Downey stands up for Gibson

Actor Robert Downey Jr, who received the American Cinematheque award, paid a tribute to actor Mel Gibson during his acceptance speech and asked for Gibson to hand him the award.

Updated on: Oct 18, 2011, 01:39:01 IST

PTI | By HT Correspondent, New Delhi

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Actor Robert Downey Jr who received the American Cinematheque award, paid a tribute to actor Mel Gibson during his acceptance speech and asked for Gibson to hand him the award.

“I asked Mel to present this award for me for a reason. When I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope and encouraged me to find my faith. And when I couldn’t get hired, he cast me in the lead of a movie that was actually developed for him,” said the 46-year-old actor. Gibson famously helped Downey to make a comeback by paying Downey’s insurance bond so he could star in The Singing Detective (2003).

“He kept a roof over my head and food on the table,” Downey added. Gibson is locked in a bitter custody battle over his daughter with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, who had accused him of domestic violence.

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