They met more than a decade ago and became one of Hollywood’s most iconic couples. Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross recently revealed that they decided to separate a year ago but chose not to confirm it publicly to protect their eight-year-old son, Lars. For his sake, the director and the screenwriter remain close and plan to continue co-parenting. “Although it’s sad to close this chapter in our lives, we are blessed with a beautiful son and will continue to be the best parents possible,” they said in a joint statement to People.
© Getty ImagesThey also emphasized that they will remain friends even though their romantic relationship has ended. They added that their love has not disappeared. Instead, it has shifted into a deep platonic bond. According to them, the love between them has not disappeared. On the contrary, it has evolved into a deep platonic bond. Together but not entangled, and united by raising their son, the filmmakers will remain a constant presence in each other’s lives.
A love story fit for the movies
Theirs was a romance worthy of a romantic comedy. They met through mutual friends at a dinner in 2014, and the spark was immediate. Soon after, they started seeing each other one-on-one, away from their close circle, and love followed in less than a year.
© Getty ImagesThree years later, in 2017, the filmmakers welcomed their first child together, Lars, on an exceptional date for Mel. Just days later, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for Hacksaw Ridge, though he did not win the statuette that year. At the time, he exclaimed, "What could be more exciting than listening to the nominations being announced while holding my newborn son."
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A large family
Although he was the couple’s first child together, he was not the director’s firstborn. Lars has eight older siblings on his father Mel’s side. The eldest, Hannah, Christian, Edward, William, Louis, Milo, and Thomas, were born during his marriage to Robyn Moore, while Lucia, now 16, was born during his relationship with composer and pianist Oksana Grigorieva, whom he separated from in 2010.
© Getty ImagesDespite having a large family and Mel being one of the most influential figures in the film industry, most of his children remain largely out of the public eye. It was last year, in September 2024, when his two youngest children, Lars and Lucia, appeared alongside him on a red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Monster Summer.
A tragedy
The wildfires, which blanketed Los Angeles in ash and grief, also affected Mel and Rosalind. The filmmakers were still living together in their Malibu mansion with their kids, even though they were no longer together. “The good news is that those in my family and those I love are all well, and we’re all happy and healthy and out of harm’s way; that’s all I can care about, really,” Gibson said.
