Dan's Papers - September 14, 2007 -Richard Gere

Richard Gere has become famous for playing leading men, yet he has remained one of Hollywood's most reclusive icons. Since he set foot on the road to celebrity in the 1970s, the silver-haired actor has starred in over 30 films. Although he tends to shy away from the public's eye, Gere managed to change his image from that of a good-looking Hollywood film actor to one of a devout Buddhist and international philanthropist.

Born in Philadelphia in 1949, Gere was raised on a farm in Syracuse, NY with his four siblings. While growing up, he displayed talent as a musician and played many instruments, excelling on the trumpet. After high school, Gere received a gymnastics scholarship to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he studied drama and philosophy, but dropped out two years later to pursue his acting career.

In 1973, Gere made his acting debut in musical theater, performing the lead role in the original London stage version of Grease. His career and popularity soared in the early 1980s, with roles in the films American Gigolo and An Officer and a Gentleman. In 1990, Pretty Woman was released, grossing $464 million and sealing Gere's fate as one of the most successful actors of his generation. To date, the romantic comedy is one of the most successful films of its genre. Pretty Woman also allowed Gere to show off his musical talents, as he composed the piano solo he performs in the film. A slew of box office successes followed, including Somersby, Primal Fear and his onscreen reunion with Julia Roberts, Runaway Bride. After several nominations, Gere won a Golden Globe in 2002 for his performance in the film version of Chicago. His film, Bee Season, kicked off opening night of the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2005.

In 1991, Gere married supermodel Cindy Crawford at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas, where he and his bride exchanged wedding bands made from aluminum foil. During their marriage, Gere was the first man ever to appear on the cover of Vogue and he and Crawford were named sexiest couple by People magazine. After continuous rumors that their marriage was falling apart, Gere and Crawford strayed far from their private nature and took out a full-page advertisement in The Times of London that read, "We got married because we love each other and we decided to make a life together. We are heterosexual and monogamous and take our commitment to each other very seriously. Reports of divorce are totally false. We remain very married. We both look forward to having a family. Marriage is hard enough without all these false speculations. Thoughts and words are very powerful, so please be responsible, truthful and kind." Critics remained skeptical of the letter's sincerity as the couple ended their marriage only one year after its publication.

In 2002, Gere married actress Carey Lowell, best known for her role as a "Bond Girl" in the 1989 movie License to Kill and, more recently from the television drama "Law & Order." Like Gere, Lowell is a devoted Buddhist and supporter of the Dalai Lama. The couple has a son, Homer James Jigme (Jigme means "fearless" in Tibetan), who was born in 2000.

Gere and Lowell currently reside in North Haven, but recent rumors suggest that they plan to relocate farther south to Bridgehampton. This summer, the couple has been seen at Della Femina in East Hampton, eating sushi at Suki Zuki in Water Mill, attending Ross School concerts and lounging on several Southampton beaches. For the most part, however, they have remained detached from the Hamptons social scene. But as true supporters of the arts, Gere and Lowell have attended the Hamptons Film Festival and last year, the couple performed in a tribute to Spalding Gray at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

Off screen, Gere is America's most famous practicing Buddhist. His interest in the religion began after he met with Tibetans in Nepal almost thirty years ago. He meditates daily, visits the Dalai Lama in India and has provided the financial means for His Holiness to visit America to give lectures on Buddhism, resulting in an estimated one thousand converts. In 1991, he co-founded the Tibet House in New York City and has since created the Gere Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting awareness of the struggle in Tibet and also contributes directly to the Tibetan people in order to aid in ensuring the survival of their culture. In 1997, Gere published personal photographs representing his journey into Buddhism in the book titled Pilgrim. Because of his active role in the movement to free Tibet from Chinese control, Gere has been banned from entering China. While presenting at the Oscars in 1993, he used his on-air time to criticize the Chinese government, and was subsequently banned from presenting at the awards show. He has testified in front of Congress on Tibet's behalf many times and recently called for a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Gere is also an outspoken supporter of causes such as AIDS awareness, human rights and cultural preservation organizations. He is particularly committed to fighting the AIDS epidemic in India, where the highest number of infected patients in the world reside. He continues to work closely with the Naz Foundation, a non-profit organization based in New Delhi, that provides long-term health care for women and children infected with AIDS.

Earlier this year, Gere sparked great controversy when he repeatedly kissed Bollywood film actress Shilpa Shetty on the cheek and hand during an AIDS awareness event in New Delhi. This public display of affection, which was broadcast on Internet and television networks worldwide, was considered vulgar by Hindu nationalists. The disapproval prompted outrage, as protestors burned posters of the stars and chanted threatening phrases including "Death to Shetty." Both Gere and Shetty spoke publicly about the incident and referred to it as a non-issue, but a month later, an Indian court issued warrants for their arrests, ruling that the two stars had violated obscenity laws, a charge that could result in up to three months in prison. The case was later thrown out of court.

Whether it stems from his personal relationship with the Dalai Lama, his stint as People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" or his support of important global issues, Richard Gere has made his mark in many circles. The calm, cool American film star is one of the most respected actors of his time and displays charisma and intelligence both on and off the silver screen.