Biography
Birthdate: August 31, 1949
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sign: Sun in Virgo, Moon in Sagittarius
Education: University of Massachusetts (gymnastics scholarship dropout)
Sexy leading man Richard Gere began as a musician, playing a number of instruments in high school and writing music for high school productions. He dropped out of college to pursue acting, eventually landing a lead role in the London production of the rock musical Grease in 1973. His work earned him a season with the Young Vic Company (an unusual opportunity for an American actor), during which he appeared in such plays as Taming of the Shrew (1974). He debuted onscreen in a small role as a pimp in Report to the Commissioner (1974), after which he made one or more films a year while continuing to do stage work. His breakthrough screen performance was in the title role of American Gigolo (1979), which established him as a major sex symbol.
After that success he took a big career risk in accepting the role of a gay concentration-camp prisoner in the Broadway play Bent, for which he received excellent reviews. His next film, An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), confirmed his star status, but it was followed by a long dry spell of poor or unsuccessful movies; that period was ended with his starring role in the smash hit Pretty Woman (1990) playing opposite Julia Roberts. Off-screen, he is a devout Buddhist and remains active in ecological and political causes. His marriage to supermodel Cindy Crawford ended in 1995.