Mel Gibson is an American, born in New York. His father moved the family to Australia to avoid having his eldest son serve in Viet Nam. When the boy came of age he enlisted in the Australian Army and volunteered for service in 'Nam. So much for parental planning.

Mel Gibson launched his film career in Australia, then moved to America to capitalize on his success. Love him, or hate him, his films do big bucks at the box office making him one of the few hyphenates (actor-writer-director-producer) in Hollywood who can finance his own projects.