Richard Gere asked to leave restaurant after flirting

Gere's close attention to an attractive blonde at restaurant led to a confrontation with her angry husband.

The 63-year-old actor, who is married to actress Carey Lowell, was told to stay away from the woman after he reportedly left his table to chat to her, reporetd New York Post online.

"Gere was told to 'Get out of here' after he made a beeline for the woman. He had been staring at the woman while they both dined at the restaurant," a source said.

Gere was at the restaurant celebrating with his agents after picking up a lifetime achievement award at the Hampton's International Film Festival.

Over dinner the unnamed is said to have caught Gere's eye.

"He kept staring at this woman. Her husband seemed agitated by it. He approached the other table. He didn't acknowledge anyone around her. He was leaning in and trying to talk to her, leaning into her ear," the source added.

Gere is said to have ignored the shouted threat, and continued to talk to the woman before making his exit.

The husband is said to have followed Gere outside to make sure that he left the restaurant where other A-list celebrities including actress Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Gwyneth Paltrow's mother Blythe Danner were dining.

A spokesman for Gere claimed the incident had been misinterpreted.

"Reality is, he was at a table with his agents and their wives. On his way out, he stopped to say hi to the people at that table, and joked with the people briefly before leaving,' said his spokesman.