Richard Gere Didn’t Want to Be Called a ‘Sex Symbol,’ Threatened Legal Action if Talk Show Didn’t Remove Label, Says Michael Aspel: ‘He Took Himself Very Seriously’

Richard Geres breakout role in 1980s American Gigolo might have made him a household name, but that didnt mean the actor wanted to be labeled a sex symbol, according to veteran British talk show host Michael Aspel.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Aspel recalled Geres appearance on his talk show Aspel and Company in 1989.

When Richard Gere came on the show, I introduced him and at the end I said, and hes done this, hes done that, and I used the phrase sex symbol,' Aspel said. After the interview, we had a phone call from his agent saying if I didnt remove the sex symbol thing, they were going to take it up with their lawyer.

Aspel continued, He would not be known as a sex symbol. It was very odd. But he took himself very seriously because he did a lot of stuff for the people of Tibet.

After American Gigolo, Gere starred in such films as An Officer and a Gentleman, Beyond the Limit and The Cotton Club in the 1980s. In 1990, he starred alongside Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

The actor has also been a prominent advocate for human rights in Tibet since the early 80s, and co-founded the Tibet House in 1987.

Aspels eponymous talk show, which ran from 1984 to 1993 on ITV, featured other celebrity guests including Barbra Streisand, Debbie Harry, Jack Nicholson, Paul McCartney and Bing Crosby. Aspel shared behind-the-scene details to the Daily Mail about several guests, including his interactions with Elizabeth Taylor, the only person I ever sent a fan letter to, the talk show host admitted.

Variety has reached out to Geres representatives for comment.