Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a nearby town called North Syracuse. His mother, Doris Anna Gere, was a homemaker, while his father, Homer George Gere, worked in the insurance industry.
Gere graduated from North Syracuse Central High School in 1967. During his school years, he was an accomplished gymnast and also played the trumpet. He later attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst on a gymnastics scholarship but left after two years without completing his degree.
Gere began his professional acting career in 1971, performing in the stage production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Provincetown on Cape Cod. One of his first major roles came with an original London stage production of Grease, which helped bring him wider attention in the theater world.
Gere transitioned to film work in the mid-1970s. He co-starred in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) alongside Tuesday Weld and Diane Keaton. The following year, he appeared in Terrence Malick’s acclaimed film Days of Heaven (1978).
In 1980, Gere returned to the stage in the Broadway production of Bent, portraying a gay prisoner in Nazi Germany. That same year, his career gained significant momentum with the release of American Gigolo, in which he played the lead role. The film, also starring Lauren Hutton and Hector Elizondo, later gained cult status.
In 1982, Gere starred opposite Debra Winger in An Officer and a Gentleman, which became a major commercial success, grossing over $130 million. However, the mid-to-late 1980s saw a decline in box office hits for Gere. His career saw a resurgence with the 1990 crime drama Internal Affairs, followed by his iconic role in Pretty Woman the same year. Starring alongside Julia Roberts, the romantic comedy was a massive global hit, earning over $464 million worldwide.
Richard Gere was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995. In 2002, he married actress Carey Lowell, with whom he has a son, Homer James Jigme Gere. The couple later separated in 2013 and finalized their divorce in 2016.
Although raised a Methodist, Gere is a practicing Buddhist and is known for his support of Tibetan causes and his close association with the Dalai Lama.
In subsequent years, Gere appeared in a variety of films spanning genres, with varying critical and commercial success. Notable performances include roles in Chicago (2002), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Arbitrage (2012), and Norman (2016).
Gere continues to be active in the film and humanitarian spheres. As of recent estimates, his net worth is over $100 million. He stands at 5 feet 11 inches tall and, as of now, is in his mid-70s.
| Birth Date: | 31 Aug, 1949 |
| Age: | 70 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Philadelphia |
| Education: | University of Massachusetts Amherst |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 120 million |
