Editing Richard Gere (section)

==Early life and education==
Gere was born in [[Philadelphia]] on August 31, 1949,<ref>{{cite web|title=Famous birthdays for Aug. 31: Richard Gere, Van Morrison|date=August 31, 2019|publisher=[[United Press International]]|url=https://www.upi.com/amp/Entertainment_News/2019/08/31/Famous-birthdays-for-Aug-31-Richard-Gere-Van-Morrison/5021566921025/|access-date=May 22, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019162917/https://www.upi.com/amp/Entertainment_News/2019/08/31/Famous-birthdays-for-Aug-31-Richard-Gere-Van-Morrison/5021566921025/|url-status=live}}</ref> the eldest son and second child of [[homemaker]] Doris Ann ({{nee}} Tiffany; 1924{{ndash}}2016) and [[Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company|NMIC]] insurance agent Homer George Gere (1922–2023).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homer G. Gere, 100 – Eagle News Online |url=https://eaglenewsonline.com/new/obituaries/2023/03/10/homer-g-gere-100/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |archive-date=May 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503232502/https://eaglenewsonline.com/new/obituaries/2023/03/10/homer-g-gere-100/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Anne |date=2023-03-04 |title=Homer Gere dies at 100; father of actor Richard Gere was active in North Syracuse community |url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2023/03/homer-gere-dies-at-100-father-of-actor-richard-gere-was-active-in-north-syracuse-community.html |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=syracuse |language=en |archive-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502234603/https://www.syracuse.com/news/2023/03/homer-gere-dies-at-100-father-of-actor-richard-gere-was-active-in-north-syracuse-community.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His father originally intended to become a [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]].<ref name="actors">Stated in interview on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'', 2002.</ref> Gere was raised [[Methodist]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/in_depth/uk/2000/newsmakers/2591237.stm|work=BBC News|title=Richard Gere: On guard|date=December 27, 2002|access-date=May 22, 2010|first=Chris|last=Jones|archive-date=December 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207175932/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/in_depth/uk/2000/newsmakers/2591237.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/richard-gere-interview-for-bee-season/#commentspage|title=Richard Gere Interview for Bee Season|work=The Cinema Source|access-date=January 10, 2013|archive-date=May 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501001956/http://www.thecinemasource.com/blog/interviews/richard-gere-interview-for-bee-season/#commentspage|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Syracuse, New York]].<ref name="History.com coverage of birth">{{cite web |title=Actor Richard Gere born |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actor-richard-gere-born |website=History.com |access-date=March 19, 2019 |archive-date=April 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429055633/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/actor-richard-gere-born |url-status=live }}</ref> His paternal great-grandfather, George Lane Gere (1848–1932), changed the spelling of his surname from "Geer". One of his ancestors, also named George, was an Englishman who came from [[Heavitree]], England, and settled in the [[Connecticut Colony]] in 1638.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reunion traces hundreds of years of Geer family history|url=https://www.theday.com/article/20190628/NWS01/190629422|website=[[The Day (New London)|The Day]]|date=October 15, 2019|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015042412/https://www.theday.com/article/20190628/NWS01/190629422|url-status=live}}</ref> Both of Gere's parents were ''[[Mayflower]]'' descendants; his ancestors include [[Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony)|Pilgrims]] such as [[John Billington]], [[William Brewster (Mayflower passenger)|William Brewster]], [[Francis Eaton (Mayflower passenger)|Francis Eaton]], [[Francis Cooke]], [[Degory Priest]], [[George Soule (Mayflower passenger)|George Soule]] and [[Richard Warren]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mayflowerhistory.com/famous-descendants|title=Famous Descendants|website=Mayflower history.com|accessdate=September 27, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019051635/http://mayflowerhistory.com/famous-descendants|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1967, Gere graduated from [[Cicero–North Syracuse High School|North Syracuse Central High School]], where he excelled at gymnastics and music and played the trumpet.<ref name="actors"/> Gere attended the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]] on a gymnastics scholarship, studying philosophy; after two years, he left and did not graduate.<ref name="actors"/><ref name="BiographyChannel">[http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/105:713/1/Richard_Gere.htm "Richard Gere Biography"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529132456/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_story/105%3A713/1/Richard_Gere.htm|date=May 29, 2007}}, Carey Latimore, ''[[The Biography Channel]]''; retrieved May 1, 2008.</ref>