Robyn Gibson files to divorce actor husband Mel Gibson

THE wife of Australian superstar actor Mel Gibson wife of 28 years has led for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Robyn Gibson, 52, filed the petition, which offers no details of the breakup, in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The couple have seven children, but only one under 18. Robyn Gibson has requested joint custody of their son Thomas who turns 10 today.

In addition to Thomas, the Gibsons have six older children: Milo, 19, Louis, 21, William, 24, twins Edward and Christian, 26, and daughter Hannah, 28.

Details of how the couple's assets will be divided were not spelled out in the court filings.

The New York Post reported that Gibson does not have a pre-nupital agreement and the Los Angeles Business Journal has also estimated his wealth at $US850billion which makes the actor and director a billionaire in Australian dollars.

People.com reported that Gibson confessed that his wife was divorcing him after attending Easter Mass at a Roman Catholic Church he built with his own money.

"Gibson and Robyn actually have been separated for three years," People quoted a source as saying.

The People report said: "The split was around the time that Gibson had reached a personal nadir when he was pulled over for a DUI in Malibu. The movie star regained his sobriety after the notorious roadside incident in which he made anti-Semitic remarks that he later apologized for."

Robyn Gibson is seeking jewellery and earnings and assets she accrued after the couple separated, and a share of the money and assets Gibson, 53, has earned during his nearly three decades as a Hollywood hit maker.

She wants the actor-director to pay spousal support and her lawyer's fees.

The Gibsons released a joint statement today, seeking privacy. Related coverage: Mel Gibson seen with mystery woman

"Throughout our marriage and separation we have always strived to maintain the privacy and integrity of our family and will continue to do so," the statement read.

The couple were married in June 1980, court records show.

Mad Max in 1979 brought Gibson his first international attention, closely followed by the critically acclaimed Gallipoli and the Mad Max sequel The Road Warrior.

Gibson has since gone on to make a mix of crowd-pleasing shoot-em-ups such as the Lethal Weapon franchise, and has established himself as a director. Braveheart earned Gibson two Oscars for best picture and best director.

He also produced and directed the surprise blockbusters The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto, which broke box-office records for foreign language films in its opening weekend in several countries.

His divorce was first reported by celebrity gossip site TMZ, which made a splash for its reporting of the actor's anti-Semitic slurs uttered during a drunken driving arrest in 2006.

Gibson pleaded no contest to the charge later that year and was given three years' probation.

Since then, he has hosted Britney Spears at his home in Costa Rica, and continued his acting career. He stars in Edge of Darkness, scheduled for release later this year.

The Daily Mail in London reported that: "The legal action comes as rumours abound that the Australian-born actor became close to a musician simply named Oksana on the set of his most recent film.

"Robyn is being represented in the case by the lawyer Laura Wasser, whose previous clients include Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie and Keifer Sutherland."

The Mail reported Gibson has made a fortune out of his Passion of Christ movie, as well as his acting roles and clever real estate investments. In 2004, Gibson was ranked No.1 on Forbes' celebrity rich list.