By Joseph Martinez -

At the 25th Annual American Cinematheque tribute to Robert Downey Jr. friday night, Downey  praised his friend Mel Gibson and said he should be forgiven.

Robert Downey Jr., star of "Iron Man", accepted the American Cinematheque Award in Beverly Hills on October 14, 2011 for ...making a significant contribution to the art of the moving picture" and the actor used his time on stage to ask Hollywood to forgive Mel Gibson, 55.

"Unless you are without sin and if you are, you are in the wrong f---king industry you should forgive him and let him work again," Downey said after Gibson presented him with the award before a packed ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

During the presentation ceremony, Gibson talked about being warned about hiring Downey for "Air America" in 1990 because of Downey's troubled private life. Downey has always credited Gibson for being the first person who gave him a job during some of his years battling substance abuse.