Every parent wants to watch their children grow into amazing human beings. They hope to be by their kids’ side, celebrating every milestone they achieve in their lives. But for some, this dream, unfortunately, remains unfulfilled and Hollywood star Richard Gere is afraid, he’s one of them.
The heartthrob became a father much later in his life. Although fatherhood seems to have come at the perfect time for Gere, it is his time that has left him genuinely worried.
Per Radar Online, the 72-year-old fears that he would not get the chance to be a part of his children’s life for long due to his age. He heartbreakingly believes that he wouldn’t be around long enough to guide them and see them evolve into mature, independent adults.
“He knows he’s EXTREMELY old to be a father. He can do the math — and it’s made him very aware his time is limited,” shared an insider. Gere was 69 when he welcomed his first child, Alexander, with Alejandra Silva in 2019. It was a special pregnancy for the Buddist couple whose child was blessed by the Dalai Lama himself while in the womb.
Although Alexander is the couple’s first child, Gere has a 21-year-old son from his previous marriage to Carey Lowell. Even Silva has a 9-year-old with her former husband Govind Friedland. So when Gere learned that he was going to be a father for the second time, he was elated as it was with someone he loved with all his heart.
But at the same time, he was also worried. “Richard wanted to be sure that he had found the right woman before he had another child. When he found out they were pregnant, he realized how difficult it would be for him to raise a young child,” the source added. Gere became so bothered by the thought of being an absent father that he reached out to the Dalai Lama, his spiritual teacher.
“The Dalai Lama reminded him that, as a Buddhist, he believes in reincarnation. He’s found some comfort in the fact that should he die before the child becomes an adult, he will return in some form to experience him or her! That gave him some peace,” explained the source. After finding comfort in his words, Gere focused all his energy on becoming a good parent.
As it turns out, he even told Daily Mail that he has no worries about becoming an older parent. Then in April 2020, he welcomed his second child with Silva at the age of 70. While it does sound unconventional, Gere has found a way to overcome his fears. Now he is enjoying his private life with his soulmate and two kids.