Mel Gibson's 'Hellish' War With Cigarettes

By Bryan Alexander Posted Jan 17th 2010 10:10AM

Mel Gibson has gone through a lot of drama in his long Hollywood career. But nothing seemingly comes close to finally quitting his 45-year smoking habit. Moving onto Day 9 without cigarettes, an edgy Gibson spoke to reporters at a press conference promoting his long-awaited return to the screen in 'Edge of Darkness.' The clear message was resuming acting: not so tough. Quitting the cancer sticks: "hellish." More on Mel's "torture" after the jump!

"It was torture," says Gibson. "The first three days I was like an axe murderer. Day 4: I'd come at you with a bat. Day 5: I was dangerous with a lawn mower. It is a hellish habit to break." Gibson half-joked that he's convinced his mother smoked when she had him in the womb, explaining how he quickly got hooked after starting at a young age. "When I first had one when I was nine-years-old I thought, 'I missed this, Oh my God.' I knew I missed it."

Stopping has had a massive impact on his work. "Every single artistic decision I ever made was done with a cigarette," says Gibson. "To not have that, that's pretty hectic. That's crawling the walls, I did anyway."

But the improvement it will have on his health will surely benefit Gibson, who clearly has no plans of slowing down. In 'Edge of Darkness,' the action veteran not only continues to throw punches but also absorbs his share of blows. The 54-year-old Gibson can use all the help he can get to keep up with the high-octane shoots. One fight scene in particular required special preparation.

"I ordered a chiropractor for the day after," says Gibson. "I knew I was going to wake up like road kill. You don't bounce back as quick as you used to. It's not a pleasant experience. Things don't pop back the way they used to."

The whole thought of body pain and a world without smoking made GIbson forget that he has a hot, young Russian girlfriend.

"There's no more fun thing left," says Gibson "I just don't do anything fun anymore."

Putting the nail in the depression coffin he sighed: "But that's dying isn't it? You die in stages. Things go in pieces. I'm more than halfway through."

Tags: cigarettes, Edge of Darkness, EdgeOfDarkness, mel gibson, MelGibson, smoking

Comments

(78)

Sunday 17 January

By Bryan

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Glad to hear it Gibson! We need you around here.

By Gail E. Cooper

Hey, smoking is no joke! Until you've spent time with a dear loved one who died from the ravages of lung cancer, you can't appreciate how lucky you are if you don't smoke. I would not wish cancer on my worst enemy. It's a terribly painful way to die. My mother died in 2003 and I miss her dearly. Perhaps if she would have stopped smoking, she would still be here. If you don't like Mel Gibson, fine, but I would strongly encourage anyone that does smoke to quit. There's just too at stake. It's simply not worth it.

By jinxnolan@mac.com

I think that Gibson's wife has gone through a lot more hell being married to him, that he has with cigarettes

By gail

who gives a damn about mel gibson? i certainly don't.
he's an anti-semitic, alcoholic bum who left his wife for a woman he got pregnant. what a fine person!
i have vowed never again to see a mel gibson movie or anything to do with him.

By mel

Keep on trucking Mel hope all goes well

By Heywood Jablome

WAH !! I`m a filthy rich actor with a young babe......and I just can`t find fun anymore. SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN.....what an a hole.

By Mike

It's his punishment for turning the crucifixion of Christ into a cheesy S&M flick. Making a buck that way will cost him in this life and the next.

Monday 18 January

By d

Mel Gibson is an unrepentant anti-semite and holocaust denier, as is his father. Exactly what else do we need to know about this man?

By Alex0987

I love how this guy has been a sex symbol for most of his life, has sired more kids than Brigham Young, made a bajillion dollars, can pick even young, good-looking women in his early dotage after discarding the worn-out ones......yet life sucks.

By old school

GO SCOTT BROWN!!!!!!!!!!
YOU can do it Mel!!!!!!!!

Guess What, Mel? The Taliban has been busy in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul. While you were participating in the Golden Globes, these terrorist were trying their best to destroy key Afghanistan ministries. Their goal is to destabilize this country's central government in order to further Al Qaeda's Islamic extremist agenda against the West. If I'm not mistaken, Osama bin Laden is married to the daughter of a Taliban leader. There's no question that these organizations share the same agenda. These people are not moderates and we have no other choice except to fight them on their own turf unless you would prefer them to fight here in the America? Now that would certainly be a "HELLISH WAR"!!!

Saturday 23 January

By Bruce

Almost 10 months for me Mel after 44 years believe me, hell gets easier with time. GOOD LUCK

Wednesday 27 January

By Cassie

Are you telling me that Mel Gibson started smoking at age 9!!!! Is this an error?

By J Newt

I watched the Jay Leno Show with Mel and I must say, after years of smoking cigs, and quitting, he really should think about quitting cocaine or whatever type of upper he was on. It made me wiggle and twitch just watching. He itches his nose and face several times, which is a sign of using coke and the attention span was that of a two year old. Tell me I'm wrong. Serious.

Wednesday 03 February

By srsnakes

Rock on Mel! Good for you.

Hey Gail, have another cigarette and take your medication. Oh, and while you're at it, go F yourself.

Saturday 06 February

By Drew W.

Mel,

I hope you kick the habit. I am trying myself and it isn't easy. Besides killing your internal organs , cigarettes also damage your skin- your largest organ. I can tell through the years by watching Gibson on the big screen and DVD that his face was looking more and more haggard by each new movie. Of course, alcohol might have been a double factor as well.

Friday 25 June

By RIFFTIFF

"K E E P IT C L A S S Y" ???? YA! LIKE, mr. robert green? Guess mr. green does"t like Mr. Gipsons Movies!

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