Richard Gere Wiki, Bio, Age, Net Worth, and Other Facts

Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about Richard Gere. Check it out!

Humanitarian and actor Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia, the second of five children of Doris Ann (Tiffany), a homemaker, and Homer George Gere, an insurance salesman, both Mayflower descendants. 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 Mr. Goodbar (1977). 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 (1980), establishing himself as a major star; this status was reaffirmed by An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). 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 Richard was romantically linked with Tuesday Weld, Priscilla Presley, Barbra Streisand and Kim Basinger. In 1990 Richard teamed up with Julia Roberts to star in the blockbuster Pretty Woman (1990); 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 that with Runaway Bride (1999), 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 natives 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.

Interesting Facts about Richard Gere

Was accused of having affairs with Priscilla Presley and Kim Basinger in tell-all books penned by Presley’s ex-boyfriend Michael Edwards and Basinger’s ex-husband Ron Snyder.
Jodie Foster said of him, “A lot of actors think acting is a girl’s job, but Richard finds something sensuous in acting”.
Was a member of his high school’s student council, gymnastics team, lacrosse team and ski team.
Mentioned (apparently because of his pro-Tibetan, anti-Chinese activism) in the song “Freedom of Speech Won’t Feed My Children” by Manic Street Preachers.
An accomplished pianist and music writer; in fact, he composed and performed the piano solo featured in Pretty Woman (1990).
Is referenced in the 2001 hit song “Crying at the Discothéque” by Swedish dance group Alcazar.
Visited Kosovo’s fugitives in F.Y.R.O.M., during the Kosovo crisis in 1999.
Though he’s been nominated multiple times for a Golden Globe and once for a Screen Actors Guild Award (two common indicators for an Academy Award nomination), he has never been nominated for an Oscar.
By the age of 14 he was a great trumpet player and gymnast.
In 1999 was named “People” Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
Co-owner, with wife Carey Lowell, of the “Bedford Post Inn” in Bedford, NY. The Inn has eight rooms, two restaurants, a yoga studio a meditation center.
Has twice played a fame-hungry lawyer based in Chicago, first in Primal Fear (1996) as Marty Vail, then again in Chicago (2002) as Billy Flynn.