Richard Gere

Born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, actor Richard Gere has made a name for himself with such films as "An Officer and a Gentleman," "Pretty Woman," "Chicago" and "Arbitrage." After graduating from North Syracuse Central High School in 1967, Richard Gere studied philosophy at University of Massachusetts at Amherst on a gymnastics scholarship. He left school after two years to explore his interest in theater. In the early 1970s, Gere landed the role of Danny Zuko in the musical "Grease" in London.

Gere had a career breakthrough in 1977 with the dramatic thriller "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," starring Diane Keaton. In the film, he plays a rough-and-tumble lothario who meets a schoolteacher (Keaton). The following year, Gere landed a starring role in Terrence Malick's epic "Days of Heaven." Gere became an actor on the rise in the 1980s, and 1990, Gere enjoyed another wave of success with the romantic comedy "Pretty Woman." The film follows the unlikely relationship that develops between a prostitute, played by Julia Roberts, and her client (Gere). He also showed himself capable of handling more weighty roles, such as the dirty cop in 1990's "Internal Affairs" and a defense attorney in "Primal Fear" (1996).

Known for his charisma, charm and good looks, Gere earned People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" honor in 1999. He played against type for 2002's "Unfaithful" as Diane Lane's cuckolded husband. That same year, Gere returned to his musical theater roots with the film adaptation of the Broadway hit "Chicago." He won a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of slick lawyer Billy Flynn.

Throughout his career, Gere has devoted much of his time to his social and political causes. The longtime Buddhist co-founded the Tibet House in 1987 and has served as the chairman of the board for the International Campaign for Tibet since 1995. He later established the Gere Foundation "to help sponsor human rights in Tibet and support the Dalai Lama," Gere explained to Redbook. He also supported charities to help those suffering from AIDS, especially in India.