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.
Suicide Victim on Mel's Property in Movie Biz
3/20/2008 5:06 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
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DR WASABI
I PRAY FOR THE POOR SOUL. MEL IS REAPING THE REWARDS OF HIS HATRED FRON THE LORD.
Melinda
!?!?!?!?!?!
dwk
i worked with mike in the biz he will be missed. he was a very nice guy and i would have help him had i known how bad it was. i will mis his sense of humor.:)
del
Southpark totally nailed TMZ last night.
Janice
Well, I hope she is happy now
friend
Suicide is not necessarily a selfish act. It is the action of a severely troubled soul that cannot think rationally anymore. You ignorant, insensitive stupid bastards that have made these horrible comments I suggest you do some soul searching and while you're at it get some education. To mike's family and friends, I am sorry that this has happened. I will pray for all of you and for Mike.
madcarlotta
ITA w/ #52. Thanks for all you said! Some of you are so heartless and insensitive and just ignorant. Depression, which can tragically lead to suicide, as well as other mental illnesses are just that...illnesses. They aren't character flaws! I work w/ people diagnosed with mental illnesses and I've suffered from severe clinical depression in my past, so I honestly have seen both sides of the spectrum. Depression runs in my family and I've also been frustrated and angry (couldn't help it) w/ other family members who refused to get help. It's awful for everyone all around, no doubt. And I can see why some of you term it a "selfish act." But my experience has been that the vast majority of suicidal patients I've seen haven't done a damn thing to be "selfish." Most just feel like there is no hope and they cannot bear the pain anymore, and some have thinking that is so twisted with misery and sickness that they think they are actually doing their family and friend's a favor. It's terribly, terribly sad and so misunderstood. Judging the most desperately sick and miserable people, people who often have real, physical, chemical imbalances is just WRONG. What suicide IS...it's a permanent "solution" to a temporary problem...and it's not a solution at all anyway, it leaves everyone who ever loved you in utter misery forever. To those of you who are so flip abt. how much help you believe is out there -- it's not always that easy, especially if you have no health insurance. Even then, most insurers cover nothing but meds, some don't even do that. I spent up to $2000 a month for 12 years to get well - and I HAD insurance and was one of the very lucky few who could not only find a way to pay for it, but also had the tenacity and patience to never, ever give up trying to get better. And you know what? It was ALL worth it. Mind you, I had severe long-term clinical depression. Most people I've treated get better sooner and a few take longer, but if anyone out there feels depressed and like they just can't go on any longer - please just hold on. There is real healing, relief, and yes, happiness to be had in this life. Don't listen to the people here who are so lacking in empathy and understanding. You CAN get better. If I could then you can too. I started out at grimy county clinics until I got well enough to work and pay for my care. You can do it too. Just please don't give up.
I don't really care what any of you think of me by posting this. It wasn't easy to do and I know I'll be judged and joked about. So be it. It's worth it to me and I'm not ashamed.
LongJohn69
Everybody & everything in or around the TMZ of Glitz-ville are totally nuts or rampantly corrupted. Even the nail jockeys are not immune to the craziness that abounds out there. The entire state of Cali should just drop off into the Pacific Ocean. However, they must ship all the porn hotties to the Midwest first. I will do my utmost to "fill them in" as they have never been "filled in" before about our land of milk and honey.
Nuff_Said
#53 I FEEL VERY SAD FOR THIS MAN THAT KILLED HIMSELF ITS A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND IF I WERE IN MELS POSITION OF GREAT WEALTH I WOULD HAVE HELPED THIS MAN OUT
Jo
He was someone that my kids and I knew.He was a GREAT Dad his pain most have been so great to make him leave his girls who he loved so very much!!He was always at scoor games or taking the kids snow boarding,The beach,BBQ's you name it.He was a good man! I know his girls will never get over this and will miss the huge roll that he played in their lives.God bless you Mike we will pray for you and your family.
Red
Honey! If I looked like that I'd kill myself too!
MovieGuy
I, too, knew Mike and he was a really nice guy. So sorry for him and his family. A good-looking (it's hard to tell from the photo, but he was), talented guy who had a great sense of humor. He will be missed.
tc
Get a life losers! If you knew Mike or his Family you would know that they are great people and are struggling through this. Give them their space and instead of spending your time spewing crap about someone you know nothing about why don't you try spending a few minutes saying some prayers for the family. Show some compassion.
tc
Let me share a something with all of you who keep calling Mike's act selfish. When we were remodeling our kitchen he stopped over to visit us and ended up removing our kitchen cabinets and relocating them into our garage. When my dad and I were building a deck he came by with his tools and spent two days making sure the deck was done correctly. When I was building a block retaining wall on my hill he stopped by with his laser level and spent a day making sure that the wall was done correctly. When my son was starting in a soccer league, he came to his soccer practices and games to give him advice. MIke was the one of the least selfish individuals I knew. He was always there to help. He was always going out of his way for his daughters. He loved them more than anything and talked about them all the time. He was so proud of them. Most of time we were together our conversations would end up being about his daughters. He gave them all he could. HE WAS NOT A SELFISH PERSON. IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW MIKE, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM SAYING THINGS ABOUT HIM. FOR ALL OF YOU THAT DID KNOW MIKE, YOU KNOW WHO HE WAS AND HOW UNSELFISH HE WAS. HE WAS A MAN A GREAT CHARACTER AND EVEN MEN OF GREAT CHARACTER CAN BE TAKEN DOWN BY THE POWER OF DEPRESSION. WE KNOW YOU MIKE, WE LOVE YOU, AND WE WILL ALL MISS YOU. TC AND LC
crush
Mike, may you soul rest in power!!!!! We love you!!!!