Celebrity Justice
Suicide Victim on Mel's Property in Movie Biz

TMZ has learned the man who committed suicide on Mel Gibson's property was a construction foreman on a number of movie sets, including "The Matrix Reloaded," and "Dr. Dolittle 2," "Star Trek: Nemesis," and "Karate Kid II."

We're told the victim is Michael John Van Dyke. Van Dyke was 48-years-old, and was listed as a prop foreman for the remake of "Psycho."

Sources say Van Dyke was a long-time friend of the contractor hired on Gibson's property and was going through financial troubles. He had no connection to Gibson.

We've learned Michael went through a messy, protracted divorce a few years ago. People who worked with him on the "Star Trek: Nemesis" set say he was in desperate financial shape. His ex-wife is a hair stylist for movies.

Van Dyke had a twin brother, Robert, who also works construction in the film business.



Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mel Gibson

Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 5)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. if he killed himself how is he the victim? He was a selfish man who was too scared to face up to his problems, what ever they were and ruin (at least put a fork in) the lives of others. I did say a prayer for the family when I first read about this but the more I think about it the more angry I get!

Posted at 4:40PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Victim my a$$

32. IF MEL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT , WHY EVEN PUT HIS NAME OR PICTURE ON HERE ..............

PEOPLE BETTER WISE UP AND START LIVING WITHIN THERE MEANS , STOP SPENDING

AND START SAVING $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE ...................INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE TRADE , START

HAVING 3 OR 4 , THIS WAY , IF ONE TRADE ISN'T DOING GOOD ( REAL ESTATE ) , THAN YOU CAN DO THE

OTHERS............WHERE YOU'RE MAKING MORE MONEY......................

Posted at 4:48PM on Mar 20th 2008 by EVERYONE IS A VICTIM OF THIS FINANCIAL CRISES .....EXCEPT FOR THE C.E.O.

33. #32,,,,,,,,,,,,,,YOU BETTER DO YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU WILL FOUND OUT

YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS OFF ................THERE'S A NEW SET

OF RULES WITH BANKUPT ...........................

OVER 70% OF PEOPLE IN USA , HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS .......

SO WORSE THAN OTHERS...................

IT'S AT A POINT , PEOPLE WILL ONLY PAY THERE BILLS ,

THERE WILL NOT BE EXTRA FOR SPENDING MONEY FOR

SNOWBALL EFFECT .....................

GOING TO THE MOVIES , OUT TO EAT ,ETCCCCC

IT'S GOING TO EFFECT EVERYONE , ALREADY BEEN SAID ON "NEWS " .

START SAVING AND STOP SPENDING ...................

Posted at 4:49PM on Mar 20th 2008 by 70% OF PEOPLE ARE FINANCIALLY IN DEBT ...EFFECTING EVERYONE .

34. FlBiker YOU ARE TOOOO FUNNY YOU NEED TO BE ON SHOW AND GIVE COMMENTS LIKE THAT ALL DAY LONG

Posted at 4:53PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Cynthia

35. #32,,,,,,,,,,,,,,YOU BETTER DO YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU WILL FOUND OUT

YOU HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS OFF ................THERE'S A NEW SET

OF RULES WITH BANKUPT ...........................

OVER 70% OF PEOPLE IN USA , HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS .......

SOME WORSE THAN OTHERS...................

IT'S AT A POINT , PEOPLE WILL ONLY PAY THERE BILLS ,

THERE WILL NOT BE EXTRA GOING TO THE MOVIES , OUT TO EAT ,ETCCCCC

IT'S GOING TO EFFECT EVERYONE , ALREADY BEEN SAID ON "NEWS " .

START SAVING AND STOP SPENDING ...................

Posted at 4:54PM on Mar 20th 2008 by OVER 70% OF PEOPLE ARE FINANCIALLY IN TROUBLE

36. I went to school since elementary with Mike VanDyke and his brother. My sympathies to his friends and family.

Posted at 4:54PM on Mar 20th 2008 by gossip fan

37. OH HUSH UP 37, 35 and 34 .. get over yourself .. pahlease

Posted at 4:57PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Sassinya

38. this site didn't have the guts to post my previous comment, there was no vulgarity, I merely bashed the site for callous reporting, what a self serving piece of crap site

Posted at 4:58PM on Mar 20th 2008 by tcool316

39. Clearly these people did not know this man!!!! He was a father,brother, friend. How dare these commets even be posted!!!!
Its very sad.

Posted at 5:08PM on Mar 20th 2008 by A disgusted person!!!!

40. Yeah---Kinda rude to hang yourself in someone elses home!

Posted at 5:28PM on Mar 20th 2008 by All American Girl

41. What ever happened to filing bankruptcy and starting anew??????

Posted at 6:12PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Haris Pilton

42. committing suicide is a very selfish act

Posted at 6:35PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Toni

43. I quess the place is going to be totally haunted and spooky,call in the priest Mel for house exorcism.People if you hate life that much and have to sign out before your time,do it the privacy of your own home,nobody needs to see that crap.

Posted at 6:37PM on Mar 20th 2008 by YUK

44. You stories about Mel is fabricated and unfounded

Posted at 7:09PM on Mar 20th 2008 by Harry Armen

45. TMZ....are you reaching to make this MEL'S FAULT????? I don't care what you report on Mel...he is a good actor, a good family man, and a good person.....I am so tired of hearing that he is a bad man b/c of some drunken slur he made over a year ago....I am jewish and am not offended by him!!!!!!!!!!!!!........................get over this stupid POLITICALY CORRECT way of thinking.........

Posted at 8:07PM on Mar 20th 2008 by get a life

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