Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Richard Gere
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Richard Gere made an impact.
Richard Gere is a prominent American actor whose career began in the 1970s. He gained recognition for his roles in films like *American Gigolo*, establishing him as a leading man. His filmography includes successes such as *An Officer and a Gentleman*, *Pretty Woman*, and *Primal Fear*. Gere also received a Golden Globe Award for his performance in the musical *Chicago*.
1969: First Professional Work
In 1969, Richard Gere first worked professionally at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Provincetown Playhouse.
1971: Broadway Debut
In 1971, Richard Gere's first major acting role was in the rock opera Soon, which opened on Broadway.
1973: Appeared in Grease
In 1973, Richard Gere appeared in the original London stage version of Grease.
1977: Played in Looking for Mr. Goodbar
In 1977, Richard Gere played a small but significant part in Looking for Mr. Goodbar.
1978: Starred in Days of Heaven
In 1978, Richard Gere starred in director Terrence Malick's drama Days of Heaven.
1979: Starred in Bent
In 1979, Richard Gere starred as a gay Holocaust victim in the Broadway production of Bent, earning a Theatre World Award.
1980: Starred in American Gigolo
In 1980, Richard Gere rose to prominence with his starring role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol.
1982: Starred in An Officer and a Gentleman
In 1982, Richard Gere starred in An Officer and a Gentleman, cementing his stardom.
1984: Starred in The Cotton Club
In 1984, Richard Gere starred in the film The Cotton Club.
1986: Starred in No Mercy
In 1986, Richard Gere starred in the film No Mercy.
1990: Starred in Internal Affairs and Pretty Woman
In 1990, Richard Gere starred in Internal Affairs and Pretty Woman, rebounding his career.
1990: Starred in Pretty Woman
In 1990, Richard Gere starred in Pretty Woman, a role that significantly impacted his career.
1993: Starred in Sommersby
In 1993, Richard Gere starred in Sommersby opposite Jodie Foster.
1994: Starred in Intersection
In 1994, Richard Gere starred in the film Intersection.
1995: President of Jury at Moscow Film Festival
In 1995, Richard Gere served as the president of the jury at the 19th Moscow International Film Festival.
1995: Starred in First Knight
In 1995, Richard Gere starred in the film First Knight.
1996: Starred in Primal Fear
In 1996, Richard Gere starred in Primal Fear.
1997: Starred in The Jackal
In 1997, Richard Gere starred in The Jackal, playing Declan Mulqueen and affecting an Irish accent.
1999: Created Gere Foundation India Trust
In 1999, Richard Gere created the Gere Foundation India Trust to support humanitarian programs in India.
1999: Advocacy Against Ethnic Cleansing in Kosovo
In 1999, Richard Gere raised awareness of the inhuman crimes and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, specifically the Serbian military actions against the Albanian civilian population.
1999: Starred in Runaway Bride
In 1999, Richard Gere starred in Runaway Bride, reuniting with Julia Roberts.
2000: Starred in Dr. T & the Women
In 2000, Richard Gere starred in the film Dr. T & the Women.
2002: Appeared in Multiple Hit Films and Won Golden Globe
In 2002, Richard Gere appeared in The Mothman Prophecies, Unfaithful, and Chicago, winning his first Golden Globe Award for Chicago.
2002: Won Golden Globe for Chicago
In 2002, Richard Gere won a Golden Globe Award for portraying Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago.
2004: Starred in Shall We Dance?
In 2004, Richard Gere starred in Shall We Dance?, which grossed $170 million worldwide.
2005: Starred in Bee Season
In 2005, Richard Gere starred in Bee Season, which was a commercial failure.
April 15, 2007: AIDS Awareness Rally and Controversy
On April 15, 2007, Richard Gere appeared at an AIDS awareness rally in Jaipur and faced controversy after kissing Shilpa Shetty on the cheek.
September 2007: Called for Olympic Boycott
In September 2007, Richard Gere called for the boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to put pressure on China to make Tibet independent.
2007: Co-starred in The Hunting Party and I'm Not There
In 2007, Richard Gere co-starred in The Hunting Party and I'm Not There, portraying a variation of Bob Dylan in the latter.
2007: Starred in I'm Not There
In 2007, Richard Gere starred in the film I'm Not There.
2008: Called for Olympic Boycott
In 2008, Richard Gere called for the boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games to put pressure on China to make Tibet independent.
2008: Starred in Nights in Rodanthe
In 2008, Richard Gere co-starred with Diane Lane in Nights in Rodanthe, which was widely panned but grossed over $84 million.
October 2009: Contributed Writing to Book
In October 2009, Richard Gere contributed writing for the book We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples, discussing the persecution of the Jumma people.
June 27, 2011: Meditated in Borobudur Temple
On June 27, 2011, Richard Gere meditated in Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, showing his continued support for spiritual practices.
February 16, 2012: Honored with George Eastman Award
On February 16, 2012, Richard Gere received the George Eastman Award from the George Eastman Museum for his distinguished contribution to the art of film.
May 17, 2012: Awarded Medal of Gratitude by Albanian President
On May 17, 2012, Richard Gere was awarded the Medal of Gratitude by Albanian President Bamir Topi for his humanitarian work and activism in protecting human rights, specifically for bringing attention to the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in 1999.
2012: Starred in Arbitrage and Received Awards
In 2012, Richard Gere starred in Arbitrage, earning his fourth Golden Globe Award nomination, and received the Golden Starfish Award and Career Achievement Award.
2012: Starred in Arbitrage
In 2012, Richard Gere starred in the film Arbitrage.
2016: Endorsed Hillary Clinton
In 2016, Richard Gere endorsed Hillary Clinton for president and donated $2,700 to her campaign.
2016: Starred in Norman
In 2016, Richard Gere starred in Joseph Cedar's political drama Norman, portraying Norman Oppenheimer.
February 2023: Supported Mahsa Amini Protesters
In February 2023, Richard Gere was one of the 480 global figures who signed a statement expressing support for Mahsa Amini protesters and urging sanctions on Iranian officials.
