Prince Charles, Mel Gibson, and ex-wife Robyn Denise Moore

During Mel’s last few months at NIDA, he met Robyn in Adelaide, Australia while searching for a room to rent. She happened to be one of the people sharing a place he was interested in. She was very shy and quiet as one classmate described “so quiet she was more like a dormouse”. She worked as a dental nurse and excelled in sports, such as softball and hockey at school.

Robyn and Mel did not date initially since she was already in a relationship, however, they built a promising friendship during that year. Mel recalls his first encounter with Robyn, “I woke up one morning and went to the kitchen and there she was making breakfast. She was my new flatmate. We shared the rent on the house. It wasn’t a huge romance straight away. We became great friends first and used to do things like go shopping together.”

A classmate of Mel’s explained that Robyn, at first, considered Mel nothing more than simply a good friend since she was told stories about what actors were like. After Robyn’s relationship ended, Mel’s classmate continues, “Robyn came from a quiet, secure background and she wanted to give any suggestion of a real romance with Mel some very careful consideration before taking the plunge.”

A few years later, in 1980, there were talks amongst close friends and acquaintances that Robyn was pregnant and a wedding was soon approaching. Shortly before the wedding, Mel approached his parents for advice. His mother, Anne, described, “He was talking about marriage and families in a general way and asked us for advice. Hunton, who’s always been Mel’s hero, said he should never marry a dumb woman, and pick someone who can be your friend for life. I added the reasoning of a mum, telling Mel he should always be kind to his wife.”

Robyn and Mel married at church in Forestville, New South Wales on June 7, 1980, both were 24 years old. Years following, Mel has gone on to describe Robyn as his “Rock of Gibraltar, only more beautiful”. Relatives, friends, and co-workers notice her ability to maintain sanity and stability in his life countering the pressures of the industry.

The two have seven children together and two grandchildren together, and spent over 28 years married. Unfortunately, the two have called it quits and are pending a divorce.

-Angelina (with the help of Man on a Mission by Wensley Clarkson)
Last edited: April 16, 2009