Tom Hanks

NAME Thomas Jeffrey Hanks

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Award-winning American actor, director, producer, and cultural icon known for films like Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away.

BIRTH Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California,

FAMILY BACKGROUND His mother, Janet Marylyn (née Frager), was a hospital worker from a Portuguese-American family (original surname "Fraga"). His father, Amos "Bud" Hanks, was an itinerant cook with English ancestry, through whom Tom is a distant cousin of President Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, and children's television host Fred Rogers (whom Hanks would later portray). His younger brother, Jim Hanks, is also an actor and filmmaker, and his older brother, Larry Hanks, is an entomology professor.

CHILDHOOD Hanks experienced what he described as a "fractured" childhood. His parents divorced when he was only five years old in 1960. The three oldest children - Sandra, Larry, and Tom - went with their father, while the youngest, Jim, stayed with their mother in Red Bluff, California. 

Tom missed his mother greatly and made long bus journeys during school holidays to visit her, traveling four hours one way. From age eight until almost adulthood, these bus trips taught him to be observant, looking out windows for hours and creating stories about what he saw. By age ten, he had lived in ten different houses due to frequent moves.

As a child, Hanks wanted to be an astronaut. He played a real-life one in Apollo 13 (1995) and co-produced the miniseries From the Earth to the Moon (1998). (1)

EDUCATION  Hanks struggled academically. After graduating from Skyline High School in Oakland, California, in 1974, his poor grades and low SAT results limited his options for higher education. As a result, he enrolled at Chabot College, a community college, before transferring to California State University, Sacramento. 

During college, he became deeply invested in theatre, attending plays by himself (seeing works by Brecht, Williams, and Ibsen). His college studies were cut short when he accepted an internship with the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio, which became a three-year experience where he learned about all aspects of theatre production, from acting to set design.

CAREER RECORD 1974-1976: Worked as a bellhop at the Oakland Hilton Hotel in Oakland, California, during his senior year of high school and possibly afterward. It was in this job that he carried the luggage of luminaries such as Cher, Sydney Poitier, and Bill Withers. (1)

1977–1979: Joined the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio, as an intern, which became a three-year professional experience. This commitment led him to drop out of college.

1980 He made his film debut was in the low-budget horror movie He Knows You're Alone for which he was paid just $800. 

1980-82 Hanks gained early television recognition in the sitcom Bosom Buddies

1984 His breakthrough came with Splash, which grossed over $69 million. 

1990s: Transitioned successfully into dramatic roles, receiving back-to-back Best Actor Academy Awards: for a gay lawyer with AIDS in Philadelphia (1993) and for the title role in Forrest Gump (1994).

1996 Made his directorial and screenwriting debut with That Thing You Do!

APPEARANCE Tom Hanks stands 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall with a medium build. He has been described as having a warm, everyman appearance rather than being a stereotypical handsome leading man.

Tom Hanks in 2009 by By Angela George

Throughout his career, he has undergone significant physical transformations for various roles, including gaining 30 pounds for A League of Their Own (1992), then losing 55 pounds for Cast Away (2000). These extreme weight fluctuations may have contributed to his later diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

FASHION His public style is generally classic and understated, leaning towards business casual or simple, well-tailored suits for formal events, fitting his "America's Dad" persona.

CHARACTER Hanks is widely regarded as one of Hollywood's nicest and most decent individual with a warm, humble, and down-to-earth personality. He has a highly charismatic and relatable on-screen persona that translates into public trust (once voted the Most Trusted Person in America by Reader's Digest). He was described in his youth as responsible and shy.

In interviews, he has acknowledged that he's not always perfect, saying "I don't like people taking advantage of my good nature," and uses the phrase "let me get this straight" when he becomes frustrated. (2)

Despite his fame, Hanks maintains a reputation for professionalism and kindness on set.

SPEAKING VOICE Hanks has a distinctive, recognizable voice that has been described as having a "General American middle class accent". His voice has been compared to that of a "newsreel announcer from the 50s" and is noted for having authority and knowledge, similar to Morgan Freeman. (3)

He has exceptional skill with accents and vocal impressions, as demonstrated in his various film roles and television appearances. His voice work as Woody in the Toy Story franchise and as a narrator for documentaries like The Americas showcases his vocal versatility.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Hanks has a well-developed sense of humor and is known for his storytelling ability and comedic timing. He frequently does impressions and has entertained audiences with his mimicry skills on various talk shows. He has hosted Saturday Night Live ten times and is known for his ability to find humor in everyday situations.

His wife Rita Wilson has praised him as someone who "makes me laugh all the time" and is "a great storyteller." (4)

His comedic talents were evident from his early career in television sitcoms through his later dramatic roles, where he often incorporates subtle humor. 

Hanks once auditioned for Mamma Mia but joked his singing voice would have “scared the children.” (1)

RELATIONSHIPS Hanks was first married to actress Samantha Lewes (born Susan Dillingham) from 1978 to 1987. They had two children together: Colin and Elizabeth (now known as E.A.). The marriage ended in divorce, and Lewes later died of bone cancer in 2002. 

Hanks married actress and producer Rita Wilson at Rex's restaurant in Los Angeles, California, on April 30, 1988. The ceremony was a joyful Hollywood event, with Wilson wearing a short lace wedding dress and Hanks in a classic suit. They first met on the set of Bosom Buddies in 1981. 

They have two sons together: Chester "Chet" and Truman Theodore. 

Hanks and Wilson are known for their strong, enduring marriage in Hollywood, having supported each other through health challenges including Wilson's breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 and both contracting COVID-19 in 2020.

MONEY AND FAME Hanks typically earns $20-25 million per film, often negotiating profit-sharing deals that can result in much higher payouts. His most lucrative single film was Forrest Gump, where he opted for performance-based pay instead of a large upfront salary, ultimately earning approximately $60 million from the film's success. His highest-paying franchise was The Da Vinci Code series, earning over $70 million combined. Despite his wealth, he is known for his down-to-earth attitude toward money and fame.

He has been influential behind the camera as a successful producer through his company, Playtone

FOOD AND DRINK Hanks has been open about his past poor eating habits, which he believes contributed to his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. He described himself as "a total idiot" for his previous diet choices, saying "I was heavy. I thought I could avoid it by removing the buns from my cheeseburgers". (5)

After his diabetes diagnosis, he has adopted healthier eating habits, focusing on whole foods, reducing processed foods, and balancing carbohydrates with proteins and healthy fats. He now follows a more plant-based diet with regular monitoring of his blood sugar levels.

He gained 2st 2lb for A League of Their Own, crediting an ice cream shop and meals at Burger King and Dairy Queen for the rapid weight gain, then lost the same for Philadelphia. 

ACTING CAREER If you were to design the archetype of the American movie star — decent, dependable, and disarmingly human — you’d almost certainly end up with Tom Hanks. His career, now comfortably straddling its fourth decade, reads like a masterclass in charm management. He began humbly enough, treading the boards with the Great Lakes Theater in the late 1970s and making his film debut in He Knows You’re Alone (1980) — a slasher flick of such forgettable menace that even Hanks himself seems faintly amused it ever existed.

Then came Bosom Buddies (1980–1982), a sitcom in which Hanks and Peter Scolari disguised themselves as women to land an apartment. It’s not exactly Hamlet, but it was here that Hanks’ everyman warmth began to flicker. 

A few years later, audiences fell headlong for him in Splash (1984), a romantic comedy involving a mermaid and an unhealthy amount of seawater, and Big (1988), where he played a boy in a man’s body with such innocence and wonder that you half-suspected he might actually still believe in the Tooth Fairy.

By the early 1990s, Hanks was everywhere — not the loud, self-promoting kind of everywhere, but the reassuring, cardigan-wearing variety. He won back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994), joining that very small club of actors who make greatness look like the result of a polite conversation rather than divine inspiration. His run through the 1990s and 2000s was astonishing: Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, The Green Mile, Catch Me If You Can, and of course, Toy Story, where his voice as Woody became as familiar to a generation of children as their own inner monologue.

When he wasn’t weeping stoically in space or befriending volleyballs, Hanks was slipping into the shoes of real people — Captain Phillips, Sully, Saving Mr. Banks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood — often embodying them so completely that you wondered whether the actual people might have seemed less authentic by comparison. He also proved he hadn’t forgotten how to make people laugh, returning to lighter fare with You’ve Got Mail and Larry Crowne, and even turned his hand to directing with That Thing You Do!, a film so infectiously cheerful it should probably be prescribed for mild gloom.

Offscreen, Hanks founded his own production company, Playtone, and promptly filled your Sunday nights with excellence: From the Earth to the Moon, Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific. Between the two Oscars, the Golden Globes, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, he’s collected enough awards to use as structural support for a modest summer home.

What’s perhaps most extraordinary, though, is that through all the fame, Hanks has somehow remained exactly who we want him to be — the cinematic equivalent of a reassuring hand on the shoulder. Whether he’s a castaway, a captain, or a cowboy doll, he’s always, unfailingly, Tom Hanks — which, as it turns out, is quite enough.

MUSIC AND ARTS Hanks has a deep appreciation for the arts beyond acting. He and Rita Wilson have been involved in producing several films that celebrate music and culture, including My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mamma Mia!, and its sequels. 

He has also been involved in theater, having started his career in Shakespeare productions. He made his Broadway debut in 2013 in the play Lucky Guy.

LITERATURE Hanks has authored two books: a collection of short stories called Uncommon Type (2017), inspired by his typewriter collection and a novel The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece (2023). His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker.

An avid reader, he particularly enjoys historical non-fiction, biographies, and literary fiction. His recommended reading includes works by Yuval Noah Harari (Sapiens), James Baldwin, William Manchester, Erik Larson, and David McCullough. 

NATURE  Hanks has shown appreciation for nature through his work as narrator of the nature documentary series The Americas for NBC. The series explores wildlife and natural environments across the Americas, and Hanks has spoken enthusiastically about the educational aspects of the project. 

His involvement in environmental causes includes owning a collection of electric and hybrid cars.

PETS While Hanks didn't grow up with pets due to family allergies, he has developed an appreciation for dogs through his work and personal life. He worked closely with Beasley, the French Mastiff who played Hooch in Turner & Hooch (1989) cementing his image with dog-lovers.. 

Hanks has also been involved with Best Friends Pet Adoption Center through charitable work.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Hanks' most famous hobby is collecting vintage typewriters. He owns more than 300 typewriters, with 90% in perfect working order. He has described typewriters as objects "meant to do one thing and one thing only, and with the tiniest amount of effort, and maintenance, it will last a thousand years". He uses them for writing letters, memos, and notes, finding them soothing and representing permanence in his life. He has been giving away typewriters from his collection to various businesses and individuals. 

 He is an outspoken fan of the Cleveland Guardians (baseball) and the California Golden Bears (college sports). Hanks said if he could play college football, he would have preferred winning a Heisman Trophy as a halfback for the California Golden Bears.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Hanks is fascinated with space and astronomy, which first developed during childhood when he would imagine flying airplanes and exploring while on long bus rides. This passion led to his involvement in space-themed projects like Apollo 13 (1995) and From the Earth to the Moon miniseries. 

He has worked closely with NASA consultants to ensure accuracy in his space-related roles. Despite admitting "I don't have the math" for actual space travel, he has expressed willingness to go to the moon if given the opportunity. (8)

Hanks co-wrote and narrated The Moonwalkers, an immersive documentary about the Apollo missions.

He sits on the National Space Society’s Board of Directors, and asteroid 12818 Tomhanks is named in his honor. (1)

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Hanks was exposed to Catholicism, Mormonism (through his stepmother), Nazarene faith (through his aunt), and evangelical Christianity during his youth. He converted to Greek Orthodox Christianity when he married Rita Wilson in 1988 and has found stability in this faith. 

Hanks attends Saint Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church in Los Angeles and values the church's atmosphere for meditation and reflection on life's bigger questions. He sees his relationship with God as very personal and believes in "being able to leave the heavens to those who want to interpret the heavens as they see fit". His faith has helped him and Rita through difficult times, including her cancer diagnosis and their son's substance abuse issues. (9)

POLITICS A prominent supporter of the Democratic Party, having endorsed candidates such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. He has used his public platform for political and social activism, including his long-standing work with veterans' causes.

Hanks has been vocal about issues like gay marriage and environmental protection. He contributed his star power to raising over $44 million to defeat California's Proposition 8, which would have banned gay marriage. He has criticized the Mormon church's support for Proposition 8, calling it "un-American," though he later moderated his stance. 

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2016.

President Obama giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hanks in 2016

SCANDAL Hanks has maintained a remarkably clean public image throughout his career with very few scandals. The most notable controversy occurred when he called Mormon supporters of California's Proposition 8 "un-American," which caused backlash from the LDS community. However, he later clarified his position and the incident passed without long-term damage to his reputation. 

His portrayal of a Trump supporter named "Doug" on Saturday Night Live has drawn controversy and criticism from conservative media and politicians.

In 2025, his daughter E.A. published a memoir alleging that his first wife Samantha Lewes was abusive, which Hanks addressed by saying he wasn't surprised by his daughter's honesty about their "checkered, cracked lives". (10)

MILITARY RECORD No direct military service record, but Hanks has become closely associated with military themes through his film work, particularly World War II projects. He has portrayed military characters in Saving Private Ryan (1998), Greyhound (2020), and other war films. His collaborations with Steven Spielberg on World War II-themed miniseries Band of Brothers (2001), The Pacific (2010), and Masters of the Air (2024) have established him as a prominent figure in depicting American military history. Hanks was inducted as an honorary member of the United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame for his work in film and production. 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Tom Hanks announced on October 7, 2013 on The Late Show with David Letterman that been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which he partly attributed to the extreme weight fluctuations required for his various film roles. He gained and lost significant weight for movies like A League of Their Own, Philadelphia, and Cast Away, with the most dramatic being a 55-pound loss for Cast Away. 

Following his diagnosis, Hanks has adopted a healthier lifestyle, including a more balanced diet focused on whole foods, regular exercise, and careful blood sugar monitoring. He has been open about managing his condition and uses his platform to raise awareness about diabetes. 

He and Rita Wilson both contracted COVID-19 in 2020 while filming in Australia, becoming among the first celebrities to publicly announce their diagnosis.

HOMES Hanks and Rita Wilson own multiple properties, primarily in California. Their main residence is a 14,500-square-foot mansion in Pacific Palisades that they purchased for $26 million in 2010. They also own a beachfront property in Malibu Colony, which they acquired in 1991. 

Over the years, they have bought and sold several properties in Pacific Palisades, including a Spanish Colonial-style home they owned for 25 years before selling for approximately $5 million in 2013. 

They also have vacation properties in Sun Valley, Idaho, and a home in Greece on the island of Antiparos.

TRAVEL Hanks and Rita Wilson are frequent visitors to Greece, where they own property on the island of Antiparos and have spent many summer vacations. Their connection to Greece is so strong that they were granted honorary Greek citizenship in 2019, which became official in 2020, in recognition of their support during the devastating wildfires and their promotion of Greek culture. They have also been involved in producing films in various international locations and frequently travel for film festivals and award ceremonies.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Beyond his film career, Hanks has been a frequent guest on television talk shows, including hosting Saturday Night Live ten times. He has appeared multiple times on The Graham Norton Show, David Letterman, and other major talk shows. 

He has been featured in numerous magazine profiles and interviews, and his distinctive voice makes him a sought-after narrator for various projects. 

Hanks maintains an active social media presence and occasionally appears at public events and award ceremonies.

ACHIEVEMENTS Winner of two Best Actor Oscars (Philadelphia, 1993; Forrest Gump, 1994). Received six total Oscar nominations.

Winner of four Golden Globes.

Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Barack Obama in 2016.

Kennedy Center Honors, received in 2014.

French Legion of Honor awarded in 2016.

American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Award rceived in 2002, becoming the youngest recipient at the time.

Naturalized as an honorary citizen of Greece in 2020.

Multiple Emmy Awards wins for his work as a producer and director on limited series.

Inducted as an honorary member of the Army Rangers Hall of Fame.

Sources: (1) Encyclopaedia of Trivia (2) Cheatsheet (3) Reddit (4) People (5) Advent Health (6) Good Books (7) Millers Book Reviews (8) The Independent (9) Honey and Hemlock (10) People