Gere graduated from Cromwell High School and attended Providence College in Rhode Island on academic and track scholarships.
Gere then pursued interests in acting and filmmaking, working both in front of and behind the camera in short films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos, including those on MTV2.
Gere has also appeared in television shows and movies, including Ugly Betty, Rocky Balboa, Remains, The Dark Knight Rises, Infected, Self Storage, Army of the Damned, and A Bet.
The character was loosely based on Gere's real life, as he portrayed a nightclub owner who mentors two high school misfits.
Hill was famously portrayed by Ray Liotta in the award-winning box office hit, Goodfellas, which was directed by Martin Scorsese.
The future of the film is unknown at this time, but Gere has indicated that he has been in contact with Hill's girlfriend, Lisa Caserta, to revive the project.