- "Actors Celebrating aMilestone Birthday, Starring in 'Pretty Woman'" (Modified)
Alluring, Iconic, Man with a unique charm - and so on. This persona has been associated with American actor Richard Gere (75) for a long time. This is also due to his silver hair, which has graced him since "Pretty Woman". That was in 1990.
Now his hair is as white as snow, but his face remains slim, even, and devoid of the deep wrinkles that typically mark men of the same age at first glance. He still retains that famous gentle, sometimes playful smile that has captivated the hearts of millions of females. Why not? After all, he won't hit 75 until August 31, and life has generally been kind to him thus far.
Moreover, a man hailed as one of the greatest communicators or interpreters of women might bear such a reputation far worse.
Hollywood Legend and "Sexiest Man Alive"
Ever since Gere played a charming, still youthful high-class call boy in "American Gigolo" in 1980, his list of roles has grown without pause. This was followed by: "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), "Pretty Woman" (1990), "Runaway Bride" (1999, once again with Julia Roberts), "Unfaithful" (2002), and the musical film "Chicago" (2002). In 1999, Richard Gere was named the "Sexiest Man Alive" by "People" magazine.
The star has also won over women in Germany. A survey by the magazine "Look" (from 2006) found that German women over 20 attribute the most sex appeal to Richard Gere. He took the top spot ahead of the 12 years younger George Clooney (63) and the 15 years younger Brad Pitt (60).
The list of his actual conquests and on-and-off relationships is also impressive: Richard Gere is said to have had relationships with actresses Penelope Milford (76), Tuesday Weld (81), Carole Mallory (82), Barbara Carrera (78), Kim Basinger (70), Priscilla Presley (79), and Barbra Streisand (82). He is also said to have been linked to Brazilian painter Sylvia Martins (70), jewelry designer Loree Rodkin (75), and models Laura Bailey, Tina Chow, Dalila Di Lazzaro, and Padma Lakshmi at some point.
Richard Gere is married for the third time
He was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford (58) from 1991 to 1995. His second wife was actress Carey Lowell (2002-2016, with one son). In 2018, he married Spanish journalist and political activist Alejandra Silva (41), with whom he has two sons. The age difference of over 30 years doesn't trouble her. "He promised me 20 good years. He has more energy than me, he is more active, it's hard to keep up!"
When asked about his experiences with women in 2017, he gave the "Lufthansa Magazine" an answer that didn't sound like a womanizer at all: "I don't know what women think, but I know how I should behave. A relationship is not a transaction where each one weighs what they give to the other. True love demands selflessness, like mothers and their children. That's not always easy, I admit."
That's one side of Richard Gere, the other side was detailed by the "Süddeutsche Zeitung": "It's hard to believe, but even Richard Tiffany Gere was not born as an unyielding, ever-smiling silver fox. He was not always the inconspicuous, charming one." The 1949-born Gere comes from a respected family that traces its roots back to the first immigrants in America. His English ancestors arrived on the famed "Mayflower" on the East Coast in 1620.
Richard Gere is well-versed in music
After abandoning a philosophy degree, he yearned to dedicate himself to music as he had learned several instruments, including piano, guitar, trumpet, and drums, and had also composed music for a student theater. Gere is indeed a skilled musician, having written the piano theme for "Pretty Woman" and a guitar solo for "The Wedding Singer". He also shone with a singing part in "Chicago".
Throughout his over 50-year career, the Hollywood star has portrayed not only romantic leading men and womanizers but also corrupt cops ("Internal Affairs"), sleazy Wall Street bankers ("Arbitrage"), IRA activists ("The Day of the Jackal"), CIA agents ("The Double - Deadly Encounter"), and even a homeless man ("Time Out of Mind"). He turned down the role of Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street" in 1987, a decision he later regretted.
In the Broadway play "Bent", he played a gay prisoner in the Dachau concentration camp, earning him a "Theatre World Academy Award". In the film "Norman", he convincingly portrayed the tragic downfall of a Jewish businessman in New York City, making him a critics' favorite for a Best Actor Oscar, which he never received. Apart from a Golden Globe for his role in "Chicago", all major Hollywood awards have evaded him.
Omitted from the Oscars**
Richard Gere isn't the only one who's experienced exclusion from the Oscars for numerous years. Back in 1993, he was asked to introduce the Best Art Direction award to Luciana Arrighi and Ian Whittaker for "Howards End". However, Gere chose to stray from the script and used the platform to critique the Chinese government's handling of Tibetans and the Chinese people. This move was seen as a breach of etiquette by the organizers, which led to a ten-year Oscar boycott for Gere.
As per "The Hollywood Reporter", Gere, who's been a Buddhist for several decades and is a friend of the Dalai Lama, is prohibited from entering China due to his stance. The report suggests that "Hollywood is becoming more amicable towards the authoritarian powerhouse", and the studios are cautious about not upsetting the government that oversees the world's second-largest film market.
Gere is quoted as saying, "Certainly, there are films I can't be part of as the Chinese would object, 'Not with him!' Recently, someone informed me they couldn't finance a film with me because it would disturb the Chinese."
Despite the major studios, Gere carries on his journey and his acting talent and reputation remain untouched. He stands up against injustice whenever he encounters it, with his mission being "to feel empathy and gain wisdom". He strives "to be selfless and assist others. I don't always meet my goal, so my minimum aim is to avoid causing harm to anyone". This statements paints Gere as a truly inspiring individual.
George Clooney was also named as one of the most attractive men by various publications, often appearing in lists alongside Richard Gere. Despite being a few years older, George Clooney's charm and good looks have continued to captivate audiences.
In another survey conducted in 2018, both George Clooney and Richard Gere were ranked highly when it comes to sex appeal. According to the poll, Clooney was voted the sexiest man by women in the United States, resulting in a close tie between the two Hollywood legends.
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