I agree with you in all respects, and such a man is rightfully loved and respected by those who know who he is and what he is. What a joy it has been for me to have discovered him several years ago. Of course, if all he wanted was to be hugely famous he could have gotten more attention before now if he hadn’t cared how he got it, but he’s so much better than that. I expect he is gratified, however, to finally get more notice from the studios heads. It’s certainly deserved.
I’m selfishly thrilled he is signing up for so many movies, as that gives us that many more chances to enjoy his beautiful work. I’m just anxiously waiting for each new movie, like a kid at Christmastime.

You don’t know a thing about him if you think that he “wanted to be hugely famous”, because he has been, for years, to people all over the world, due to his prior movies.

“Famous” in the Hollywood vernacular usually means paparaz’ haunting the actors, and the actors loving in (altho pretending to hate it), and also means that you hear about them nightly on ET and other fluff shows.
Gerry lives his life below the radar of nearly everyone but his friends and family, so he’ll never be “famous”, such as having his face on many magazine covers and pulp rags.
However, he may finally become well known because of his incredible talent and the depth of character he draws in each of his role.
The only difference between “before 300″ and “after 300″ is that he helped make a studio nearly a half-billion dollars.
So that got people to pay attention.
He’s still the same, remarkable man, still a private man, still an unique actor and still kind and generous.