Richard Gere is mourning the death of his father, Homer, who died earlier this month at the age of 100.

According to reports, Homer Gere, a long-time community volunteer in North Syracuse, died on March 1 in Downstate New York.

Homer was extremely involved in his son’s life and inspired him to strive for greatness prior to a career that would see Richard climb to the dazzling heights at the top of the entertainment industry.

Richard’s wife, Alejandra, confirmed Homer’s death on March 4, when she took to Instagram to share the story of his life.

Her post began: “Homer George Gere, a community activist in North Syracuse, has died in North Salem, New York. He was 100 years old at the time of his death on March 1, 2023. A successful insurance agent until his retirement at the age of 65, Gere was known in the community as a gifted entrepreneur and was awarded for his work as a volunteer for North Area Meals on Wheels. As a supporter of that non-profit organization, he was featured in national advertisements alongside his son Richard Gere.“

Although Richard has not yet publicly commented on his father’s death, so one can only assume he is in shock. The Pretty Woman star regularly talked about his father’s support in interviews and previously labeled Homer his “hero”.

Indeed, only a few months ago, Richard and other family members gathered at a restaurant to celebrate Homer’s 100th birthday.

The birthday celebration took place in May 2022 at Pastabilities, one of Armory Square’s oldest restaurants.

The restaurant posted a picture after the party had concluded, along with the caption: “Richard Gere came in to Pasta’s tonight to celebrate his fathers 100th birthday.”

According to reports, Homer had such an impact on Richard’s life that the award-winning actor named his son Homer after him.

Richard Gere, 73, recently had a health scare while vacationing in Mexico with his family, which included wife Alejandra Silva and their two children.

The actor is said to have caught the flu while on vacation. It was later revealed that the actor from The American Gigolo already had a cough, which had worsened in Mexico. He went to the hospital because of his aggravated coughing and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The actor was admitted to the hospital for observation but was released the next day.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Richard Gere and his family at this tough time. Losing a loved one is never easy, regardless of their age, so we hope the blow can be lessened by happy memories of the past.

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