Richard Gere and his dad have always had a special bond because of the values that his dad taught him when he was young.
Richard is known for his charm. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was one of Hollywood’s most popular heartthrobs. Richard was born in Philadelphia on August 31, 1949, but he grew up in Syracuse, New York. In an interview with “Inside the Actor’s Studio” in 2002, Richard said that his father, Homer George Gere, was an insurance agent and that his mother, Doris Ann, was a housewife.
The General Society of Mayflower Descendants says that Richard is a descendant of John and Elinor Billington, as well as William and Mary Brewster, who came to New England on the Mayflower.
Even when they didn’t have enough money, the actor said, his parents always found a way to give him and his siblings the best things in life.
“They gave me and my four brothers and sisters a lot of chances in education, music, and anything else we were interested in,” he said.
He also said, “The teachers were found. We didn’t have a lot of money when we were growing up, and it was amazing how hard we had to work to get an education and music teachers.
Richard has always been proud of his father, who helps out with Meals on Wheels as a volunteer. The actor who won the Golden Globe for Best Actor has even been in several Meals on Wheels ads over the years to get more people to volunteer. Back in 2018, he even went with his dad to deliver lunch.
“He was there when his neighbors needed him. “He’s still there at 84,” Richard said in a 2018 video shared by Meals on Wheels. That same year, Richard and his dad, Homer, sat down and took a trip down memory lane. They talked about how Meals On Wheels got started and how it has changed their lives and the lives of others.
“I remember dad. You and your mom got this hatchback car. I told you that I’d be happy to give you the money for a really nice car, but this one is fine for me. (I said) why? Because it’s the right height to put the food in,” Richard said in another video that the organization put out.
Richard asked his father when he thought about the Meals on Wheels program for the first time. Homer said, “It looked like an empty house. That’s where Meals on Wheels got its start. We take care of people’s needs as they get older.”
The award-winning actor then said that his father’s desire to help feed people came from his desire to talk to people. On the other hand, his dad said:
“I think you can’t help but feel good about your life when you can see how it helps someone else in some way.”
Richard’s father taught him early on how important it is to help other people. Richard said in a 2019 interview with Page Six, “He’s one of those people who, his whole life, was there in some way whenever someone else was suffering.” Richard says that his dad always went out of his way to help other people, even if he didn’t have any money on him.
“If he didn’t have money, he’d help with a smile, a hug, or whatever else he could,” Richard said. “That was the way it was when I was growing up.”
Richard and Homer told people in 2021 about how Meals On Wheels went on a mission to help people in need when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its worst.
“COVID-19 has left a lot of older people on their own, and they need our help. Richard said, “My dad worked with Meals on Wheels for more than 25 years. “It made me feel like I belonged.”
In 2022, when Homer turned 100, Richard made sure to take him out to lunch at a restaurant called Pastabilities in North Syracuse, where his father grew up.
Pastabilities wrote on Instagram, “Richard Gere came to Pasta’s tonight to celebrate his father Homer Gere’s 100th birthday.”
Homer used to be a volunteer firefighter in his hometown in addition to helping out with Meals on Wheels. Since Richard’s mother Doris died in 2016, the actor has been going to North Syracuse more often to see how his dad is doing.
As if saying how much he loves his father in interviews wasn’t enough, Richard named his only child with his ex-girlfriend Carey Lowell Homer James Jigme Gere. This shows how much he loves his father. Richard and Lowell named their son after both of their fathers, Homer and James. The name “Jigme” comes from the Tibetan language and means “fearless.” Both are interested in what the Dalai Lama, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism, has to say.
Now, Richard still loves all three of his kids, two of whom he has with his current wife, Alejandra Silva. He did get it from his father.
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