The American Gigolo star Richard Gere is preparing to say goodbye to his life in Hollywood as he gets ready for a major move to Europe.
The 75-year-old actor revealed that he plans to relocate to Madrid, Spain, with his wife, Alejandra Silva, and their children. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Gere shared that the family was planning to move in time to celebrate Thanksgiving in Spain.
Explaining why they had decided to make the move, Gere joked about his wife’s Spanish background.
“My wife is Spanish and—is this a problem for anybody out there?” he asked, prompting some audience members to gasp.
“Of course I’ll be back!” he quickly added.
Gere also revealed that his wife had given him a certain amount of time to live in the United States, and that time was now up.
“My wife is Spanish and she gave me about seven years here, so we’re going to spend some years in Madrid,” he explained.
Richard Gere Explains Why Spain Is the Right Place for His Family
The actor also talked about how the move could benefit their children. According to Gere, they are bilingual and would have an opportunity to flourish while growing up in Spain.
He also spoke warmly about his wife’s large Spanish family.
“My wife, she grew up in a very big Spanish family, like a big Italian family,” he said with a laugh.
He explained that his wife’s grandmother had been the person who brought the extended family together. After her grandmother passed away around a year and a half to two years earlier, Gere began noticing his wife gradually taking on a similar role.
He described how she was already planning large family gatherings and Sunday lunches for approximately 35 people.
For Gere, the move is not simply about changing countries. It is also about giving his wife the opportunity to reconnect with her family traditions and allowing their children to become more familiar with their Spanish heritage.
Richard Gere Says Moving to Madrid Will Be a Great Adventure
Earlier this year, Gere discussed the possibility of relocating in an interview with Vanity Fair Spain.
The Runaway Bride star admitted that moving abroad would take him outside his comfort zone. It would also allow Alejandra to spend more time with her relatives and friends while giving their children a deeper connection to Spanish culture.
“For me, going to Madrid is going to be a great adventure,” he said in April.
“Because I have never lived full-time outside the United States,” he added.
The move represents a significant change for the actor, who has spent most of his life and career in the United States.
Another sign of the family’s preparations came in October, when Gere sold his Connecticut home for $10.7 million.
He had purchased the six-bedroom property from Grammy-winning singer Paul Simon in 2022 for approximately $10.8 million.
Richard Gere Isn’t the Only American Celebrity Moving Abroad
Gere is not the only well-known American celebrity to have recently relocated outside the United States.
Television personality Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have also moved to England.
While celebrities have different personal reasons for choosing a new country, Gere’s decision appears closely connected to family, culture, and his wife’s Spanish roots.
For the actor, Madrid offers an opportunity to experience something entirely different after decades of living in America.
Although he has made it clear that he plans to return to the United States, his next chapter will begin in Spain, surrounded by his wife, children, and extended family.
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