Richard Gere shared pictures of his newborn son on a ship full of migrants today which has been stuck in the Mediterranean for over a week.

The Pretty Woman star took a break from his luxurious Tuscan holiday to bring supplies to 121 people aboard the Open Arms rescue vessel.

It has been floating in international waters near the island of Lampedusa after Italy and Malta denied it entry to its ports.

Those nations want fellow European Union states to take in more of the migrants who come across the sea.

A father of two, Gere shared photos of his youngest son, who was born in February

Actor Richard Gere, 69, speaks with a migrant aboard the Spanish rescue vessel Open Arms on Friday

Gere distributes meals to some of the 121 migrants who have been stuck on the boat for more than week

Gere speaks with workers today under the beating sun of the Mediterranean Sea near the Italian island of Lampedusa

The actor, 69, spoke to several migrants who had fled war-torn Libya on precarious smuggling boats before being rescued, among them a man and his baby.

A father of two, Gere shared photos of his youngest son, who was born in February.

He was pictured yesterday carrying his son Alexander at a Tuscan farmhouse while on holiday there with his Spanish publicist wife Alejandra Silva, 36.

After seeing news about the boat's plight, he contacted the Spanish charity Open Arms and asked 'How can I help?' a spokeswoman for the group told The Associated Press.

Two days later Gere was on Lampedusa, helping load a boat with supplies.

Gere laughs with people aboard the Open Arms today as he showed pictures of his young son

Happy family: The Hollywood actor and his wife Alejandra Silva, 36, were seen with baby Alexander for the first time as they spent the day together basking in the Italian sunshine yesterday

Protective: Richard swathed his son in an identical towel to his own, as he held the small baby close to his chest

'The most important thing for these people here is to be able to get to a free port, to get off the boat, to get on land and start a new life,' Gere said, urging the world to 'please support us here on Open Arms and help these people, our brothers and sisters.'

The 1980s heartthrob has a long history of human rights activism and often campaigns for environmental issues and AIDS research.

He has been banned from China for advocating for human rights in Tibet.

Gere gestures as he is surrounded by migrants today aboard the stranded rescue vessel

Gere chats with migrants who have been rejected by the Italian and Maltese governments

Hollywood star Gere helps bring supplies aboard the boat today alongside workers from the Spanish NGO Open Arms

Other European countries have yet to respond to the aid group's request for a solution to the impasse over the rescue ship.

The International Organization for Migration says 39,289 migrants and refugees have reached Europe by sea so far this year as of August 4, about 34% fewer than during the same period in 2018.

It says another 840 people have died this year on the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from North Africa to Europe.