Additional Coverage:
- ‘Pretty Woman’ Legend Turns 77 Today (parade.com)
Richard Gere, a quintessential Hollywood romantic lead of the 1980s and 1990s, celebrates his 77th birthday today, August 31. Known for iconic roles in films such as American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Pretty Woman, Gere remains a defining figure in cinema history, though his life today contrasts sharply with his days as a major box office draw.
Born in Philadelphia in 1949, Gere initially pursued gymnastics at the University of Massachusetts before leaving college to follow his passion for acting. He began his career on stage in the early 1970s, then achieved stardom with American Gigolo in 1980. Over the years, he solidified his place in Hollywood with memorable performances in Runaway Bride, Primal Fear, and the Oscar-winning musical Chicago.
While Gere’s romantic leading-man image endures in the public’s mind, his current life revolves more around family than fame. Alongside his wife, Spanish publicist Alejandra Silva, he has relocated to Spain to enjoy a quieter lifestyle closer to Silva’s family.
This change has not meant a retreat from acting; Gere recently starred in the espionage thriller The Agency on Paramount+. Notably, this period also marks the beginning of his eldest son Homer Gere’s own acting journey.
In a June interview with Argentine media outlet TN, Gere offered his son practical advice about the industry: “My son just started acting and I told him, ‘Look, this is a job. A really wonderful job, and very few can make a living with it.
Most of the actors are out of work. So having this job, being working, is something wonderful, but it’s a job.’”
Beyond his film career, Gere has dedicated over 40 years to humanitarian causes through the Gere Foundation. His efforts include advocacy for human rights, refugee support, HIV/AIDS awareness, homelessness, and environmental conservation. He is particularly known for his longstanding commitment to the Tibetan cause, serving as chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet and collaborating closely with the Dalai Lama to preserve Tibetan culture and promote human rights.
Reflecting on his decades in the spotlight, Gere remains grounded. “I’m the same person as you,” he said.
“I go through the same problems, the same joys, the same difficulties, the same happiness and the same unhappiness.” As he marks this milestone birthday, Richard Gere’s legacy continues both on screen and in his tireless humanitarian work.
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- ‘Pretty Woman’ Legend Turns 77 Today (parade.com)