Richard Tiffany Gere was born on August 31st, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, son of Homer Gere, an insurance salesman. He was the second child of five in an Irish Amercan .

By high school, he could play a number of instruments, and began composing music for his high school's theatre productions. AFter graduating from North Syracuse Central High School, he was awarded a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Richard Gere left Amherst after two years to pursue acting, staring with the London production of "Grease" in 1973.

Gere was first noticed by his performance in the film, LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR (1977)

Gere became well known after starring in AMERICAN GIGOLO in 1980. IN 1982, his stardom was assured by his performance in AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.

Gere became a superstar after PRETTY WOMAN, in 1990, where he was paired up with Julia Roberts.

In 1999, Gere and Roberts were paired up together again in RUNAWAY BRIDE, another huge hit.

Richard never gave up his music, and is a wonderful pianist, and composes music as well. He composed and played the piano piece, featured in PRETTY WOMAN.

Richard Gere is the president of The Gere Foundation, founded in 1991, a non-profit organization that is involved in humanitarian aide, and focuses on Tibet, and the plight of the people there.

 

Richard Gere's other film credits include:

LOOKING FOR MR GOODBAR (1977)
DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978)
YANKS (1979)
AMERICAN GIGOLO (1980)

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN (1982)
BREATHLESS (1983)
THE COTTON CLUB (1984)

INTERNAL AFFAIRS (1990)

PRETTY WOMAN (1990)
RHAPSODY IN AUGUST (1991)
FINAL ANALYSIS (1992)
SOMMERSBY (1993)
INTERSECTION (1994)
FIRST KNIGHT (1995)

PRIMAL FEAR (1996)
RED CORNER (1997)
THE JACKAL (1997)

RUNAWAY BRIDE
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK (2000)

CHICAGO (2002)

UNFAITHFUL (2002)

SHALL WE DANCE? (2004)

BEE SEASON (2005)

THE HOAX (2006)
THE FLOCK (2007)

THE HUNTING PARTY (2007

I'M NOT THERE (2007)

BROOKLYN'S FINEST (2009)
AMELIA (2009)