Mel Gibson

Often acts and directs stories involving an individual who is persecuted, and fights for justice
Has often portrayed a widower, in films such as Mad Max (the sequels), Lethal Weapon film series, Braveheart (1995), The Patriot : Le Chemin de la liberté (2000), Signes (2002), and Hors de contrôle (2010).
Often portrays men who seek revenge for the murder of family or friends
Rugged, chiseled features
Rich, gravelly voice

Almost turned down the role of William Wallace in Braveheart (1995) because he thought he was too old for the role. He asked the producers if he could direct it instead. A compromise was made, he could direct the movie if he agreed to portray Wallace.
He was a mentor to the late actor Heath Ledger.
For La Passion du Christ (2004), which he directed, wrote and produced, he spent 25 million dollars of his own money. Back in 1992, he started doing research for the movie that was not released until 2004.
His father, Hutton Gibson, moved the family from upstate New York to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 after winning as a contestant on Jeopardy! (1964).
In interviews promoting La Passion du Christ (2004), Gibson admitted that depression had led him to contemplate suicide, and that he made the film to "heal" himself.

I like directing much better. It's more fun, that's all there is to it. It's essentially the same job, which is storytelling, but you have more control over the way you want to tell the story. It's a high. I love it.
My fears: everything from being afraid that I'm going to run out of cream for my cornflakes right up to someone chopping my privates off.
On his involvement in Braveheart (1995) as actor, director and producer: "If you're going to wear three hats, you'd better grow two more heads."
There is no salvation for those outside the Church...I believe it. Put it this way. My wife is a saint. She's a much better person than I am. Honestly. She's like, Episcopalian, Church of England. She prays, she believes in God, she knows Jesus, she believes in that stuff. And it's just not fair if she doesn't make it, she's better than I am. But that is a pronouncement from the chair. I go with it.
On his religious beliefs: "I'm not a done deal. I'm a work in progress. I'm still extremely flawed."