Over The Years With Richard Gere

Aug 31, 2021 by apost team

Richard Gere is an American actor and producer who began appearing in films in the 1970s. He is best known for playing the role of Edward Lewis in “Pretty Woman.” The actor played a rich playboy from New York who falls in love with a Hollywood prostitute portrayed by Julia Roberts. Gere was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Actor for the role but sadly wouldn’t take home the award until 2003 when he won for “Chicago.”  

Despite not being in the spotlight as much as he used to be, there is no doubt that he has left a major mark on Hollywood. 

Gere’s first notable film appearance was in 1977 when he played a supporting role in the film “Looking for Mr. Goodbar.” A few years later, he would star in the film “American Gigolo,” where he gained notoriety and established himself as a Hollywood heartthrob and leading man. Gere then went on to star in a number of critically acclaimed movies including “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Sommersby.”

The actor has always been an outspoken activist, speaking publicly about human rights violations in Tibet and boycotting the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is also a recipient of the Medal of Gratitude, an honor bestowed upon him by the Albanian president in 2012 for his contributions in unmasking the ethinic cleansing in Kosovo in 1999. 

Despite playing leading men in dramas throughout his long career, Gere has largely stayed out of drama in his personal life. He has never been arrested for drugs or drunk driving. Gere is an honest man who isn’t afraid to speak up when something important is happening.

Born on August 31, 1949,  Gere was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania but grew up in Syracuse, New York. According to a 2002 interview Gere did with 'Inside the Actor's Studio,' Gere's father — Homer George Gere — was an insurance agent, while his mother Doris Ann was a housewife. According to the 'General Society of Mayflower Descendants,' Gere is the descendent of pilgrims that came to New England via the Mayflower: John and Elinor Billington and William and Mary Brewster.

The 1980's film 'American Gigolo' propelled him to fame before he went on to star in 'An Officer and a Gentleman,' 'Internal Affairs,' and the iconic 'Pretty Woman.' In that time, he would earn two Golden Globe nominations for his acting work. Gere's character in 'American Gigolo' truly marked him as Hollywood's heartthrob. Gere played a high-priced male escort — Julian Kaye — in Los Angeles who gets involved in both romance and crime. The film put Gere on the map as a leading man in the film industry.

With the massive success of such movies as “Pretty Woman” and “Chicago,” it is no wonder Gere is worth an estimated $120 million.

According to an interview with The Guardian, Gere said that after 'American Gigolo' his "life changed and it was both wonderful and difficult. [He] was young and suddenly people knew who [he] was. [He] just wanted to work." 

Gere went on:

"I don't think of myself as 'rich and famous.' I'm just not interested in it."

Gere has not been in the spotlight in the last few years and has given himself to his family. After meeting Spanish activist Alejandra Silva, Gere married for a third time in April 2018, and not long after that, he and Silva welcomed two children of their own into the world.

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In February 2019, Gere and Silva welcomed baby Alexander, their first child together. Then, just over a year later, the couple were reported to have had a second son together, whose name still isn't known, as the couple has been very private with regards to their children. He was born in April 2020. Gere is also father to son Homer, now in his early 20s, who he had with his first wife, Carey Lowell.

Unlike his superstar father, Homer would rather maintain a relatively low profile. While he is now living in NYC, he has been rewarded with the charm that his father Richard Gere is known for. Homer Gere continues to spend time with his dad, and back in August 2019, he joined his dad, Silva, and their first son Alexander on a family holiday in Italy.

The Guardian asked Gere about ways that fatherhood could spark change within a man, and he responded, stating:

"The marginal stuff just doesn't affect you any more when you weigh it against the real things in your life. All the cliches [about parenthood] are true."

Citing his own father, Homer Gere as his inspiration in becoming a compassionate dad to his children, Richard Gere said at the 2019 City Harvest Festival Gala, as reported by Closer Weekly:

"If he didn’t have money, it was a smile or an embrace or whatever he had to help out, and that was around me the whole time I was growing up."

With his warm paternal inspirations coming from his own father, Richard Gere seems to be a caring and compassionate dad to all three of his children, and it's lovely to see them all spending time together as a family.

Join us in wishing Richard Gere a very happy birthday! What is your favorite movie starring the charming Gere? Tell us about it, and be sure to pass this onto others as well.