According to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, actor Richard Gere is descended from pilgrims John and Elinor Billington and William and Mary Brewster, who arrived in New England aboard the Mayflower. Gere’s childhood was simple, as he was born on August 31, 1949, in Philadelphia parents Homer George Gere, an insurance agent, and Doris Ann, a homemaker.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 1980, Gere said, ‘After high school, I felt fairly disoriented, but I knew my heart belonged to music and theater.’

Although he secured a gymnastics scholarship at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, he left after two years, setting his sights on a career in film. His breakthrough came in 1977 when he appeared in ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar.’ Shortly after, he became a Hollywood heartthrob with ‘American Gigolo’ and ultimately soared to fame as Edward Lewis in ‘Pretty Woman.’

Aside from his acting abilities, Gere has been a strong human rights campaigner, most notably protesting human rights violations in Tibet and boycotting the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This outspoken stance, however, brought its own set of difficulties, causing his career to stall. ‘I continue to make tiny, character-driven pictures, despite studios pursuing massive revenues,’ he said. It has had no effect on my life.’

Gere and his wife moved to the countryside in 2021. He attributes his ability to concentrate on tiny passion projects to the cash he amassed during his early blockbuster years, asserting emphatically, ‘I’m not interested in playing the wizened Jedi in your tentpole.’

Nonetheless, his anti-China stance has limited his options in Hollywood. ‘There are films I can’t be a part of because the Chinese won’t let me,’ he admitted. He also recounted a story about a Chinese filmmaker who stopped a movie because he was afraid Gere’s involvement would result in a ban on him and his family in China.

Despite these difficulties, Gere has found his home in small films and made tremendous progress. He’s also heavily involved in Mexico’s Xala initiative, which promotes community-driven, environmentally conscious tourism. Gere voiced his enthusiasm, saying, ‘We aspire to deliver outstanding tourism and a sustainable neighborhood.’

This multi-decade project contains 75 rancho estates, 50 houses, three boutique hotels, and a travelers’ hostel. Ricardo Santa Cruz, the developer of Xala, said that only 13 percent of the 3,000-acre property will be developed.

Gere listed his Pound Ridge home for $28 million in 2021, seeking a closer connection to nature. He and his family now live in North Salem, where he is married to Alejandro Silva. Despite their huge age difference, the couple has a strong bond and two boys, Alexander and James.

Gere has a son named Homer from his second marriage to Carey Lowell, and Silva has a son named Albert from her first marriage. Silva, a wildlife aficionado, frequently updates the family on their ranch. She recently shared touching images of their family enjoying nature’s basic pleasures.

In December 2021, she shared a Christmas picture, cradling their two sons while observing zebras. Silva’s love for nature also shines through as she shared moments of herself with a cow, both feeding and milking it, highlighting the importance of reconnecting with the natural world.

In February 2023, Silva provided an update on their family’s health after falling ill during a trip to Mexico for their conservation project. She thanked fans for their support on Instagram.

Check out the house tour in video below: