Richard Gere

Biography

Few actors have had such a topsy-turvy ride as Richard Gere. Not many have suffered such depressing doldrums, and almost none have achieved such giddying heights. Somehow - by his looks, his grace, his charisma, his roles? - Gere became that most rare of commodities, a bona fide Hollywood sex symbol. Not simply a flavour of the month phenomenon like DiCaprio, or a stunner like Depp, but a character - like Louise Brooks or Rudolph Valentino - whose reputation was inextricably tied up with sex. It made him world famous, yet this was a reputation that this highly intelligent actor actively and publicly despised, and he spent years struggling against it, trying to be taken seriously as a rounded thespian. Hence the doldrums. And he came through, finally being seen as not simply a classy performer capable of carrying both thrillers and rom-coms, but also, due to his ongoing pursuit of freedom for Tibet, as a genuine humanitarian.

He was born Richard Tiffany Gere on the 31st of August, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the second of five, having three sisters and a younger brother, all looked after by his housewife mother, Doris. His father, Homer, worked in insurance and, while Richard was still young, moved the family to a farmhouse outside Syracuse, New York. In North Syracuse, Homer would run his own agency.

Attending North Syracuse High School, Richard quickly proved to be multi-talented. Though not a jock, he was active in the gym, lacrosse and ski teams. He served on the school council, and also excelled on the piano, guitar, bass and trumpet. Clearly gifted musically, he even wrote music for High School productions.