SAD NEWS: Richard Gere, Aged 74, American actor and humanitarian, perhaps best known for his portrayal of genteel characters in romantic comedies previously diagnosed has been confirmed that he is……See More

If you ask him, the reason you don’t see him in anything anymore is China. A practicing Tibetan Buddhist, Gere is a fierce advocate for Tibetan human rights. He is banned from entering PRC because of his support for Tibetan independence. He’s been banned from presenting at the Oscars since 1993, when he went off-script to talk about Tibet.

And since mainland China is such a huge market for films nowadays and Chinese companies are becoming more and more powerful financiers and such in Hollywood, Gere has found it harder to book jobs. MGM once dumped a film he did with them so they could make a deal with China.

“There are definitely movies that I can’t be in because the Chinese will say, ‘Not with him,’” he told The Hollywood Reporter. “I recently had an episode where someone said they could not finance a film with me because it would upset the Chinese.” Nothing. He’s still acting. He’s not as big as he was in the 80’s and ‘90’s with an “Officer and a Gentleman” “Primal Fear” and “Pretty Woman” he’s still around.

He was in hit musical “Chicago” with Renee Zelwegger and Catherine Zeta-Jones a few years ago. Not everyone can be like Clint Eastwood or Al Pacino and stay on top for 40+ years. Look at the ups and downs John Travolta has had.