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)

External links

• Tom Hanks http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/ at the Internet Movie Database
• Tom Hanks's (partial) family tree (links him to former US president Abraham Lincoln) http://msn.ancestry.com/landing/msn/strange/hanks/familytree.gif