Mel Gibson is an American actor, director, and producer, who made his acting debut on the Australian television drama series The Sullivans (1976–1983).

[1] While a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, he was given an uncredited role in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden[citation needed] and subsequently appeared as a leading actor in the micro budget surf drama Summer City (both in 1977).

[2][3] Gibson rose to prominence during the Australian New Wave cinema movement in the early 1980s, having appeared in his breakthrough role in George Miller's dystopian action film Mad Max (1979), portraying the eponymous hero.

[10] Two years later he co-wrote, directed and produced Apocalypto, an epic adventure set in Central America depicting the last days of Mayan civilization before Spanish arrival in the 16th century.

[11][12] Gibson then took a ten-year hiatus from directing during which time he landed roles in Edge of Darkness (2010), Machete Kills (2013), The Expendables 3 (2014), and Blood Father (2016).