Mel Gibson: ‘Braveheart’ Star’s Violent Tantrum

Mel Gibson almost blew his directorial debut with 1995's "Braveheart" — by flipping out and throwing an ashtray through a wall while screaming at executives! It's the latest Hollywood scandal unearthed in the leaked manuscript of "Leading Lady," according to reports about the insider tell-all that also exposed Angelina Jolie and her big-screen drug tests. The book looks back at the career of Paramount head Sherry Lansing, whose executives were lucky to keep their own heads while dealing with the volatile actor!

Mel now confirms the shocking story — as a production head looks back at the early negotiations for "Braveheart," when the director/star decided that studio brass weren't putting up enough money. "He grabbed a large glass ashtray,” recalled agent Jeff Berg, "and threw it through the wall. He threw the ashtray through the wall!" Said the chastened star: "I was kind of upset, probably a little over the top. It was all posturing bullsh*t."

And in a true Hollyweird twist, Mel's outburst actually helped him get what he wanted for his directorial debut! Just a week later, Paramount agreed to shell out more money for the historical epic, while also cutting back the studio's distribution fee. The tale about the Scottish revolt against King Edward I of England paid off, too — winning the Oscar for Best Picture, plus the Academy Award for Mel Gibson as Best Director!