Richard Gere had an amazing father who taught him everything. Even though he started his own family later in life, he didn’t just learn from his dad; he followed those teachings in raising his own children. He’s really grateful to his dad and named his firstborn after him.

Richard Gere, known for movies like “Pretty Woman,” comes from a regular family. He grew up with lots of siblings on a farm in Syracuse, NY.

His mom, Doris, was from Brooklyn and met her husband, Homer Gere, there. They got married in 1945 and moved to North Syracuse to start a family with their five kids.

Even though they had a big family with kids named Richard, Susan, Joanne, David, and Laura, Richard Gere’s parents did a great job raising them. They taught them important values that lasted.

Richard’s mom, Doris, stayed at home, and his dad, Homer, worked in insurance. They didn’t have a lot of money, but they worked hard to make sure their kids got a good education.

Richard thinks of his parents like real-life superheroes. They provided everything he needed to nurture his creativity, even though they didn’t have a lot of money.

The actor from “Unfaithful” shared that his parents encouraged his interests. They hired teachers who helped develop their children’s skills. He said:

“We didn’t grow up with a lot of money, and the effort it took to afford education and music teachers was something special.”

Even though they didn’t have a lot of money, Richard is thankful for his parents’ hard work. At an event in 2019, he praised his dad for being a good person, a value he learned from him during his childhood.

Richard shared that his dad, Homer, never wanted anyone, even strangers, to suffer. He said Homer was really passionate and would show up to help anyone in need, no matter what it was.

In May, Homer celebrated his 100th birthday, and Richard organized a small birthday dinner for him at a pasta restaurant in their hometown.

The actor from “Pretty Woman” mentioned that even if Homer couldn’t help with money, he would find other ways, like offering a smile or a hug. Deep down, he always felt the need to assist in some way.

The onscreen legend added that his dad launched a Meals-On-Wheels in his hometown, which he became dedicated to for the rest of his life.

He explained that Homer preferred a “cheeseball car because the trunk was the right height for him to get the meals in to take around to his neighbors, so he didn’t have to bend over.”

Meals-On-Wheels America is a non-profit organization that provides for thousands of communities through different programs across the country. The first of its kind was founded in the 1950s in Philadelphia.