Gere, Richard (1949– )

US film actor. He rose to stardom playing narcissistic loners and rebels in such films as Looking for Mr Goodbar (1977), American Gigolo (1980), and An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). He received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe award for his performance in Chicago (2002).

His popularity dimmed in the late 1980s, but he reasserted himself with a chilling performance as a corrupt policeman in Internal Affairs (1989) and showed a deft comic touch in the box-office hit Pretty Woman (1990). Subsequent films include Sommersby (1993), First Knight (1995), Primal Fear (1996), The Day of the Jackal (1997), and Red Corner (1997).

Gere was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and studied at the University of Massachusetts before gaining extensive experience in the theatre. His stage appearances include Grease (1972) in London, Killer's Head (1975) off-Broadway, and Bent (1979–80) on Broadway. He made his film debut in Report to the Commissioner (1975). Later films include Runaway Bride (2000), Dr T and the Women (2000), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), Unfaithful (2002), and Shall We Dance? (2004). He is a Buddhist and spokesperson for various Tibetan causes, and was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford.