Richard Gere

Born: 31 August 1949 Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Best Known As: Movie hunk and celebrity Buddhist Richard Gere got early attention from roles in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) and Days of Heaven (1978), but it was his title role in American Gigolo (1980, directed by Paul Schrader) that made him a star. Gere followed up with the bigger hit An Officer and a Gentleman (1982, with Debra Winger), but then made several box-office flops. In 1990 he bounced back by co-starring with Julia Roberts in the surprise 1990 hit Pretty Woman. (He rejoined Roberts for another romantic comedy, Runaway Bride, in 1999.) He has since stayed busy as a leading man in the movies, including 2002's Unfaithful (with Diane Lane) and Chicago (2002, with Renee Zellweger). Gere is also known as an off-screen champion for Tibetan independence and is a pal of the Dalai Lama. Gere was married to supermodel Cindy Crawford from 1991-95.