Humanitarian and actor, Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia. The second of five children, his father, Homer, was an insurance salesman, and his mother was Doris. Richard started early as a musician, playing a number of instruments in high school and writing music for high school productions. He graduated from North Syracuse Central High School in 1967, and won a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where he majored in philosophy. He left college after two years to pursue acting, landing a lead role in the London production of the rock musical "Grease" in 1973. The following year he would be in other plays, such as "Taming of the Shrew." Onscreen, he had a few roles, and gained recognition in Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Offscreen, he spent 1978 meeting Tibetans when he traveled to Nepal, where he spoke to many monks and lamas. Returning to the US, on Broadway he portrayed a concentration-camp prisoner in "Bent," for which he received the 1980 Theatre World Award. Back in Hollywood, he played the title role in American Gigolo, establishing himself as a major star; this status was reaffirmed by An Officer and a Gentleman. In the early 1980s, Richard went to Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador (amidst ongoing wars and political violence); he traveled with a doctor and visited refugee camps. It is said that he was romantically linked with lovely Brazilian painter Sylvia Martins. In 1990 Richard teamed up with Julia Roberts to star in the blockbuster Pretty Woman; his cool reserve was the perfect complement to Julia's bubbling enthusiasm. The film captured the nation's heart, and won the People's Choice award for Best Movie. Fans clamored for years for a sequel, or at least another pairing of Julia and Richard. They got their with Runaway Bride, which was a runaway success (Richard got $12 million, Julia made $17 million, the box office was $152 million, which shows what happens when you give the public what it wants!). Offscreen, Richard and Cindy Crawford got married December 12, 1991 (they were divorced in 1995). Afterwards, Richard started dating actress Carey Lowell. They had a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, on February 6, 2000. Richard was picked by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world in 1991, and as their Sexiest Man Alive in 1999. He is an accomplished pianist and music writer. Above all, Richard is a humanitarian. He's a founding member of "Tibet House," a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture. He has been an active supporter of "Survival International" for several years, a worldwide organization supporting tribal peoples, affirming their right to decide their own future and helping them protect their lives, lands and human rights (these tribes are global, including the Indians of the Amazon, the Maasai of East Africa, the Wichi of Argentina, and others). In 1994 Richard went to London to open Harrods' sale, donating his £50,000 appearance fee to Survival. He has been prominent in their charity advertising campaigns. He says, "If people lose their land, they have nothing. You lose your land, you lose your culture, you lose self." As for the duty of rich nations helping developing countries, Richard says, "This planet can't exist anymore unless all peoples are taken into account. The he suffering does not limit itself to one body; it goes through the entire body".
Unfaithful (2002): $15,000,000
The Mothman Prophecies (2002): $15,000,000
Runaway Bride (1999): $13,000,000
Attended the University of Massachusetts. Dropped out to pursue acting. Is the second of five children born to Homer and Doris Gere People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. [1999] Graduated from North Syracuse Central High School. [1967] Was a member of the student council, gymnastics team, lacrosse team, and ski team. Won a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he majored in philosophy; he dropped out in 1969 to pursue acting. Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1977" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 29. [1977] A Buddhist for over a decade, Gere was banned from the Oscars once after making anti-China comments on the air at the 1993 ceremony. Cindy Crawford and Richard were married 12 December 1991 by Rev. Wes McPherson at the Little Church of the West, Las Vegas. He appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care." Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. [1991] An accomplished pianist and music writer; in fact, he composed and performed the piano solo featured in Pretty Woman . His son, with actress Carey Lowell, Homer James Jigme Gere, was born on 6th February 2000 in New York City weighing in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces. When the Chinese Government asked Gere to one of their film festivals, Gere would go attend two conditions: 1. That he was allowed to bring his own interpreter and 2. That he would stay in Taipei, Taiwan during his visit. The government agreed and Gere went to the festival. Named his son: Homer James Jigme. "Jigme" means "fearless" in Tibetan. Turned down the lead role in Die Hard which went to Bruce Willis. Is referenced in the 2001 hit song "Crying at the Discothéque" by Swedish dance group Alcazar. Irish-American. He trained for five months for the tap dance scene in Chicago. Some of his earliest photos, known as "head shots" were taken by boyhood friend and struggling photographer Herb Ritts. The people handling Gere were so impressed with the photos, they began hiring Ritts for other assignments and he is now a top photographer. Agreed to a small role in the HBO film And the Band Played On despite the prevalent belief in the film industry it would be detrimental to his career. Subsequently, stars like Steve Martin, Alan Alda, Phil Collins and Anjelica Huston were willing to appear. Visited Kosovo's fugitives in Macedonia, during the Kosovo's crisis in 1999. Is a vegetarian. Was the first man ever to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine (with then-wife Cindy Crawford). To date, he and George Clooney are the only men to have had the privilege. Is President of The Gere Foundation, founded in 1991. The non-profit organization focusing on international humanitarian issues, with emphasis on Tibet. In the three films that made him a star, Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, and An Officer and a Gentleman, his role had been turned down by John Travolta. In a London Evening Standard interview to promote Chicago, he claimed to have brought a 750cc Triumph T140V Bonneville from Triumph's Meriden factory with his first paycheck while touring with the stage production of "Grease". He also rode the same updated model, a 1978 T140E, in An Officer and a Gentleman and an even earlier model, a 1960s 650cc T120R Bonneville. in Mr. Jones. Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals' 2006 Man of the Year Turned down the role of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street. Has since said that is the role he regrets passing on the most. For his role as Clifford Irving in The Hoax, Gere shaved back his hairline, got a perm, and even altered the appearance of his nose to fit the part. Received a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusettes. In 1993, People Magazine didn't name a "Sexiest Man Alive", but named Richard and his then-wife Cindy Crawford as Sexiest Couple' . Was among the guests at Tom Cruise's and Katie Holmes's wedding. Was a Boy Scout. Despite being nominated several times for Golden Globes, he has yet to be nominated for an Oscar. He is very active in AIDS fundraising. Worked with Nina Van Pallandt in American Gigolo, and then played her lover Clifford Irving in The Hoax, in which she was played by Julie Delpy.