A source close to Mel and Robyn Gibson – who this week announced they were divorcing after 28 years of marriage – says that the atmosphere in the couple’s home was often a giveaway that things were not right between the couple.

“The tension between Mel and Robyn was obvious. Even during family dinners, they wouldn’t speak sometimes. Robyn would pretend that everything was perfect. No one would ever dare to ask her how she and Mel were doing,” the source tells PEOPLE.

The problems seemed to become evident three years ago. “During the summer of 2005 the whole family had a great time hanging out at the Gibson’s Malibu beach house, but at the beginning of [2006], Mel started having severe depression and went back to drinking massive amounts of alcohol. It was all very stressful for his wife,” says the source.

“At the same time, Mel was under tremendous pressure while filming [his epic Central American movie] Apocalypto in Mexico. The movie got delayed because of terrible rainstorms, and Mel and his crew stayed in the Mexican jungle for weeks during bad conditions. Mel’s drinking got out of control because it was very difficult for him to deal with the pressure of producing the movie.”

The source adds: “Mel’s family had no control over his drinking and were instead afraid of his bad, unpredictable temper.” At that time, “Mel rarely left the house [on location] for other things than business meetings.”

In papers filed this week, the date of the couple’s marital separation is listed as Aug. 26, 2006 – less than a month after Mel Gibson’s profanity-laced DUI arrest. (more…)

Mel Gibson may soon be writing one of the biggest checks of his life – to his wife.

With no indication that the estranged couple – who married 28 years ago – had a prenup, Robyn Gibson, 53, is legally entitled in their divorce to half of everything the actor-director-producer earned from their marriage in 1980 to the date of their legal separation: A fortune estimated at close to $1 billion.

“This could easily be one of the biggest divorce settlements in Hollywood history,” says Los Angeles family lawyer Lynn Soodik, who’s not involved with the case. “Any attorney would advise her to take half.”

A $500 million settlement would dwarf the current record holders of celebrity divorce:

Michael Jordan ponied up $168 million following his 2006 divorce with wife Juanita; Neil Diamond forked over $150 million after his 1994 split with Marcia Murphey; while Steven Spielberg shelled out $100 million following his 1989 divorce from Amy Irving.

Among Gibson’s estimated assets: More than $600 million grossed by The Passion of the Christ alone, $100-plus million in real estate investments worldwide (he bought an island in Fiji for $15 million in 2004), and $75 million for film and TV projects for which Gibson executive produced.

As for film residuals, Gibson, also 53, “would be accountable to pay half for the rest of his days,” Soodik says. “If he gets a residual check for Lethal Weapon or Braveheart, half of that check is hers.”

But don’t expect the ex-couple to enter a painful, protracted battle in the courts.

“This divorce will probably reach a settlement in a matter of months,” Soodik says. “It likely won’t be messy since there’s enough money to go around.”

Source

On Easter Sunday, Mel Gibson attended Mass at the Roman Catholic church he had built in 2005. His wife wasn’t with him. And after the service, he quietly spoke to some parishioners.

“Well,” he was overheard saying, “she’s filed for divorce.”

Last Thursday – the day before Good Friday – Robyn Gibson, 53, his wife of 28 years, signed divorce papers, seeking joint custody over their minor child, Thomas, 9, and spousal support.

That wasn’t the only surprising news. A source confirms to PEOPLE that Gibson and Robyn actually have been separated for three years.

The split was around the time that Gibson had reached a personal nadir when he was pulled for a DUI in Malibu. The movie star regained his sobriety after the notorious roadside incident in which he made anti-Semitic remarks that he later apologized for.

“They’ll do this amicably,” says the source. “There’s a lot of mutual respect and they’ve worked hard on their marriage and worked hard on their separation.”

Adds the source, “They’ll handle the divorce in the same respectful way.”

In fact, Gibson and his estranged wife attended church together with other family members on Palm Sunday, just four days before Robyn signed the divorce papers, PEOPLE has learned.

In addition to Thomas, the Gibsons have six older children: Milo, 19, Louis, 21, William, 24, twins Edward and Christian, 26, and daughter Hannah, 28.

Source

ET confirms Mel Gibson’s wife, Robyn, has filed for divorce after 28 years of marriage.

A statement from Mel’s rep on behalf of the actor tells ET, “Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so.”

A source tells ET the couple has been separated for nearly three years. Mel and Robyn have 7 children: Hannah, twins Edward and Christian, William, Louis, Milo and Tom. Tom is the only minor.

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PLOT OUTLINE: As homicide detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) investigates the death of his activist daughter, he uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence.

Splash

What the heck!!!

ET breaks news that Britney Spears and Mel Gibson are currently en route to Costa Rica on vacation together! Britney arrived on time, about 5 minutes after Mel, and the plane departed at 9:05 a.m.

We spotted them leaving on a private plane to the Central American state early this morning. Sources tell us that Mel is taking Britney and her father Jamie for a mini-vacation. We’ve learned they will be guests at Mel’s home in Costa Rica.

According to the terms of her custody Britney’s children cannot leave the country without special approval, so they are not joining her on the trip.

While the pop star and the actor may appear to be an unlikely duo, they used to live in the same Malibu community and were spotted having dinner together at Studio City’s Romanov restaurant in March.

Source

Mel Gibson is to return to acting for the first time in six years in a feature adaptation of 80s BBC drama Edge of Darkness.

The Mad Max star has not topped the bill in front of the camera since Signs and We Were Soldiers in 2002, having concentrated on directing with The Passion of the Christ in 2004 and Apocalypto in 2006.

But after Martin Campbell, director of the original television series, developed a cinematic version of the show with Graham King and William Monahan, the Oscar-winning producer and screenwriter of The Departed, Gibson has now committed to his first acting role in years, Variety reports.

The Bafta-winning BBC miniseries featured Bob Peck as a policeman whose activist daughter is murdered in front of him.

When he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a dense conspiracy of government intrigue and nuclear corruption.

According to Variety, Gibson is a long-time fan of the show and was receptive to King and Campbell’s overtures.

The role in Edge of Darkness, which begins shooting in Boston in August, will represent the Braveheart star’s first attempt to court public affections since his approval ratings declined after a drunk-driving arrest in 2006, following which he made anti-Semitic remarks.

Having had his drivers’ licence suspended, received three years’ probation and a $1,300 fine and ordered to attend alcohol education classes and a three-month alcohol education program, he later described the incident as a “moment of insanity”.

Source

WENN