Richard Gere, known for his talent and humanitarian work, first made his mark in the 1970s with roles in Looking for Mr. Goodbar and Days of Heaven. He quickly became an 80s heartthrob, especially after starring in American Gigolo, and won over audiences with his portrayal of Zack, a Navy Officer trainee, in An Officer and a Gentleman.
Over the years, Gere has not only enjoyed a successful acting career but has also dedicated himself to various humanitarian efforts, guided by his Buddhist faith.
With such an interesting professional and personal life, there are plenty of surprising facts about this Hollywood legend that you might not know. (And no, we’re not bringing up that infamous gerbil rumor!)
#1. Richard Gere even has fans in uncharted Borneo
Richard Gere‘s heartthrob status from the 80s even reached the remote jungles of Borneo. Despite large areas of the island remaining uncharted, it seems Gere-mania knows no bounds!
During an appearance on the BBC’s Graham Norton Show, Gere shared a remarkable story of his trip to Borneo, where he visited the Dayak tribe. After being dropped from a plane into a desolate part of the jungle, he was met by a group of tribespeople.
To his surprise, some immediately recognized him, excitedly exclaiming “Officer, gentleman!” as they connected him to his iconic role.
This encounter is a testament to the enduring popularity of Gere’s 1982 romantic drama, An Officer and a Gentleman, which remains one of his most beloved films.
#2. He converted to Tibetan Buddhism in 1978
Richard Gere is arguably second only to the Dalai Lama as the world’s most renowned advocate of Tibetan Buddhism. However, the actor didn’t always follow this spiritual path.
Gere was raised in a Christian household—his parents were devout Methodists, and he grew up in that faith. It wasn’t until he studied philosophy at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst that he was first introduced to Buddhism.
Initially drawn to Zen Buddhism, Gere’s spiritual journey took a pivotal turn in 1978 when he traveled to Nepal and later met the Dalai Lama.
Reflecting on that experience, Gere has said, “It completely changed my life the first time I was in the presence of His Holiness.” Since then, he has been a dedicated follower of Tibetan Buddhism.
#3. His middle name is Tiffany
Richard Gere was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia but grew up in Syracuse, New York. His father, Homer, worked in insurance, while his mother, Doris, was a homemaker. Gere has three sisters and two brothers.
Though he would later become an international heartthrob, Gere’s middle name might come as a surprise to many. His full name is Richard Tiffany Gere, with Tiffany being his mother’s maiden name, a traditionally feminine name that he proudly carries.
Gere continued this family tradition of honoring names by naming his first son Homer, after his own father.
#4. He plays several instruments and writes his own songs
Richard Gere isn’t just a great actor—he’s also a skilled musician. He was good at music in school and learned to play both the piano and the trumpet as a child.
Gere showed off his trumpet skills in The Cotton Club and played the piano in Pretty Woman. The piano solo he plays in Pretty Woman, called “He Sleeps,” is a song he wrote himself.
He used his musical talent again in Runaway Bride, his second movie with Julia Roberts. In the scene where he plays guitar with the locals as Maggie drives by, he’s playing another one of his own songs!
#5. He was once banned from the Oscars for speaking out against China
Richard Gere has been a dedicated Buddhist for much of his adult life and is deeply concerned about China’s occupation of Tibet. As a long-time and outspoken supporter of the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, Gere hasn’t shied away from expressing his views.
At the 1993 Academy Awards, Gere made anti-China remarks during the live broadcast, which led to him being banned from the ceremony for a time. Despite his outspoken criticism, the Chinese government later invited him to one of their film festivals.
Gere agreed to attend but only under two conditions: he would bring his own interpreter, and he would stay in Taipei, Taiwan—an area of political tension with China—during his visit. The Chinese government accepted his terms, and Gere has since returned to the Oscars.
#6. He turned down the lead roles in Die Hard and Wall Street
Like many A-list actors, Richard Gere has passed on several iconic film roles throughout his career. For instance, he turned down the lead role in Die Hard, which eventually went to Bruce Willis.
Later, Gere also declined the roles that George Clooney took in Intolerable Cruelty and Michael Douglas played in Traffic.
However, Gere has admitted that there’s only one role he truly regrets turning down: the role of Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone’s Wall Street.
This part ultimately went to Michael Douglas, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the iconic anti-hero.
#7. He can trace his ancestry to the Mayflower
Richard Gere can trace his family roots back to the Pilgrims who arrived in America on the Mayflower in 1620. His great-grandfather, George Lane Gere, changed the original family name from Geer to its current spelling.
Gere’s ancestors include George Geer, who emigrated from Devon, England, to the Connecticut Colony in 1638. The Gere family has strong ties to Pennsylvania, one of the earliest settled states.
Gere’s heritage is a mix of English, Welsh, Dutch, Scottish, and French. Notably, his ancestors include several Pilgrims, such as Francis Eaton, John Billington, George Soule, Richard Warren, Degory Priest, Francis Cooke, and William Brewster.
#8. He became a father for the first time at 50 years old
Like many male Hollywood stars, Richard Gere waited until later in life to become a father. His girlfriend at the time, Carey Lowell, who he later married, gave birth to their son in February 2000. Gere was 50 years old when he became a father to Homer James Jigme Gere.
Homer’s first two names honor Gere and Lowell’s fathers, while his third name, Jigme, is of Tibetan origin and means “fearless.” Both Gere and Lowell follow Tibetan Buddhism.
After his split from Lowell, Gere married Alejandra Silva, and despite being in his 70s, he has had two more children with her.
#9. He feuded bitterly with Debra Winger on the set of An Officer and a Gentleman
Richard Gere’s role in the 1982 film An Officer and a Gentleman alongside Debra Winger marked a major breakthrough in his career. The on-screen chemistry between the two was a hit with audiences worldwide.
However, behind the scenes, their relationship was quite different. Gere and Winger didn’t get along well, with Winger even describing him as a “brick wall.” Gere acknowledged there was “tension” between them, which may have been exacerbated when Winger received the Best Actress Oscar for the film while Gere did not.
Three decades later, Gere and Winger reconciled at the Rome Film Festival, both stating that any past conflicts had been resolved
#10. He blames China for his declining Hollywood career
In recent years, Richard Gere has appeared less frequently in major Hollywood films, and he has expressed some concerns about why this might be happening.
In April 2017, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he believes his reduced number of roles is due to China’s growing influence in Hollywood.
Gere attributes this to his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government regarding Tibet. He mentioned, “There are definitely movies that I can’t be in because the Chinese will say, ‘Not with him.’”
He even claimed that he recently encountered a situation where a film couldn’t be financed with him involved because it might upset the Chinese.
Gere’s last major studio film was Nights in Rodanthe in 2008. Since then, he has focused on independent films.
#11. He almost got into a fist fight with Sylvester Stallone over Princess Diana
There has always been tension between Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone, dating back to when they were cast together in an early film. Their clashes on set were so intense that Gere was eventually fired from the project.
The feud didn’t end there. According to Elton John, the two actors had another notable run-in at a dinner party hosted by John in 1993. Diana, Princess of Wales, was also at the party.
Gere and Diana began chatting, creating a “strange atmosphere” in the room. John suspects Stallone might have come to the party with the intention of making a move on Diana, only to find his plans thwarted.
John and his partner, David Furnish, later found Gere and Stallone outside, seemingly on the verge of a fistfight over Diana. John and Furnish intervened, Gere continued talking with Diana, and Stallone stormed out, upset that he had come only to find “Prince f***in’ Charming” was also there.
#12. He’s not actually vegetarian
Although Richard Gere has practiced Buddhism for decades, he isn’t a strict vegetarian, despite common assumptions.
In interviews, including a 2007 appearance on Live! with Kelly, Gere has clarified that while he doesn’t follow a 100% vegetarian diet, he hasn’t eaten red meat for over 30 years.
It’s worth noting that not all Buddhists are required to be vegetarians, a fact also true for the Dalai Lama. Despite this, Gere has actively supported vegetarianism.
He has been involved with the Tibetans for Vegetarian Society and, in 2010, helped lead a campaign to create a meat-free zone in the Indian town where the Buddha is believed to have achieved enlightenment.
#13. He allegedly had affairs with both Priscilla Presley and Kim Basinger
In addition to his three marriages, Richard Gere is reported to have had several high-profile relationships. There are claims that some of the women he was involved with were married at the time.
For instance, Kim Basinger‘s ex-husband, Ron Snyder, alleged that Gere and Basinger had an affair during their marriage. Gere and Basinger worked together on two films, No Mercy (1986) and Final Analysis (1992).
There were also claims by Michael Edwards, Priscilla Presley’s former boyfriend, that Presley was unfaithful to him with Gere. Edwards made these allegations in his 1988 book Priscilla, Elvis and Me, while Snyder’s claims were published in his 1998 book Kim Basinger: Longer than Forever.
#14. He caused a scandal in India by publicly kissing Shilpa Shetty
In April 2007, Richard Gere attended an HIV-AIDS awareness event in New Delhi, India, where he appeared alongside the renowned Indian actress Shilpa Shetty. During the event, Gere’s behavior stirred controversy when he became overly affectionate.
After kissing Shetty’s hand, Gere leaned in to kiss her on both cheeks and then embraced her, which was intended to be a re-enactment of a scene from his film Shall We Dance. The film had recently been a hit in India, and Gere’s intention was to pay homage to it.
However, Gere was unaware that such public displays of affection are generally frowned upon in India. Both Gere and Shetty faced backlash, with many people condemning the actions as ‘obscene.’
Richard Gere was surprised by the strong reaction to his actions and quickly issued a public apology to the people of India. He emphasized, “It has never been nor could it ever be my intention to offend you.”
Gere also defended Shilpa Shetty, calling her “a courageous and wonderful woman” and praising her for her exceptional leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
#15. His best-known roles were all turned down by John Travolta’s first
Richard Gere’s rise to fame coincided with that of another Hollywood star, John Travolta. Before breaking into film, Gere’s first major acting role was playing Danny Zuko in a London stage production of Grease.
Gere and Travolta had both appeared in supporting roles in Grease on Broadway, but Travolta became most closely associated with the musical after starring as Danny in the 1978 film adaptation. At around the same time, Gere landed leading roles in three films that had initially been offered to Travolta: Days of Heaven, American Gigolo, and An Officer and a Gentleman.
This pattern continued when Travolta turned down the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago. Gere took on the role and earned a Golden Globe Award for his performance.
#16. He runs a nonprofit with Uma Thurman’s father
Richard Gere is a close friend of Robert Thurman, a prominent scholar and author who is also a major advocate of Tibetan Buddhism.
If Thurman’s name sounds familiar, it might be because he’s the father of actress Uma Thurman, known for her work with Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. Uma Thurman also starred alongside Gere in the 1992 film Final Analysis.
Robert Thurman played a key role in popularizing Tibetan Buddhism in the West during the 1970s. In 1986, at the request of the Dalai Lama, Gere and Robert Thurman co-founded Tibet House in New York City.
This non-profit organization was established to present and preserve the teachings and culture of Tibet.
#17. The necklace snapping in Pretty Woman was an ad-lib
Pretty Woman (1990) is celebrated as one of the greatest romantic comedies and remains one of Richard Gere’s most beloved films. It’s also the highest-grossing film of his career, earning $463.4 million worldwide and making Julia Roberts an instant star.
In 2012, the film’s late director, Garry Marshall, revealed that one of the film’s most famous moments was actually an ad-lib by Gere.
During the iconic necklace scene, Roberts, who was still waking up that day, was surprised when Gere, in agreement with Marshall, snapped the box shut on her fingers to wake her up. Marshall assured that it was a softbox and that he would never hurt her.
The spontaneous laugh from Roberts was genuine and became a memorable part of the scene. Originally intended as a blooper, Marshall and Gere decided to keep it in the final cut, with Marshall calling it “the trademark of the movie.”
#18. He’s been married three times
Richard Gere first married supermodel Cindy Crawford in 1991. At the time, both Gere and Crawford were among the most recognized figures in the world, and their marriage was frequently in the spotlight. The couple divorced in 1995.
Gere later began a relationship with actress Cary Lowell, known for her role opposite Timothy Dalton in the James Bond film Licence to Kill. Gere and Lowell married in 2002, two years after the birth of their son, Homer. However, they separated 11 years later, leading to three years of contested divorce proceedings.
In April 2018, Gere married Alejandra Silva, a Spanish publicist and political activist who is 34 years younger than him. The couple has two children, with their most recent child born in April 2020, when Gere was 71.
#19. His face helped launch his photographer friend’s career
Richard Gere’s earliest headshots were taken by Herb Ritts, a childhood friend who was then an up-and-coming photographer struggling to make a name for himself. The quality of Ritts’ work impressed Gere’s agents, leading them to hire Ritts for other assignments.
As the years went by, Ritts gained fame and became a leading photographer, capturing many of the most prominent models and celebrities of the 80s and 90s.
He also found success as a director of TV fashion commercials and music videos. Notably, he directed the music video for Jon Bon Jovi’s “Please Come Home For Christmas,” which featured Gere’s then-wife, Cindy Crawford.
Tragically, Herb Ritts, who was HIV-positive, passed away from complications related to pneumonia in 2002 at the age of 50.
#20. He owns a swanky hotel in New York
Like many wealthy celebrities, Richard Gere has invested in the hotel industry. He co-owns the Bedford Post Inn with his ex-wife, Carey Lowell.
Located in the upscale town of Bedford, New York, the inn offers eight rooms, two restaurants, a yoga studio, and a meditation center catering to fellow Buddhists.
Given its luxurious amenities, it’s safe to say that staying at the Bedford Post Inn is likely to come with a hefty price tag.
