If you are one of the 20 million U.S viewers of Euphoria, we have news. Dylan Reid, in the new season of this HBO favorite, is played by Hackley alumnus Homer Gere.
Son of renowned actor Richard Gere, Homer came to the Hackley Upper School as a freshman in 2014, graduating in the class of 2018. He made his acting debut this year in Ryan Murphy’s series The Shards, playing the main character, Robert Mallory.
Counterintuitively, Homer never actually participated in the performing arts at Hackley, despite expectations from others.
“People were like, ‘You’re going to be an actor, aren’t you?’” said Homer. “I was like, ‘No, I can do whatever I want.’”
During his time at Hackley, Homer enjoyed taking a variety of classes, such as architecture with Mr. Cice and physics with Mr. McLay. However, his favorite classes were with history teacher Vladimir Klimenko.
“I talk about Mr. Klimenko very often, even now,” said Homer. “He was a mentor to me.”
Although Homer’s acting skills were not a direct result of his Hackley experience, he found that Hackley’s rigorous academics helped better prepare him for life outside the classroom.
“You feel like when you enter a room that you’re prepared and intelligent. It gives you a sense of confidence that does help with acting,” said Homer.
Homer was mildly involved in sports at Hackley. In his freshman year, he played on the JV basketball team. That same year, he threw out his shoulder trying out for varsity baseball, which concluded his baseball career. He then got to explore more of the PE options Hackley has to offer, such as yoga in the Chapel. If he could go back, however, he would have explored more of his options, including rock climbing which he enjoys now as an adult.
Homer went on to Brown University, graduating in 2024 with a major in visual arts and psychology. While at Brown, he studied sculpture and furniture design. In the fall of his junior year in college, Homer’s friend was casting his thesis film for his major and thought Homer would be a great fit for a part. He has loved acting ever since.
“I was like, screw it, let’s try it, and I loved it,” said Homer. “I could do 12-14 hours a day working, and it wouldn’t feel like work.”
Homer’s experience while filming The Shards was very new to him. Especially with living in multiple places after living in New York for so long.
“You audition, get a job, and then you move to a new city and have to figure out how to exist in that new city,” said Homer.
Working with Ryan Murphy, the distinguished producer of The Shards, was a highlight of filming for Homer. Ryan Murphy has directed many famous movies and shows, such as American Horror Story and Glee, as well as the trending Kennedy-Besette-centered Love Story.
“He’s a lovely guy,” said Homer. “[The Shards] is almost like if Euphoria was set in the 80’s and was also a horror and was also Glee.”
While Homer himself refrains from watching Euphoria, he thinks that its content is too inappropriate for high schoolers. However, he recognizes the show’s popularity within younger media.
“I have a soft spot for Hackley. Seeing people who are in the shoes that I was once in enjoying what I do now feels really validating,” said Homer.
You can watch Homer in Euphoria on HBO and on The Shards in August 2026 on Hulu.
