The actor and his much younger partner have called it quits.

Mel Gibson and his longtime partner Rosalind Ross have split (Image: Getty)

Mel Gibson and his longtime partner Rosalind Ross have quietly gone their separate ways after nearly a decade together. The Hollywood actor, 69, and screenwriter, 35, confirmed the split in a joint statement to PEOPLE, revealing they actually ended their relationship around a year ago. Despite calling time on their romance, the former couple stressed their focus remains firmly on co-parenting their eight-year-old son.  In a statement shared with People, they said: “Although it’s sad to end this chapter in our lives, we are blessed with a beautiful son and will continue to be the best parents possible.”

The pair had largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight, with the breakup taking place away from public attention. The couple’s decision to part ways comes 11 years after they were first introduced by mutual friends in 2014, before quickly striking up a romance. They welcomed their son Lars in 2017 — just days before Mel Gibson received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director for Hacksaw Ridge.

Mel has nine children with three different women (Image: Getty)

At the time, Mel spoke about the milestone moment, saying: “What could be more exciting than listening to the nominations being announced while holding my newborn son.”

Ross, who studied literature at Emerson College, went on to carve out her own career as a screenwriter and director.

She contributed to the TV drama Matador and later wrote and directed the 2022 boxing drama Father Stu, which starred Mark Wahlberg alongside Gibson.

She is also attached to several projects still in development, including Black Sam and Barbarian — the latter previously described as a “female Braveheart.”

Away from film sets, Ross is an accomplished equestrian and won a gold medal at the World Equestrian Games in 2010.

Lars is Mel’s ninth child. He also shares daughter Hannah and six sons — Christian, Edward, William, Louis, Milo and Thomas — with ex-wife Robyn Moore, as well as 16-year-old daughter Lucia with former partner Oksana Grigorieva.

In September 2024, Mel’s two youngest children, Lucia and Lars, joined him on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of his film Monster Summer.

The family also endured a devastating setback earlier this year when their Malibu home was destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires in January. Mel was out of town working at the time, but his family and their animals were safely evacuated.

Speaking days later, he said during a Jan. 9 appearance on NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports.: “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.”

Professionally, Mel remains busy and is currently working on The Resurrection of the Christ, the long-awaited follow-up to his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.

The new project will be released in two parts, with the first instalment scheduled to hit cinemas on Good Friday in March 2027.