Hollywood stars Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger formed a bond while working together on the 2000 war film The Patriot. The stars got to know each other during the film production, where they were both in the starring roles. Gibson and Ledger had a lot in common—both were young and had a zeal for acting.
It’s unclear what led to their friendship, but the interesting thing is how it was ruined. After that, neither Gibson nor Ledger spoke about the end of their friendship, but it’s reported that it was broken due to a movie role.
Mel Gibson Unsettled Over Claims of Ending Friendship With Heath Ledger
The report by New York Daily News suggests that Heath Ledger’s friendship with Mel Gibson ended due to Ledger’s decision to star in Brokeback Mountain, even though Gibson advised him not to. The news reads:
“Ledger and Gibson had grown close while filming The Patriot, in which Ledger played Gibson’s son. ‘Ledger asked Gibson whether he should take the role of Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback,’ Barresi says a ‘major Hollywood producer’ told him. ‘Gibson strongly counseled against it. The role apparently ran counter to Gibson’s morality. And he felt that it would ruin Heath’s career.'”
When the story was posted, Gibson’s team denied the news. According to what the New York Daily News reported, they told the outlet that their report was “a complete crock of s-.”
The publication also noted, “When Gibson parted ways with Heath, it broke his heart.” Gibson’s alleged belief that the role in Brokeback Mountain would ruin Ledger’s career turned out to be wrong because the role took the Candy star’s career to another level.
After the movie hit, their relationship didn’t get better because of the On the Line actor remarks he made earlier. But in an interview, Gibson expressed regret that he didn’t reach out to the young DC actor.
Mel Gibson Regretted Estrangement with Heath Ledger Before Actor’s Death
Heath Ledger passed early at the age of 28 on January 22nd, 2008. It was concluded that he passed from an accidental overdose. Just after a year of Ledger’s death, Gibson was interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel in February 2009.
In the conversation, the actor spoke about his regrets that he didn’t get along with Ledger and that he didn’t help him when the young actor needed it (via The Sydney Morning Herald):
“I should have called him years before. I didn’t really know the ins and outs of what was up with him, but I don’t believe it was just an accident.”
Gibson told Kimmel that he would have made changes whatever happened between them in the past before Ledger’s tragic passing.
