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'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' (1977) - While this crime drama belongs to Diane Keaton, whose portrayal of a  schoolteacher leading a double life was praised by critics, Richard Gere shares costar credits as one of the men Keaton's character meets in a late-night bar.

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'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' (1977) - Only his third film, Gere plays a charming but vain Italian-American called Tony. His moody good looks introduced him as a burgeoning Hollywood heartthrob.

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'Bloodbrothers' (1978) - Gere's next film was this largely forgotten little gem that opened to positive reviews and garnered the actor considerable praise for his role as a construction worker who yearns to be a teacher.

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'Days of Heaven' (1978) - Director Terrence Malick cast Gere as a manual laborer who ends up working on a farm in this beautifully shot romantic period drama. The movie has since become one of the most acclaimed films of its decade.

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'American Gigolo' (1980) - The film which sealed the actor's reputation as a Hollywood hunk, 'American Gigolo' follows a male escort (Gere) in Los Angeles who takes great pleasure in his work from being able to sexually satisfy women, especially older ones.

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'American Gigolo' (1980) - Reviews were mixed but audiences swooned, and the film was a huge box-office hit.

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'An Officer and a Gentleman' (1982) - Gere was well in his stride as a leading man when he appeared in this romantic drama, which costarred Louis Gossett Jr. (pictured), who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film—the first African American to do so!

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'An Officer and a Gentleman' (1982) - Well received by critics, this was one of the best films of 1992. Its finale, when Gere's character, Zack Mayo, literally sweeps Paula (Debra Winger) off her feet is the stuff of Hollywood romance.

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'Breathless' (1983) - This remake of Jean-Luc Godard's 'À bout de souffle' sees Gere in fine form as a reckless drifter on the run after shooting a cop. Along the way he picks up architecture graduate Monica Poiccard (Valérie Kaprisky).

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'Breathless' (1983) - The film is now regarded as a minor cult classic. Quentin Tarantino cites it as one of the "coolest" movies, though he refers to Godard's original as the basis of his inspiration.

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'Internal Affairs' (1990) - An effective neo-noir crime thriller, 'Internal Affairs' sees the actor play a corrupt cop who's investigated by an Internal Affairs agent (Andy Garcia).

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'Internal Affairs' (1990) - Violent in places, and often sexually explicit, this movie allows Gere to shed his romantic leading man image and instead develop a personality as a thoroughly ruthless manipulator with murderous intentions.

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'Pretty Woman' (1990) - One of Richard Gere's defining roles, this slick comedy earned co-star Julia Roberts a Golden Globe and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.

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'Pretty Woman' (1990) - In the movie, Gere's wealthy businessman character is totally charmed by Roberts' down-on-her-luck Hollywood sex worker. The chemistry between the two actors bubbles over and left audiences suitably smitten.

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'Final Analysis' (1992) - With its Hitchcock-esque ambiance and plenty of intrigue thrown in for good measure, this movie sees Gere and co-star Kim Basinger flee a hardened gangster.

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'Final Analysis' (1992) - One critique reads that the movie was a "crackling good psychological melodrama," with "Mr Gere and Ms Basinger... attractive as the furious lovers."

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'Sommersby' (1993) - Gere and co-star Jodie Foster were noted for their onscreen chemistry in this romantic period drama.

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'Sommersby' (1993) -

Set in the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War, the movie was a resounding commercial success.

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'Primal Fear' (1996) - 'Primal Fear' saw Edward Norton make his film debut, and was promptly nominated as Best Supporting Actor, eventually winning a Golden Globe.

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'Primal Fear' (1996) - Gere's strong performance as a Chicago defense attorney who believes his client (Norton's character) is innocent also garnered praise.

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'The Mothman Prophecies' (2002) - The actor moved into new genre territory with this supernatural horror-mystery that, while slow-paced, leaves audiences biting their nails with trepidation.

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'The Mothman Prophecies' (2002) - 'The Mothman Prophecies' costars Laura Linney and Will Patton and claims to be based on actual events that occurred between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

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'Chicago' (2002) -

Gere won a Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for his role as Billy Flynn, a greedy, smooth-talking lawyer in this colorful and glitzy movie based on the stage musical of the same name.

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'Chicago' (2002) - Critically lauded, the film won a slew of awards and accolades, and was nominated for many more.

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'Shall We Dance?' (2004) - The actor was clearly still in dancing mode with this movie, which saw Gere get together with Jennifer Lopez.

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'Shall We Dance?' (2004) - Despite being easy-going and effortlessly enjoyable, 'Shall We Dance?' created mixed feelings with critics and audiences.

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'The Hoax' (2006) - Swedish director Lasse Hallström ably steered Gere and co-star Alfred Molina through this intriguing drama that sees the actor play author Clifford Irving, who co-wrote an autobiography about Howard Hughes without ever having talked to the reclusive billionaire (i.e. the hoax in question).

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'The Hoax' (2006) - Gere was nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

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'Arbitrage' (2012) - A mature Richard Gere gives a powerful performance as a troubled hedge fund manager who seeks guidance on a trade deal from an unlikely source.

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'Arbitrage' (2012) - A worldwide box-office hit, 'Arbitrage' saw Gere nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.

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'Time Out of Mind' (2014) - The actor is almost unrecognizable—and far removed from his leading man heartthrob image—in this moving drama about a homeless man (Gere) who seeks refuge in a hospital and eventually tries to rekindle his relationship with his estranged daughter.

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'Time Out of Mind' (2014) -

Critics admired Gere's portrayal of a man down on his luck, and while it didn't fare well at the box office, the film underlined Gere's range as an actor and the commitment he brings to every role.

See also: Silver foxes: Hollywood's most handsome older men

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