Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks, right, visiting with 82nd Airborne soldier Staff Sgt. Maurice Craft in Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Physical Therapy Clinic.

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor famous for playing notable roles in many popular and critically acclaimed movies. He is well known for his acting ability, and is able to play characters that range from the vulnerable Forrest Gump, to the inspirational lead in Philadelphia, to the never-say-die commander in Apollo 13. Hanks is generally known for his ability to imbue "nice-guy" roles with warmth, for example in the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, but is quite capable of taking the role of a mob hitman in Road to Perdition.

Hanks is currently one of the most sought-after leading men in Hollywood. His salary for two recent movies was USD$20 million each. His portrayal of the likeable lead in Forrest Gump earned him $70 million.

Born in Concord, California, Hanks later studied theatre at California State University, Sacramento. He couldn't get cast in a college play so he auditioned for community theater instead. He was invited by the director of that play to go to Cleveland, and it was there his acting career started.

Hanks is a member of the National Space Society and was the producer of the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon about the Apollo program to send astronauts to the moon.

Hanks has been married to actress Rita Wilson since 1988. They met while working on the movie Volunteers (1985). They have two children together. Hanks was married previously to Samantha Lewes from 1978 to 1987. That union also produced two children (one of whom is actor/son Colin Hanks).

Hanks also won back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). He was the youngest ever recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award on June 12, 2002.

Hanks claims to be a relative of James Hanks, one of several possible fathers of Nancy Hanks, mother of United States president Abraham Lincoln. A map of his family tree showing the purported connection can be found in the External links section.

Filmography

  • The Polar Express (2004) (voice)
  • The Terminal (2004)
  • The Ladykillers (2004)
  • Catch Me If You Can (2002)
  • Road to Perdition (2002)
  • Band of Brothers (2001) TV miniseries
  • Cast Away (2000)
  • The Green Mile (1999)
  • Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice)
  • You've Got Mail (1998)
  • Saving Private Ryan (1998)
  • From the Earth to the Moon (1998) TV miniseries
  • That Thing You Do! (1996)
  • Toy Story (1995) (voice)
  • Apollo 13 (1995)
  • Forrest Gump (1994)
  • Philadelphia (1993)
  • Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
  • A League of Their Own (1992)
  • Radio Flyer (1992)
  • The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)
  • Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
  • Turner & Hooch (1989)
  • The 'burbs (1989)
  • Punchline (1988)
  • Big (1988)
  • Dragnet (1987)
  • Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986)
  • Nothing in Common (1986)
  • The Money Pit (1986)
  • Volunteers (1985)
  • The Man with One Red Shoe (1985)
  • Bachelor Party (1984)
  • Splash (1984)
  • Mazes and Monsters (1982) TV Movie
  • Bosom Buddies (1980) TV Series
  • He Knows You're Alone (1980)

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A map of his family tree showing the purported connection can be found in the External links section. See also: Other Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood. Hanks claims to be a relative of James Hanks, one of several possible fathers of Nancy Hanks, mother of United States president Abraham Lincoln. Walter Huston has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6626 Hollywood Blvd. He was the youngest ever recipient of the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award on June 12, 2002. Walter Huston was the father of actor/director John Huston and the grandfather of actress Anjelica Huston. Hanks also won back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actor for his roles in Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). He died in Hollywood.

That union also produced two children (one of whom is actor/son Colin Hanks). His last film was in 1950's The Furies. Hanks was married previously to Samantha Lewes from 1978 to 1987. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1948 for his role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. They have two children together. Huston stayed busy throughout the 1930s and 1940s, both on stage and screen. They met while working on the movie Volunteers (1985). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1936 for Dodsworth, which he had also performed on Broadway.

Hanks has been married to actress Rita Wilson since 1988. His first major role was in 1929's The Virginian, opposite Gary Cooper. Hanks is a member of the National Space Society and was the producer of the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon about the Apollo program to send astronauts to the moon. Born Walter Houghston in Toronto, Ontario, he began his Broadway career in 1924, he achieved fame in character roles once talkies began in Hollywood. He was invited by the director of that play to go to Cleveland, and it was there his acting career started. Walter Huston (April 6, 1884 - Good Friday April 7, 1950) was a Canadian-born actor. He couldn't get cast in a college play so he auditioned for community theater instead. 1937 - Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role - Dodsworth.

Born in Concord, California, Hanks later studied theatre at California State University, Sacramento. 1942 - Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role - The Devil and Daniel Webster. His portrayal of the likeable lead in Forrest Gump earned him $70 million. 1943 - Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Yankee Doodle Dandy. His salary for two recent movies was USD$20 million each. 1949 - Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role - The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Hanks is currently one of the most sought-after leading men in Hollywood.

Hanks is generally known for his ability to imbue "nice-guy" roles with warmth, for example in the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, but is quite capable of taking the role of a mob hitman in Road to Perdition. He is well known for his acting ability, and is able to play characters that range from the vulnerable Forrest Gump, to the inspirational lead in Philadelphia, to the never-say-die commander in Apollo 13. Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor famous for playing notable roles in many popular and critically acclaimed movies. He Knows You're Alone (1980).

Bosom Buddies (1980) TV Series. Mazes and Monsters (1982) TV Movie. Splash (1984). Bachelor Party (1984).

The Man with One Red Shoe (1985). Volunteers (1985). The Money Pit (1986). Nothing in Common (1986).

Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986). Dragnet (1987). Big (1988). Punchline (1988).

The 'burbs (1989). Turner & Hooch (1989). Joe Versus the Volcano (1990). The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990).

Radio Flyer (1992). A League of Their Own (1992). Sleepless in Seattle (1993). Philadelphia (1993).

Forrest Gump (1994). Apollo 13 (1995). Toy Story (1995) (voice). That Thing You Do! (1996).

From the Earth to the Moon (1998) TV miniseries. Saving Private Ryan (1998). You've Got Mail (1998). Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice).

The Green Mile (1999). Cast Away (2000). Band of Brothers (2001) TV miniseries. Road to Perdition (2002).

Catch Me If You Can (2002). The Ladykillers (2004). The Terminal (2004). The Polar Express (2004) (voice).