Richard Gere

On the November 16, 2007, episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan (1988) (aka "Live with Regis & Kelly"), he cleared up the fact he is not vegetarian but has not eaten red meat for 30 years.

Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Theatricals' 2006 Man of the Year

Trained for five months for the tap-dance scene in Chicago (2002).

Is referenced in the 2001 hit song "Crying at the Discothéque" by Swedish dance group Alcazar.

They had a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, on February 6, 2000.

They got that with Runaway Bride (1999), which was a runaway success (Richard got $12 million, Julia made $17 million, the box office was $152 million, which shows what happens when you give the public what it wants!).

A Buddhist for over a decade, he was banned from the Oscars once after making anti-China comments on the air at the 1993 ceremony.

Offscreen, Richard and Cindy Crawford got married December 12, 1991 (they were divorced in 1995). Afterwards, Richard started dating actress Carey Lowell.

Richard was picked by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world in 1991, and as their Sexiest Man Alive in 1999. He is an accomplished pianist and music writer. Above all, Richard is a humanitarian. He's a founding member of "Tibet House," a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture. He has been an active supporter of "Survival International" for several years, a worldwide organization supporting tribal peoples, affirming their right to decide their own future and helping them protect their lives, lands and human rights (these tribes are global, including the natives of the Amazon, the Maasai of East Africa, the Wichi of Argentina, and others).

In 1990 Richard teamed up with Julia Roberts to star in the blockbuster Pretty Woman (1990); his cool reserve was the perfect complement to Julia's bubbling enthusiasm. The film captured the nation's heart, and won the People's Choice award for Best Movie. Fans clamored for years for a sequel, or at least another pairing of Julia and Richard.

Turned down the lead role in Die Hard (1988) which went to Bruce Willis.

Turned down the role of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street (1987). Has since said that is the role he regrets passing on the most.

Frequently works opposite Diane Lane. They have starred in three films to date: The Cotton Club (1982), Unfaithful (2002), and Nights in Rodanthe (2008).

Returning to the US, on Broadway he portrayed a concentration-camp prisoner in "Bent," for which he received the 1980 Theatre World Award.

Back in Hollywood, he played the title role in American Gigolo (1980), establishing himself as a major star; this status was reaffirmed by An Officer and a Gentleman (1982).

In the early 1980s, Richard went to Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador (amidst ongoing wars and political violence); he traveled with a doctor and visited refugee camps. It is said that Richard was romantically linked with Tuesday Weld, Priscilla Presley, Barbra Streisand and Kim Basinger.

Offscreen, he spent 1978 meeting Tibetans when he traveled to Nepal, where he spoke to many monks and lamas.

Goodbar (1977).

He left college after two years to pursue acting, landing a lead role in the London production of the rock musical "Grease" in 1973. The following year he would be in other plays, such as "Taming of the Shrew. " Onscreen, he had a few roles, and gained recognition in Looking for Mr.

Received a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he majored in philosophy; he dropped out in 1969 to pursue acting.

He graduated from North Syracuse Central High School in 1967, and won a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where he majored in philosophy.

Humanitarian and actor Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia, the second of five children of Doris Ann (Tiffany), a homemaker, and Homer George Gere, an insurance salesman, both Mayflower descendants. Richard started early as a musician, playing a number of instruments in high school and writing music for high school productions.

He has English and small/distant amounts of Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, Dutch, Scottish, German, and French ancestry. He has deep roots in the state of Pennsylvania, and is also a Mayflower descendant, with American roots going back to Massachusetts of the 1600s.