Date of Birth: August 31, 1949
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pa, USA
Sign: Sun in Virgo, Moon in Sagittarius
Relations: Ex-wife: Cindy Crawfor; father: Homer Gere (farmer turned insurance salesman); mother: Doris Gere; siblings: has four, one older and three younger; companion: Carey Lowell (actress); son (with Lowell): Homer James Jigme Gere
Education: Dropped out of the University of Massachusetts after two years
BORN IN 1949, Gere grew up in upstate New York, a typical farm boy. Typical, expect that he was exceptionally gifted in gymnastics and music. After high school, in 1967, the versatile Gere headed to the University of Massachusetts on a gymnastics scholarship. Two years in college, studying drama and philosophy, was enough to make him decide that a degree wasn't all that important, so he quit to become an actor. It's one of those rare cases where we can honestly say: good choice. He launched his theatrical career with the prestigious Seattle Repertory Company, traveling between Washington and Cape Cod for various plays. Dissatisfied with the life of an actor, he decided to become a professional trumpet player. No wonder this guy later took up Buddhism.
Gere moved to the hippie center of the world, Vermont, where he joined a commune of musicians. That didn't sit well with him, either, so the restless Richard wandered to Manhattan. He landed one part, in a rock opera that closed on opening night. Of course, that meant another move for Gere. This time, he went across the ocean to try his luck in London. Cast as Danny in a West End production of Grease, he managed to stay in one place for more than a month; his return to New York coincided with a Broadway production of the musical, so he kept going in the same role.
Grease led to numerous other stage roles, and Gere's reputation grew. Wanting to expand his repertoire (not to mention his paychecks), the actor began seeking out film roles. His feature debut came in the forgettable 1975 cop-drama Report to the Commissioner. More small roles followed, but he wasn't widely noticed until his performance in 1977's Looking for Mr. Goodbar.
Good scripts are hard to find, and Gere managed to find a whole bunch of bad ones over the next three years. Then he struck gold in 1980 with American Gigolo, and suddenly, everyone knew who Richard Gere was. He scored a double with his next film, An Officer and a Gentleman, and now, even your Aunt Melba knew who Richard Gere was (and she liked his tight butt, too – that's a reference to Runaway Bride). Having finally found his niche, and tired of running from himself and everything else, Gere converted to Buddhism in 1980.
Believe it or not, Gere's old trumpet-playing talents came in handy for his 1984 film, The Cotton Club. That was pretty much it for the rest of the decade. Not that he didn't make films; he did, but they were bad. Remember King David? Neither does anybody else. After two more clunkers, Gere headed off to study with the Dalai Lama and became politically involved in the fight for Tibetan freedom, launching both the Tibet House in New York and the Gere Foundation, to support oppressed Tibetans.
The trio of Looking for Mr. Goodbar, American Gigolo and An Officer and a Gentleman had made enough of an impression on the movie-going public that Gere was still a household name when he returned in 1990's Internal Affairs. That film's success, though substantial, was eclipsed by the same year's Pretty Woman, alternately considered the ultimate Cinderella story and a glamorization of prostitution. In 1991, he married Cindy Crawford, but their ill-fated union lasted only four years. Actually, that's not bad for Hollywood couples, especially ones besieged by tabloid rumors.
Then Gere went missing again. Not literally, but he made yet another string of forgettable films. Just when it looked like he'd have another huge comeback with 1996's brilliant Primal Fear, his co-star, an unknown named Edward Norton, stole the film, the thunder and an Oscar nomination. Gere, although technically the film's lead, was relegated to almost cameo status in media coverage.
You know the deal by now. Good film, lots of bad ones. Good film, more flops. Given time, everything balances out, and 1999's Runaway Bride re-teamed Gere with Julia Roberts for the first time since Pretty Woman. The chemistry that was evident in the 1990 hit had only grown with time, and Gere – older and grayer – once again garnered critical praise.
Movies:
2000 Listening with the Eyes
2000 Dr. T and the Women
1999 Autumn in New York
1999 Runaway Bride
1997 The Jackal
1997 Red Corner
1996 Primal Fear
1995 First Knight
1994 Intersection
1993 Sommersby
1993 Mr. Jones
1992 Final Analysis
1991 Hachigatsu no kyoshikyoku (as Richado Gia)
1990 Internal Affairs
1990 Pretty Woman
1988 Miles from Home
1986 No Mercy
1986 Power
1985 King David
1984 The Cotton Club
1983 Beyond the Limit
1983 Breathless
1982 An Officer and a Gentleman
1981 Reporters
1980 American Gigolo
1979 Yanks
1978 Bloodbrothers
1978 Days of Heaven
1977 Looking for Mr. Goodbar
1976 Baby Blue Marine
1975 Report to the Commissioner
TV:
1998 AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies
1993 And the Band Played On
1975 Strike Force
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
