Marvel Star Credits Mel Gibson for Addiction Recovery: ‘Find My Faith’

Published: December 13, 2024

Marvel Star Credits Mel Gibson for Addiction Recovery: ‘Find My Faith’

By Movieguide® Contributor

While at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles in 2011, IRON MAN star Robert Downey Jr. paid tribute to Mel Gibson for leading Downey to sobriety.

“I asked Mel to present this award [the 25th Annual American Cinematheque Award] to me for a reason,” Downey began. “Because when I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope, and he urged me to find my faith. It didn’t have to be his or anyone else’s as long as it was rooted in forgiveness. And I couldn’t get hired. So, he cast me in the lead in a movie that was actually developed for him, and he kept a roof over my head, and he kept food on the table.”

“Gibson spoke kindly of the star, who he famously helped to make a comeback by paying Downey Jr.’s insurance bond so he could star in 2003’s THE SINGING DETECTIVE,” EW reported at the time. “You are my friend,” Gibson said when presenting Downey with the award. “When I saw you all those years ago and got all those warnings, I just thought, ‘There’s nothing so much wrong with him.’” Gibson explained, “You’re a good dude with a good heart.”

Downey continued, “And most importantly, he said, that if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoings and I embraced that part of my soul that was ugly — hugging the cactus he calls it. He said if I hugged the cactus long enough, I’d become a man of some humility and that my life would take on new meaning and it worked. All he asked in return was that someday I help the next guy.”

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The AVENGERS star struggled with addiction throughout the early parts of his career.

“One of the more disturbing incidents involved an intoxicated Downey wandering into a neighbor’s house and passing out in a bed. After repeatedly missing court-ordered drug tests, Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison stint in 1999, but only ended up serving a year in California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran,” American Addiction Centers reported.

“In 2001, while on parole, Downey was found barefoot, wandering around Culver City, California, and was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence,” the outlet continued. “That incident led to him being fired from his role on the TV show ALLY MCBEAL in addition to other film and stage jobs. Instead of being sent back to prison, the now-broke actor was ordered to rehab.”

Downey finally got sober in 2003 after his wife, Susan Downey, gave him an ultimatum, and he “credits sobriety for the phenomenal career momentum he has enjoyed over the past few years.”