RICHARD GERE

Richard Gere – Personal Info & Background

• Full Name: Richard Tiffany Gere

• Born: August 31, 1949 (age 75 as of 2025) 

• Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 

• Family: Eldest son among five siblings born to Doris Ann (née Tiffany), a homemaker, and Homer Gere, an insurance agent. He was raised Methodist in Syracuse, New York . His paternal ancestors include Mayflower Pilgrims .

• Education: Attended North Syracuse Central High School, then received a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts before dropping out to pursue acting.

Early Career & Stage Work

Gere’s early dedication to acting saw him move to London in the early 1970s, where he joined stage productions like Grease (1973) and appeared in Bent (1979), earning a Theatre World Award for his portrayal of a gay Holocaust survivor . His first film role came in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), followed by a critically loved performance in Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven (1978), which helped establish his reputation .

Breakthrough & Film Stardom

Gere shot to fame with lead performances in:

• American Gigolo (1980), his breakthrough as a charismatic romantic lead 

• An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), a major success that earned both critical and commercial acclaim ($190 M gross) 

• Pretty Woman (1990), where his chemistry with Julia Roberts helped the film gross over $463 M worldwide 

Other significant titles include The Cotton Club (1984), Sommersby (1993), Primal Fear (1996), Runaway Bride (1999), Chicago (2002), and Arbitrage (2012) . In Chicago, he earned a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy .

Recent Work & TV Projects

In 2024, Gere took on a star role in the spy-thriller TV series The Agency, portraying CIA London Station Chief James Bradley alongside Michael Fassbender and Jodie Turner-Smith . He also appeared in the drama Longing (2024), a remake of an Israeli film, working with Diane Kruger and Suzanne Clément .

Activism & Personal Life

A devoted Buddhist since the late 1970s, Gere founded the Gere Foundation to champion Tibetan autonomy, indigenous rights, homelessness, and environmental conservation . A vocal supporter of Tibet and critic of political power dynamics, he received the Goya International Award in Granada (2025) for his artistic contributions and social engagement .

Relationships & Family

• Cindy Crawford: married 1991–1995.

• Carey Lowell: married 2002–2016; they share son Homer James Jigme Gere (b. 2000) .

• Alejandra Silva: married 2018; together they welcomed two sons (2019 and 2020) .
  Gere currently resides in Spain and expressed interest in engaging with Spanish cinema .

Legacy & Impact

Spanning over five decades, Gere has not only delivered memorable on-screen performances—such as Edward Lewis (Pretty Woman) and Zack Mayo (An Officer and a Gentleman)—but has also maintained a meaningful life off-screen. His blend of screen charisma, spiritual depth, and unwavering activism makes him one of Hollywood’s most enduring and respected icons .