 After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney, MEL GIBSON (Martin Riggs) auditioned for a role in a low-budget action film -- and was immediately cast by director George Miller to star as "Mad Max." The film brought instant acclaim for its youthful star, who followed that performance by playing a retarded handyman forced to cope with life and his love for a woman twice his age in "Tim," for which he won the Australian Film Institute Award as Best Actor. Gibson participated in both World Wars (on screen) , seeing action in the World War II drama "Attack Force Z," and in Peter Weir 's depiction of the First World War in "Gallipoli," for which Gibson received the Australian Film Institute's Best Actor Award. Gibson recreated the role of Mad Max in 1982's "The Road Warrior," and again in 1986's "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome." He re-teamed with Peter Weir for "The Year of Living Dangerously" (1983). and was featured as Fletcher Christian in the Dino De Laurentiis production of "The Bounty" (1984). The actor made his American film debut opposite Sissy Spacek in "The River" (1984). and next appeared as a prisoner who seduces a warden's wife (Diane Keaton) into aiding his escape in "Mrs. Soffel." In 1987, Gibson made his first appearance as Martin Riggs, the cop registered with the LAPD as a "Lethal Weapon." Prior to "Lethal Weapon 2," Gibson starred with Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell and Raul Julia in writer/director Robert Towne's "Tequila Sunrise." Just days after the completion of principal photography on "Lethal Weapon 2," Gibson flew to Vancouver, British Columbia to begin work opposite Goldie Hawn in director John Badham' S "Bird on a Wire."
 A native of San Francisco, DANNY GLOVER (Roger Murtaugh) first became interested in acting while attending San Francisco State University. He trained at the Black Actors' Workshop of the American Conservatory Theatre, and appeared in numerous stage productions, including Athol Fugard's "The Island" and "Macbeth" at the Los Angeles Actors' Theatre, and "Sizwe Banzi is Dead" at the Eureka Theatre. Other stage credits include Sam Shepard's "Suicide in B Flat" at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco and "The Blood Knot" at off-Broadway's Roundabout Theatre in New York.Glover's early film credits include "Escape From Alcatraz, "Chu Chu and the Philly Flash," and "Iceman." On television, the actor has been seen in several episodes of "Hill Street Blues," "Lou Grant," the PBS series "Many Mansions," the mini-series "Chiefs," and the television movie "Face of Rage. " In 1984, Glover portrayed Maze, the sharecropper who helps to save Sally Field's farm in "Places in the Heart." He followed this with a ruthless characterization of a crooked cop out to kill fellow officer Harrison Ford in Peter Weir's "Witness." Since then, Glover has appeared in "Silverado," Steven Spielberg ' s "The Color Purple," and "BAT-21," as well as the first "Lethal Weapon. "
For his work in "Lethal Weapon," Glover was honored with the NAACP Image Award. He recently won another Image Award as well as an ACE Award for his performance in the title role of the great South African freedom fighter in the HBO presentation of "Mandela." Most recently, Glover starred in the PBS production of "A Raisin in the Sun," the hugely popular CBS mini-series "Lonesome Dove," as well as the HBO Showcase production of "Dead Man Out. "
JOE PESCI portrays Leo Getz, a troublesome, thrillseeking, would-be police officer trapped in the body of an accountant -- a body that is being threatened by some very vicious men whom he has crossed. The Newark, New Jersey native is best known for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta's brother in Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull," a performance which brought him a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination, as well as awards from the New York Film Critics, the National Board of Review, and the American Film Society. Pesci has also been seen opposite Jill Clayburgh in "I'm Dancing As Fast As I Can," Gene Hackman in "Eureka," Rodney Dangerfield in "Easy Money," and was reunited with Robert DeNiro in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time in America." He starred in the television series "Half Nelson," and appeared as the evil drug lord Mr. Big in Michael Jackson's video "Moonwalker," which was released theatrically overseas. Pesci is working once again with Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro in Warner Bros.' upcoming "Good Fellas," now filming in New York.
"I saw him in 'White Mischief' and thought he'd be perfect for the part," says Richard Donner of JOSS ACKLAND who portrays the villainous South African diplomat Arjen Rudd. "An interesting coincidence," recounts Donner, "is that Joss lived in South Africa for a time. One night the South African secret police broke into his home, and searched the place. The only thing they took was a copy of the book Black Beauty. The next day, Joss was asked to leave the country." Although Ackland has enjoyed a career that has spanned more than 40 years and has appeared in many American productions, "Lethal Weapon 2" marks the first time that the actor has acted in a movie actually filmed in the United States. His films have included "The Little Prince," "The Black Windmill," "S*P*Y*S," "Royal Flash," "Silver Bears," "The Greek Tycoon," "Who Is Killing The Great Chefs of Europe," "The Sicilian," and "White Mischief." Ackland has also been seen on television in the mini-series "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," "Queenie," and "The Man who Lived at the Ritz," and will next be seen in the feature version of Torn Clancy's best-seller "The Hunt for Red October."
DERRICK O'CONNOR plays Pieter Vorstedt, Rudd's ruthless right hand man. Best known in the U.K. for his work in television and the theatre, O'Connor has been seen by American audiences in three films by director Terry Gilliam: "Jabberwocky," "Time Bandits," and "Brazil," as well as John Boorman' s "Hope and Glory." His latest film is the British made "Dealers," also starring Rebecca De Mornay.
London-born PATSY KENSIT (Rika Van Den Haas) made her film debut at the age of four as Mia Farrow's daughter in "The Great Gatsby." She has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as appeared in numerous British film, stage and television productions. On film, she has been seen opposite Roger Moore in "Gold," Harrison Ford in "Hanover Street," and Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner and Jane Fonda in director George Cukor's "The Blue Bird." In 1986, she co-starred with David Bowie in director Julien Temple's "Absolute Beginners." When not in front of the cameras, Kensit is likely to be found in a recording studio, or in front of an audience as the lead singer of the rock group Eighth Wonder. A member of the band since age 14, Kensit has co-written many of their hit songs.
Also returning from the cast of "Lethal Weapon" is DARLENE LOVE as Trish, Roger Murtaugh's wife. Love made her dramatic acting debut in "Lethal Weapon," but has long been regarded as a true legend in the world of pop music, dating back to her work in the '60s with producer Phil Spector. As a background vocalist, Love has recorded with such artists as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Dionne Warwick, The Beach Boys, The Mamas and The Papas, Tom Jones, Luther Vandross, Clarence Clemons, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, among many others. Love was the lead singer on such classical records as "He's A Rebel" and "Wait 'Til My Bobby Gets Home." She later formed her own singing trio, known as The Blossoms, who were regularly featured on television's "Shindig." They appeared in the cult concert movie "The T.A.M.I. Show" in 1964, and in 1968 sang the title song in the Blake Edwards film "The Party." More recently, Love appeared in the Broadway hit "Leader of the Pack." A resident of New York City, Love continues her recording career with the release of her latest solo album.
TRACI WOLFE won the NAACP Image Award as Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Roger and Trish Murtaugh's blossoming daughter Rianne in "Lethal Weapon," and returns to the role in "Lethal Weapon 2." A native of Plainfield, New Jersey, Wolfe was raised in Richmond, Virginia, where she began a career in modeling after her first year in college. After some time in Washington, D.C., Wolfe moved to New York, where she was signed by the Wilhelmina Agency. Wolfe's first professional acting job came in an episode of "The Cosby Show," and shortly thereafter she was cast by Richard Donner as Rianne Murtaugh. Wolfe has since appeared as a guest star in an episode of "In the Heat of the Night," continues to model in New York and L.A., and is pursuing her interest in screenwriting as well. The actress was recently married, and she and her husband reside in Maryland.
Other familiar faces returning from the cast of "Lethal Weapon" include DAMON HINES and EBONIE SMITH as Nick and Carrie Murtaugh, as well as STEVE RAHAN as Captain Murphy and MARY ELLEN TRAINOR as the police department psychiatrist whose years of training have done nothing to prepare her for Martin Riggs.
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