Richard Gere, a renowned humanitarian and actor, was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia to Doris Anna (Tiffany) and Homer George Gere, both Mayflower descendants. As a talented musician, he began playing various instruments in high school and even wrote music for school productions.
Graduating from North Syracuse Central High School in 1967, Richard won a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where he majored in philosophy. However, he left college after two years to pursue his passion for acting.
Richard's early career took off when he landed a lead role in the London production of the rock musical "Grease" in 1973. He went on to appear in numerous plays, including "Taming of the Shrew," and gained recognition in films like "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1977).
In 1978, Richard traveled to Nepal, where he met with Tibetans and spoke to many monks and lamas. This experience deeply impacted him, leading him to become a prominent advocate for Tibetan culture and human rights.
Richard's breakthrough role came in 1980 with the film "American Gigolo," cementing his status as a major Hollywood star. He continued to impress audiences with his performances in films like "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982).
In the early 1980s, Richard traveled to Central America, visiting refugee camps in Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador amidst ongoing wars and political violence. He also became romantically linked with several high-profile actresses, including Tuesday Weld, Priscilla Presley, Barbra Streisand, and Kim Basinger.
Richard's most iconic roles include the blockbuster hits "Pretty Woman" (1990) and "Runaway Bride" (1999),both co-starring Julia Roberts. The films were massive successes, with "Runaway Bride" grossing over $152 million at the box office.
In his personal life, Richard has been married twice, first to Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995, and then to actress Carey Lowell, with whom he has a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, born in 2000.
A devoted humanitarian, Richard is a founding member of "Tibet House," a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture. He has also been a long-time supporter of "Survival International," a global organization advocating for the rights of tribal peoples.
Throughout his career, Richard has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world by People magazine in 1991 and the Sexiest Man Alive in 1999. Above all, Richard is a talented musician, accomplished pianist, and dedicated philanthropist.
