American actor Richard Gere was BOTD in 1949. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was raised in Syracuse, New York. He studied at the University of Massachusetts on a gymnastics scholarship, leaving after two years to work as a musician and an actor. In 1972, he was cast as an understudy in the original Broadway production of the musical Grease, performing the lead role in the London premiere the following year. His career ignited in 1977 with a series of stunning, erotically-charged black-and-white photos taken by his friend Herb Ritts, bringing him to the attention of Hollywood. He was quickly cast as a disturbed bisexual predator in the film Looking for Mr Goodbar, and starred in Terrence Malick’s much-admired Depression-era drama Days of Heaven. He hit superstardom in Paul Schrader’s American Gigolo, impeccably clothed in suits by Georgio Armani when not naked, and pivoted into heterosexual leading man status as a hunky Marine in the romantic drama An Officer and a Gentleman. His career stagnated in the 1980s with a series of eccentric choices. He made an impressive comeback in the 1990s, playing silver foxes in Pretty Woman and Primal Fear, and had a cameo as a gay choreographer in the TV film of And the Band Played On, based on Randy Shilts‘ book. He returned to musical theatre in the 2001 with the successful film adaptation of John Kander and Fred Ebb‘s musical Chicago, notably being the only principal actor not to receive an Oscar nomination. Other notable roles include one of seven Bob Dylans in Todd Haynes‘ experimental biopic I’m Not There, and an ageing filmmaker in Schrader’s Oh, Canada! One of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors, Gere was romantically linked with nearly every actress in Hollywood, including Barbra Streisand, Kim Basinger and Priscilla Presley. Rumours that he was secretly gay and living in a sham marriage with his second wife, model Cindy Crawford, circulated for most of their relationship; they divorced, apparently on friendly terms, in 1995. He is married to activist Alejandra Silva, with whom he has two children. A practising Buddhist, he has frequently invoked controversy for criticising China’s annexation of Tibet and continued exile of his friend the Dalai Lama. Regardless of his actual sexuality, he earns Honorary SuperGay status for taking on gay roles, enthusiastically and often, and for services to gratuitous onscreen nudity.