Richard Gere, the eternal Hollywood heartthrob, was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia, USA, into a humble family. The son of Homer, an insurance agent, and Doris, a homemaker, Richard grew up with the conviction that he should strive to achieve his goals in life.
From a young age, Richard Gere already showed a special talent for performing on stage. In the 1970s, he starred in a London production of the iconic musical Grease, where he played Danny Zuko. That experience not only confirmed his magnetism with audiences but also marked the beginning of his career.
His real breakthrough came in 1980 with American Gigolo and two years later with An Officer and a Gentleman, two films that made women around the world swoon. But it was Pretty Woman (1990), alongside Julia Roberts, that turned Gere into a global phenomenon. His character, Edward Lewis, is one of the most memorable in his filmography.
In the 1990s, his personal life was as much in the public eye as his career. His marriage to supermodel Cindy Crawford graced the covers of numerous magazines at the time, although it ended in divorce in 1995. Years later, he found love again with Carey Lowell, with whom he had his first child in 2000.
A committed actor
Off-screen, the actor is also known for his values. Gere has always declared himself a Buddhist and has actively defended human rights in Tibet, which led to his being banned from the Oscars in 1993 for publicly criticizing the Chinese government.
The most recent chapter of his life is a romantic one. In 2018, he married the Spanish woman Alejandra Silva. His love, which the actor describes as “a true rebirth,” has welcomed two children and has turned its attention to caring for the planet with initiatives such as supporting Xala, a residential and tourist destination on the Mexican Pacific coast. With a one-billion-dollar investment, his “Sierra a Mar” program encourages people to connect with the land and ocean to promote sustainability.
Through his social initiatives, Richard Gere has not only left his mark on Hollywood but also throughout his life, demonstrating that charisma can transcend the screen. Today, for many, the actor remains the eternal heartthrob who has lived a life worthy of the silver screen, both on and off.
