.

1998.- Lethal Weapon 4 is released.

1999.- Payback is released. Mel appears as the voice on himself on The Simpsons. In April, son Thomas is born.