Actor who was born on August, 31, 1949 grew up in a pastoral farm setting in upstate New York. The second of five children in an artistic family, Gere attended the University of Massachusetts on a gymnastic scholarship following his graduation from high school in 1967. After two years of philosophy and drama studies he dropped out to launch an acting career. He acquitted himself well in a number of repertory productions on both coasts over the next couple of years before opting to strike out as a professional trumpet player. After settling in a commune of musicians in Vermont he soon left, finding the musicians more temperamental than actors. His next stop was New York City.
With an unsuccessful stage performance in the Big Apple, Gere crossed the pond to give the London theatrical world a try. There, he stepped into the role of macho gang leader Danny Zuko in Grease. Soon he returned to play the same role in the Broadway production of the musical. Gere followed that success with a starring role with the 1982 military-romance blockbuster An Officer and a Gentleman. During this same year he converted from his Methodist roots to the Tibetan school of Buddhism.
In 1984, Gere was able to draw on his trumpet-playing skills for Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club, but for the most part, the '80s did not do wonders for his movie career, as he blundered through a string of generally critically reviled and ego-deflating bombs like King David (1985), Power (1986) and Miles From Home (1988).
In 1990, Gere rode triumphantly back into Hollywood with the $455-million hit Pretty Woman. Soon after the film, he was chosen in People Magazine as one of the most beautiful people in the World. Also in this year he married supermodel Cindy Crawford, but their union went through a flurry of generally unpleasant tabloid skepticism and ended in divorce in 1995.
Through the 90's Richard has had a number of hit-and-miss films. Completing a full circle with Julia Roberts: Pretty Woman to the present, Runaway Bride. In 2002, he took on the role of tap-dancing lawyer Billy Flynn in the hit musical film Chicago and won a Golden Globe for his efforts. Also in 2002, he married actress Carey Lowell, and the couple have a son together. He enjoyed the dancing scenes in Chicago so much that he accepted another role that required dancing skill, starring opposite Jennifer Lopez in Shall We Dance? (2004).
In 2006, Gere was named Man of the Year by the Hasting Pudding Theatricals. He has a son with second wife, actress Carey Lowell.
With an unsuccessful stage performance in the Big Apple, Gere crossed the pond to give the London theatrical world a try. There, he stepped into the role of macho gang leader Danny Zuko in Grease. Soon he returned to play the same role in the Broadway production of the musical. Gere followed that success with a starring role with the 1982 military-romance blockbuster An Officer and a Gentleman. During this same year he converted from his Methodist roots to the Tibetan school of Buddhism.
In 1984, Gere was able to draw on his trumpet-playing skills for Francis Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club, but for the most part, the '80s did not do wonders for his movie career, as he blundered through a string of generally critically reviled and ego-deflating bombs like King David (1985), Power (1986) and Miles From Home (1988).
In 1990, Gere rode triumphantly back into Hollywood with the $455-million hit Pretty Woman. Soon after the film, he was chosen in People Magazine as one of the most beautiful people in the World. Also in this year he married supermodel Cindy Crawford, but their union went through a flurry of generally unpleasant tabloid skepticism and ended in divorce in 1995.
Through the 90's Richard has had a number of hit-and-miss films. Completing a full circle with Julia Roberts: Pretty Woman to the present, Runaway Bride. In 2002, he took on the role of tap-dancing lawyer Billy Flynn in the hit musical film Chicago and won a Golden Globe for his efforts. Also in 2002, he married actress Carey Lowell, and the couple have a son together. He enjoyed the dancing scenes in Chicago so much that he accepted another role that required dancing skill, starring opposite Jennifer Lopez in Shall We Dance? (2004).
In 2006, Gere was named Man of the Year by the Hasting Pudding Theatricals. He has a son with second wife, actress Carey Lowell.
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