Richard Gere was born on 29 August 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He studied at the University of Massachusetts, became a pop musician, and went on to gain extensive experience in the theatre, which included the London production of Grease (1972).

He received acclaim for an off-Broadway appearance in Killer's Head (1975), then made his screen debut with a small role in Report to the Commissioner (1975).

After this movie he starred in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) and Days of Heaven (1978), but it was his title role as a high-class male prostitute in American Gigolo (1980) directed by Paul Schrader that made him a star.

His career cooled for a few years, but in 1990 he bounced back by co-starring with Julia Roberts in the surprise 1990 hit Pretty Woman.

Another his movies including Unfaithful (2002) with Diane Lane, the Oscar-winner Chicago (2002) starred alongside Renee Zellweger, Shall We Dance (2004) with Jennifer Lopez and Bee Season (2005). He played the phony Howard Hughes biographer Clifford Irving in the 2007 film The Hoax.

Gere was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995. In 2002 he married actress Carey Lowell. They have a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, who was born in 2000.

Gere is a well-known Buddhist and an active supporter of the Dalai Lama.

Filmography

• Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
• The Hunting Party (2007)
• I'm Not There (2007)
• The Flock (2007)
• The Hoax (2006)
• Bee Season (2005)
• Shall We Dance (2004)
• Chicago (2002)
• Unfaithful (2002)
• The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
• Dr T and the Women (2000)
• Autumn in New York (2000)
• Runaway Bride (1999)
• The Jackal (1997)
• Red Corner (1997)
• Primal Fear (1996)
• First Knight (1995)
• Intersection (1994)
• Mr. Jones (1993)
• And the Band Played On (1993)
• Sommersby (1993)
• Final Analysis (1992)
• Hachi-gatsu no kyôshikyoku (1991)
• Pretty Woman (1990)
• Internal Affairs (1990)
• Miles from Home (1988)
• No Mercy (1986)
• Power (1986)
• King David (1985)
• The Cotton Club (1984)
• The Honorary Consul (1983)
• Breathless (1983)
• An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
• American Gigolo (1980)
• Yanks (1979)
• Bloodbrothers (1978)
• Days of Heaven (1978)
• Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
• "Kojak" (1 episode, 1976)
• Baby Blue Marine (1976)
• Strike Force (1975)
• Report to the Commissioner (1975)
• Chelsea D.H.O. (1973)

Awards

• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical "Chicago" 2002
• National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award "Red Corner" 1997
• Theatre World Award "Bent" 1980