Richard Gere

Page semi-protected
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Richard Gere
Gere in 2017
Born (1949-08-31) August 31, 1949 (age 74)
OccupationActor
Years active1969–present
Spouses
  • (m. 1991; div. 1995)
  • (m. 2002; div. 2016)
  • (m. 2018)
Children3

Richard Tiffany Gere (

Golden Globe Award
.

Early life and education

Gere was born in

In 1967, he graduated from North Syracuse Central High School, where he excelled at gymnastics and music and played the trumpet.[7] He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst on a gymnastics scholarship, studying philosophy; after two years, he left and did not graduate.[7][13]

Career

Gere with Lobsang Nyandak during The Tibet Fund annual gala in 2016

Gere first worked professionally at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Provincetown Playhouse on Cape Cod in 1969, where he starred in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. His first major acting role was in the original London stage version of Grease, in 1973.[7] He was one of the first notable Hollywood actors to play a homosexual character, starring as a gay Holocaust victim in the 1979 Broadway production of Bent, for which he earned a Theatre World Award.

Gere began appearing in

Golden Globe Award nomination.[19] The 1990s saw Gere star in successful films including Sommersby (1993) (opposite Jodie Foster), Primal Fear (1996) and Runaway Bride (1999) (which reunited him with his Pretty Woman co-star Julia Roberts).[17] He also took a leading role in the action thriller The Jackal (1997), playing former IRA militant Declan Mulqueen; Gere affected an Irish accent for the role.[20]

Gere was named

major film studio
.

Gere has expressed a belief that his politics regarding China, an important financial resource for major Hollywood studios, have made him

Golden Globe Award nomination. Among many positive reviews,[27] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone cited Gere's performance as "too good to ignore" and "an implosive tour de force".[28] Also in 2012, he received the Golden Starfish Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Hamptons International Film Festival and the Career Achievement Award from the Hollywood Film Awards.[29][30] He had earlier received an award from the 34th Cairo International Film Festival in December 2010.[31]

Gere made a notable departure from his traditional screen persona with

Gere is an accomplished musician, composing and performing the Pretty Woman piano theme and a guitar solo in Runaway Bride. He learned tap dance for his role as lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago,[35] and karate for An Officer and a Gentleman.[36]

Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited Gere as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.[37][38]

Political views and activism

Gere visiting the USAID "Operation Lighthouse" Project in Mumbai

Gere regularly visits Dharamshala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.[39] He is an advocate for human rights in Tibet and is a co-founder of the Tibet House US, creator of the Gere Foundation, and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Campaign for Tibet. Because he supports the Tibetan Independence Movement, he is permanently banned from entering China.[40][41]

In 1993, Gere was banned from being an

Chinese government while announcing the nominees.[42][43]

In September 2007, Gere called for the boycott of the

2008 Beijing Olympic Games to put pressure on China to make Tibet independent.[44][45] He starred in a Free Tibet-themed Lancia commercial featuring the Lancia Delta.[46] On June 27, 2011, he meditated in Borobudur Temple[47] in Indonesia. He actively supports Survival International, an organization dedicated to protecting the rights and lands of tribal peoples throughout the world.[48]

Gere campaigns for ecological causes and AIDS awareness. He currently serves on the board of directors for Healing the Divide, an organization that supports global initiatives to promote peace, justice and understanding.[49] He helped to establish the AIDS Care Home, a residential facility in India for women and children with AIDS, and also supports campaigns for AIDS awareness and education in that country. In 1999, he created the Gere Foundation India Trust to support a variety of humanitarian programs in India.[50]

Gere with Narendra Modi in 2015

On April 15, 2007, Gere appeared at an AIDS awareness rally in

Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty, dipped her, and kissed her several times on the cheek. As a result of that gesture, a local court ordered the arrest of Gere and Shetty, finding them in violation of public obscenity laws. Gere has said the controversy was "manufactured by a small hard-line political party". About a month later, a two-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, K. G. Balakrishnan, described the case as "frivolous" and believed that such complaints against celebrities were filed for "cheap publicity" and have brought a bad name to the country. They ruled that Gere would remain free to enter the country.[51]

Gere contributed some of his writing for the book We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples, released in October 2009.[52] He discussed the persecution and loss of land of the Jummas as an example of a tragic story that repeats itself in different continents of the world, calling attention to the crime against their peaceful culture and how it reflects on humankind's own relationship with nature and capacity to survive.[53] The royalties from the book's sale go to the indigenous rights organization Survival International.

In 2010, Gere stated that the

Bush administration had "bullied" Americans into the decision.[54] He called George W. Bush a "very poor president".[55] In a press conference held on the sidelines of the 34th Cairo International Film Festival, he said, "I'm very sorry about what the U.S. has done in Iraq. This war has been a tragedy for everyone. I hope that the people of Iraq can rebuild their country."[56]

In 2016, Gere endorsed Hillary Clinton for president and donated $2,700 to her campaign.[57]

In 2017, Gere criticized Benjamin Netanyahu's policies on the Palestinians and Israel's expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, stating, "Settlements are such an absurd provocation and, certainly in the international sense, completely illegal—and they are certainly not part of the program of someone who wants a genuine peace process."[58]

In February 2023, Gere was one of the 480 global figures who signed a statement from Freedom House expressing support for Mahsa Amini protesters, urging sanctions on Iranian officials, and calling for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be proscribed as a terror group.[59]

Personal life

Gere speaking about the Dalai Lama in 2000

Gere had on-again/off-again relationships with actress Penelope Milford from 1971 to 1978,[60] and painter Sylvia Martins from 1978 to 1986.[61] During those years, he was also sporadically linked with Tuesday Weld,[62] Carole Mallory,[63] Dawn Steel,[64] Loree Rodkin,[65] Barbara Carrera,[66] and Barbra Streisand.[67] It was suggested that he had affairs with Priscilla Presley and Kim Basinger in tell-all books written by Presley's ex-boyfriend Michael Edwards[68] and Basinger's ex-husband Ron Snyder.[69] He has also reportedly dated models Laura Bailey,[70] Tina Chow,[71] Dalila Di Lazzaro,[72] and Padma Lakshmi.[73] He was married to model Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995.

In November 2002, Gere married model and actress Carey Lowell.[74] They have a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, who was born in February 2000 and is named for his grandfathers as well as the Tibetan name "Jigme".[7][75] In September 2013, the two separated after 11 years of marriage. They spent three years in highly contested divorce proceedings in New York County Supreme Court.[76] The case was settled in October 2016.[77] In early April 2018, Gere married Spanish activist Alejandra Silva.[78] In August 2018, they announced that they were expecting their first child.[79][80] Their son, Alexander, was born in February 2019.[81][82] In April 2020, the birth of their second son was reported.[83][84]

Gere's interest in

Gelugpa school)[85] and an active supporter of the Dalai Lama.[7]

In February 2023, Gere was diagnosed and hospitalized with pneumonia during a family vacation in Nuevo Vallarta in Mexico. It was reported by his wife that he had fully recovered from his illness.[86]

Gere has often been included on lists of famous vegetarians; however, there is no clear evidence either way.[87][88][89][90]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1975 Report to the Commissioner Billy
1976 Baby Blue Marine Raider
1977 Looking for Mr. Goodbar Tony Lopanto
1978 Bloodbrothers Thomas Stony De Coco
Days of Heaven Bill
1979 Yanks Matt Dyson
1980 American Gigolo Julian Kaye
1982 An Officer and a Gentleman Zack Mayo
1983 The Honorary Consul Dr. Eduardo Plarr a.k.a. Beyond the Limit
Breathless Jesse Lujack
1984 The Cotton Club Dixie Dwyer
1985 King David David
1986 No Mercy Eddie Jillette
Power Pete St. John
1988
Miles from Home
Frank Roberts, Jr.
1990 Internal Affairs Dennis Peck
Pretty Woman Edward Lewis
1991 Rhapsody in August Clark
1992 Final Analysis Dr. Isaac Barr Also executive producer
1993 Mr. Jones Mr. Jones
Sommersby John Robert 'Jack' Sommersby
1994 Intersection Vincent Eastman
1995 First Knight Lancelot
1996 Primal Fear Martin Vail
1997 The Jackal Declan Joseph Mulqueen
Red Corner Jack Moore
1999 Runaway Bride Homer Eisenhower "Ike" Graham
2000 Dr. T & the Women Dr. T
Autumn in New York Will Keane
2002 The Mothman Prophecies John Klein
Unfaithful Edward Sumner
Chicago William "Billy" Flynn
2004 Shall We Dance? John Clark
2005 Bee Season Saul Naumann
2006 The Hoax Clifford Irving
2007 The Hunting Party Simon
I'm Not There
Billy The Kid
The Flock Agent Erroll Babbage
2008 Nights in Rodanthe Dr. Paul Flanner
2009 Amelia George Putnam
Hachi: A Dog's Tale Parker Wilson Also producer
Brooklyn's Finest Eddie Dugan
2011 The Double Paul Shepherdson
2012 Arbitrage Robert Miller
2013 Movie 43 Boss Segment "iBabe"
2014 Henry & Me Henry Voice
Time Out of Mind George Hammond Also producer
2015 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Guy Chambers
The Benefactor Franny
2016 Norman Norman Oppenheimer
2017 The Dinner Stan Lohman
Three Christs Dr. Alan Stone
2023 Maybe I Do Howard
TBA Longing Daniel
Oh, Canada Leonard Fife Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1975 Chelsea D.H.O. Milo Television film
Strike Force Officer Walter C. Spenser
1976 Kojak Geno Papas Episode: "Birthday Party"
1993 And the Band Played On The Choreographer Television film
2001 The Simpsons Himself (voice) Episode: "She of Little Faith"
2014 Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey Clair Cameron Patterson (voice) Episode: "The Clean Room"
2019 MotherFatherSon Max Finch 8 episodes
2020 Martha Knows Best Himself Episode: "Perennial Garden"[91]

Awards and honors

In 1995, Gere was the President of the Jury at the 19th Moscow International Film Festival.[92]

On May 17, 2012,

Albanian civilian population living in its land."[93] On February 16, 2012, the George Eastman Museum honored Gere with the George Eastman Award for distinguished contribution to the art of film.[94]

Year Nominated work Award Result
1979 Days of Heaven David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actor Won
1983 An Officer and a Gentleman Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated
1984 The Honorary Consul Nastro d'Argento Award for Best Foreign Actor
1986 King David Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor
1991 Pretty Woman Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1994 And the Band Played On
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1997 Red Corner National Board of Review Freedom of Expression Award Won
2000 Runaway Bride Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor – Comedy/Romance Nominated
2001 Dr. T & the Women Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Autumn in New York Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo (shared with Winona Ryder)
2003 Chicago
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Won
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain
2005 Shall We Dance Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Dance Scene (shared with Jennifer Lopez)
2007 The Hoax Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture
2008 I'm Not There Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award Won
2013 Arbitrage Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama Nominated

References

  1. ^ NLS Other Writings: Say How, E-H – National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) | Library of Congress. Loc.gov. Retrieved on September 8, 2019.
  2. ^ The CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Speech.cs.cmu.edu. Retrieved on September 8, 2019.
  3. ^ Lazic, Elena (November 14, 2016). "How American Gigolo flipped Hollywood sexism on its head". Little White Lies. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  4. ^ "Famous birthdays for Aug. 31: Richard Gere, Van Morrison". United Press International. August 31, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Homer G. Gere, 100 – Eagle News Online". Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Hayes, Anne (March 4, 2023). "Homer Gere dies at 100; father of actor Richard Gere was active in North Syracuse community". syracuse. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio, 2002.
  8. ^ Jones, Chris (December 27, 2002). "Richard Gere: On guard". BBC News. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  9. ^ "Richard Gere Interview for Bee Season". The Cinema Source.
  10. ^ "Actor Richard Gere born". History.com. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  11. ^ "Reunion traces hundreds of years of Geer family history". The Day. October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  12. ^ "Famous Descendants". Mayflower history.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  13. The Biography Channel
    ; retrieved May 1, 2008.
  14. ^ "An Officer and a Gentleman". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  15. ^ "THE 55TH ACADEMY AWARDS – 1983". Oscars.org. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  16. ^ "Officer and a Gentleman, An". Golden Globes. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Richard Gere". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  18. ^ a b "Richard Gere". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  19. ^ "Richard Gere". Goldenglobes.com. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  20. ^ "Top 5 worst Irish accents in films". Metro. March 16, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  21. ^ "Shall We Dance". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  22. ^ "Bee Season". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  23. ^ "Nights in Rodanthe (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  24. ^ "Turkeys! The 100 Worst Movies of 2008". The Times. December 8, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  25. ^ "Nights in Rodanthe". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
  26. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (April 18, 2017). "Richard Gere's Studio Exile: Why His Hollywood Career Took an Indie Turn". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  27. ^ "Arbitrage (2012)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  28. ^ Travers, Peter (September 13, 2012). "Arbitrage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  29. ^ Barylski, Nicole. "Richard Gere Receiving Lifetime Achievement In Acting At Hamptons International Film Festival". Hamptons.com. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  30. ^ "Richard Gere will receive the "Hollywood Career Achievement Award" at the 2012 HFAs". Hollywood Film Awards. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  31. ^ "Gere, Binoche honored at CIFF opening". Daily News Egypt. November 30, 2010. Archived from the original on December 10, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
  32. ^ Riley, Jenelle (April 10, 2017). "Richard Gere on the Desperate but Optimistic 'Norman' and 'Pretty Woman' Original Ending". Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  33. ^ Lemire, Christy. "Norman". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  34. ^ Tapley, Kristopher; Riley, Jenelle (June 22, 2017). "Oscars: 13 Deserving Contenders From 2017 So Far". Variety.com. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  35. ^ "Gere: A Song-And-Dance Man?". www.cbsnews.com. January 9, 2003. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  36. ^ "11 things you didn't know about Richard Gere..." Womansown.co.uk. August 27, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  37. ^ Kiang, Jessica (January 1, 2016). "30 Great Actors Who've Never Been Oscar Nominated". Indiewire. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  38. ^ Robey, Tim (February 1, 2016). "20 great actors who've never been nominated for an Oscar". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  39. ^ "Richard Gere in Bodh Gaya to attend Dalai Lama's discourse". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  40. ^ Yahlin Chang, 'Red Corner,' Newsweek (New York) November 10, 1997: Gere has already been banned from entering China for his pro-Tibet activities.
  41. ^ Laurence Caracalla, Harrison Ford, Silverback Books, 2007, pg. 93. ISBN 978-2-7528-0247-7
  42. Hello
    . October 8, 2009.
  43. ^ "Richard Gere: Man of masks". The Independent. London, UK. December 1, 2007.
  44. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (April 18, 2017). "Richard Gere's Studio Exile: Why His Hollywood Career Took an Indie Turn". The Hollywood Reporter.
  45. ^ Steger, Isabella (March 28, 2019). "Why it's so hard to keep the world focused on Tibet". Quartz.
  46. ^ "Lancia Delta "Richard Gere" TV Commercial". paultan.org.
  47. ^ Richard Gere Ingin Kembali ke Candi Borobudur Archived June 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^
    The Biography Channel. Archived from the original
    on March 30, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2007.
  49. ^ Healing The Divide Archived June 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  50. ^ The Gere Foundation Archived August 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine; retrieved May 12, 2007.
  51. ^ "Richard Gere cleared of obscenity". BBC News. March 14, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  52. ^ "We Are One". survivalinternational.org.
  53. .
  54. ^ "Richard Gere, Charlize Theron join in the Bush bashing". Orange County Register. September 4, 2007. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  55. ^ "Juliette Binoche and Richard Gere greet the press". Al-Masry Al-Youm. December 1, 2010.
  56. ^ "Seeing the stars in Cairo". Egyptian Gazette. December 27, 2010. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011.
  57. ^ "Celebs endorsing presidential candidates". CBS News. October 18, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  58. ^ "Richard Gere: There Is 'No Defense' of Israel's Occupation or 'Illegal' Settlements". Newsweek. March 13, 2017.
  59. ^ "Global figures urge support for Iran protesters". France 24. February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  60. ^ "A Supreme Being". People.com. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  61. ^ Esquire: The Magazine for Men. United States: Esquire Pub., 1995.
  62. ^ Robin Adams Sloan (March 21, 1982). "Show Stoppers". Democrat and Chronicle.
  63. ^ Bykofsky, Stu (March 22, 2018). "Norman Mailer's Norristown mistress: I've been defamed". www.inquirer.com.
  64. ^ "Dawn of An Era". People.
  65. ^ "Rockin' Rodkin". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 2009.
  66. ^ "From the Jet Set to Your TV Set, Dallas' Barbara Carrera Knows Her Role—Lady of Mystery". People.
  67. ^ Liz Smith (January 28, 1983). "Carson's Field day with the press". New York Daily News.
  68. .
  69. .
  70. ^ "Model makes up with Oxford don father". The Telegraph. July 2001. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022.
  71. ^ "Ciao Tina".
  72. ^ "Dalila Di Lazzaro: "Ho perso mio figlio, poi la carriera con un incidente aereo e per una buca sono stata costretta a letto per anni"". Il Fatto Quotidiano. March 5, 2019.
  73. ^ "Richard Gere, Padma Lakshmi split, 'would be better as friends'". Los Angeles Times. October 14, 2014.
  74. ^ Silverman, Stephen (November 15, 2002). "Gere, Lowell Get Married". People. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  75. ^ Jewel, Dan (February 21, 2000). "Role Change". People. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  76. ^ Ross, Barbara (May 1, 2015). "Richard Gere, Carey Lowell still fighting over money in divorce case". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  77. ^ Ross, Barbara (October 18, 2016). "Richard Gere finalizes divorce settlement with Carey Lowell after more than a decade of marriage – NY Daily News". Nydailynews.com. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  78. ^ Ale Russian (April 23, 2018). "All About Richard Gere's 35-Year-Old Wife Alejandra Silva: An Activist from Spain's Elite Circle". Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  79. ^ Laudadio, Marisa (August 8, 2018). "Richard Gere, 68, expecting baby with new wife, 35: Report". Wonderwall. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  80. ^ Meechan, Lauren (August 8, 2018). "Richard Gere, 68, 'expecting first child with Alejandra Silva, 35,' months after they wed". Express.co.uk. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  81. ^ Chloe Melas. "Richard Gere, 69, and wife Alejandra welcome baby boy". CNN. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  82. ^ "Richard Gere and wife welcome baby son – report". www.msn.com. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  83. ^ Moniuszko, Sara M. "Richard Gere, 70, welcomes baby no. 2 with wife Alejandra Silva". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  84. ^ "Richard Gere and Wife Alejandra Silva Welcome Second Child". The Hollywood Reporter. April 23, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  85. ^ a b c d e "Richard Gere: My Journey as a Buddhist". Shambhala Sun. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  86. ^ Hume, Ashley; News, Fox (February 19, 2023). "Richard Gere recovering after being hospitalized with pneumonia on vacation". Fox News. Retrieved November 20, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  87. ISSN 0307-1235
    . Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  88. ^ "Famous Vegans". Vegans Have Superpowers. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  89. ^ "Famous Vegetarians and Famous vegans". Veganwolf.com. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  90. ^ Parsons, Rhea (March 24, 2011). "Breaking Up With Richard Gere". The 'V' Word. Retrieved October 12, 2017. Richard Gere is all of these things but there is one thing he's not: a Vegan. He's not even vegetarian.
  91. ^ "HGTV,"Perennial Garden"".
  92. ^ "19th Moscow International Film Festival (1995)". MIFF. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  93. ^ President Topi dekoron zotin Riçard Gir me “Medaljen e Mirënjohjes”[permanent dead link], President of Albania, May 17, 2012 (in Albanian)
  94. ^ "Richard Gere to receive George Eastman Award". Yahoo News. December 23, 2011.

External links