The Biography of Tom Hanks

a collage of Tom Hanks.

A Collection of Resources to Tell the Story of Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks: The Hardest-Working Man in Hollywood

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” – Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump

“Tom Hanks” might sound like a stage name, but we can assure you that it’s not. Born in California in 1956, he’s built a name for himself as one of America’s favorite actors, starting out in comedies before proving himself as a “serious” actor in several iconic dramas.
Hanks spent much of his childhood on the move, but he always came back to his Californian roots and ended up studying drama at California State University before moving to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a movie star.

His First Role Was In A Horror Movie

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It might surprise you to know that his first-ever role was in a horror movie, although it was arguably 1984’s Splash which really started to cement his reputation. He was given a boost in 1988 after being nominated for an Academy Award for his depiction of a boy trapped in an adult body in the movie Big.

But it was the 90s that really turned him into an icon, in part because of his performances with Meg Ryan in Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. This period also included A League of Their Own, Apollo 13, The Green Mile, and Saving Private Ryan.

Academy Awards

Hanks was also lucky enough to win that elusive Academy Award in 1993 for Philadelphia, and he followed it up with another one for 1994’s Forrest Gump.

In the early 2000s, Hanks landed several of his most iconic roles, including his performance in Castaway. Perhaps he’s even more well-known for voicing Woody in the Toy Story movies, a role that he’s maintained for over 25 years, but that’s not his only repeat role. He also plays Robert Langdon in the movie adaptations of Dan Brown’s successful series of novels.

A Fan of The Written Word

Hanks is clearly a fan of the written word, as is shown by his appearance in a number of other movies that are based on books including Catch Me If You Can, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, A Hologram for the King, The Circle, and Cloud Atlas. These appearances seem to have given him the bug, which is why in 2017, he released a book of short stories called Uncommon Type.

Broadway

He’s even stepped out of our cinema screens and onto Broadway, as well as sharing his experience as a producer on a number of well-known movies including Band of Brothers and The Pacific. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s even written and directed a couple of movies including That Thing You Do! and Larry Crowne, the latter of which he also starred in, opposite Julia Roberts.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom

All in all, he’s a true Hollywood success story and an inspiration to many of the actors who’ve followed in his footsteps. Perhaps that’s why he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, an accolade that must surely rank alongside his Oscars. And he isn’t quite finished yet!

In The Resources To Follow You’ll Find An Abundant Amount of Information Related To The Life of Tom Hanks

Biography

Tom Hanks – Movies, Mister Rogers & Family – Biography

Tom Hanks | Biography, Movies, & Facts | Britannica

Accomplishments

Tom Hanks Reveals Career Highlights at Tribeca Film Festival – Thrillist

Tom Hanks: Career timeline – cleveland.com

List of awards and nominations received by Tom Hanks – Wikipedia

Quotes

Tom Hanks Quotes – BrainyQuote

Challenges

Tom Hanks reveals struggle with loneliness during childhood | The Independent

Tom Hanks: ‘I’ve made a lot of movies that didn’t make sense – or money’ | Film | The Guardian

Articles and Stories of Interest

42 Little-Known Facts About Acting Legend Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks Biography: 11 Facts You Didn’t Know

25 Little Known Nifty And Cool Facts About Tom Hanks

20 Facts About Tom Hanks’ Career That Fly Under The Radar

Books

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