Mel Gibson has long been one of the most controversial figures in Hollywood. Known for his roles in Mad Max, Lethal Weapon and Braveheart, Gibson has a complicated history both on and off the big screen. While his reputation has been tarnished by various controversies over the years, there are some lesser-known stories from his time in Hollywood that continue to intrigue fans.

One such story involves the strange rules set by Gibson’s longtime manager Ed Limato that prevented Gibson from rooming with fellow actors Richard Gere and Denzel Washington.

Mel Gibson’s career in the 1980s and 1990s achieved significant success. During this time, talent agent Ed Limato played a pivotal role in shaping his Hollywood journey. Limato was a well-known agent known for managing some of the biggest names in the industry.

His A-list clients include not only Gibson but also Richard Gere and Denzel Washington. But Limato had an unusual rule: He wouldn’t allow these three stars to be in the same room.

Gibson himself mentioned this rule years after Limato’s death. In an interview with Access Hollywood, he said: “(Washington) and Richard Gere “And I had the same manager, and the manager would never let us all be in the same room at the same time.” This stark split had nothing to do with the players personally but with Limato’s approach to business.

Limato had his own reasons for imposing this rule. As Gibson describes it, this was part of Limato’s method of managing his high-end clients. “It was about (Limato’s) job,” Gibson said. Limato wanted each of his customers to feel like they were his top priority.

This meant avoiding any situation where two or more big stars might compare notes or feel a sense of competition. According to Gibson, there were other measures taken to boost each player’s ego while visiting Limato’s home.

Limato would rearrange picture frames to highlight the person visiting. “When you came to his house, he would switch picture frames from back to front to make it look like you were the most important person,” Gibson recalled.

One reason for the split was that Gibson, Gere, and Washington often competed for the same roles. The three actors were in high demand at the height of their fame and had overlapping appeal when it came to casting directors.

Although Gibson didn’t share details about the specific roles they all wanted, it’s clear that this rivalry influenced Limato’s decision to keep them separate. The goal was to avoid unnecessary tensions or awkward encounters that could affect their careers.

Years later, after Limato passed away in 2010 following a battle with emphysema, Gibson, Gere and Washington finally had the chance to reunite. The three players came together to honor their late manager. Gibson said it was the first time they had all been in the same room.

“We toasted (Limato) and had a great time,” he said, reflecting on the rare gathering. This reunion was a chance for the players to reminisce and share memories, finally putting aside the professional rivalries that once kept them apart.

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