Tom Hanks is one of the most beloved and successful actors of our time. He has starred in some of the biggest films of the past few decades and has won multiple awards for his work.
But it wasn’t always easy for Hanks. In the early days of his career, he struggled to find steady work. He was even fired from a TV show after just one season.
Hanks persevered, and eventually became the megastar we know today.
How Tom Hanks Went From a Shy Kid to Hollywood A-Lister.
Early Life and Education.
Tom Hanks was born in Concord, California, on July 9, 1956. His father, Amos Mefford Hanks, was a Sacramento native who worked as a hotel chef. His mother, Janet Marylyn Frager, was a hospital worker who had previously been an English and drama teacher.
Hanks has two older brothers: Lawrence and Walter Jr. Hanks’s parents divorced when he was five years old, and he and his siblings were raised by their mother in what he has called a “tragicomical” upbringing.
As a teenager, Hanks shared a bedroom with his brother Larry and attended Skyline High School in Oakland, California. He has stated that his parents were strict and that he acquired the nickname “Telly” from them because he was not allowed to watch television as a child.
Hanks Acting Career Path.
However, he has also said that he was inspired by his parents’ marriage to pursue acting. In 1974, Hanks moved to New York City to begin studying theater at Wesleyan University. There, he met and befriended the future writer and producer Gary Goetzman. The two would later collaborate on several films, including That Thing You Do! (1996), Cast Away (2000), and The Terminal (2004).
After graduating from Wesleyan in 1978, Hanks moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked at the Great Lakes Theater Festival. He made his film debut the following year in episodes of the sitcom Bosom Buddies.
In 1980, he had a small but memorable role as a high school student terrorized by a serial killer in the horror film He Knows You’re Alone. The following year, Hanks starred in the made-for-television movie Mazes and Monsters.
Working with Steven Spielberg.
The first time the two collaborated was in 1996 on the film “That Thing You Do!” Two years later Steven Speilberg picked Tom Hanks for the lead roll in his new movie “Saving Private Ryan.” Hanks played a scoool teacher who served as a lieutenant during D-Day and was then sent on a mission to bring a soldier home as all his brothers had died in action and he was the last survivor.
The next film they worked together on was Catch Me If You Can in 2002. The film had Tom Hanks as a FBI agent on the trail of a forger played by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film was very successful and lead to them working again in “The Terminal” in 2004. In this film Hanks played a immigrant stuck in a airport terminal until his identity could be confirmed by the authorities.
Spielberg and Hanks worked together two more times, firstly on “Bridge of Spies,” in 2015. Then on “The Post” in 2017.
His Breakthrough Movie.
After appearing in several more films throughout the 1980s that were mostly unsuccessful commercially or critically, Hanks’s career began to take off when he was cast as the lead in Penny Marshall’s 1988 comedy Big., for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Two years later, he starred opposite Meg Ryan in Nora Ephron’s romantic comedy-drama Sleepless in Seattle.. The success of these films helped make Hanks one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.
He would go on to appear in such popular films as Forrest Gump (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Saving Private Ryan (1998), You’ve Got Mail (1998), The Green Mile (1999 ), Cast Away (2000), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Cloud Atlas (2012), and Captain Phillips (2013).
Accolades from the Film Industry.
Tom Hank has won two Academy Awards—for Best Actor for Forrest Gump(1994 )and Best Picture for Producing Forrest Gump (1994). He has also received Golden Globe Awards, a People’s Choice Award, and numerous other accolades throughout his career.
In 2002, the American Film Institute named Tom Hanks ‘the greatest living American actor.’
Tom Hank is also known to many kids around the world for his work as Deputy Sheriff Woody in Toy Story 4 (2019).
Tom Hank continues to be one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors. His most recent movie, titled Elvis, was released in the US on June 24th, 2022.
What was Tom Hanks’ First Major Movie Role?
Tom Hanks’ first major film role was in the 1984 film Splash. Splash was a huge financial success, grossing over $69 million at the box office on a budget of just $11 million. The film helped to launch Hanks’ career, and he went on to star in several successful films throughout the 1980s, including Bachelor Party, Big, and Volunteers.
The Best of Tom Hanks’ Movies.
Hanks is known for his versatility as an actor, and he has demonstrated his ability to tackle a wide range of genres throughout his career.
In Forrest Gump, he delivered a tour-de-force performance as a man with a low IQ who becomes involved in several significant historical events.
In Apollo 13, he portrayed astronaut Jim Lovell, who was part of the ill-fated mission to the moon.
And in Toy Story, he brought to life the character of Woody, a toy cowboy who goes on a series of adventures with his friends.
Hanks is one of the few actors who has achieved true Hollywood icon status, and his body of work is sure to stand the test of time.
Later Career Highlights.
In the 2000s and 2010s, Hanks starred in such films as Catch Me If You Can, The Da Vinci Code, and Captain Phillips. He has continued to demonstrate his versatility as an actor and has shown that he is just as comfortable starring in dramas as he is in comedies.
In Catch Me If You Can, he played con artist Frank Abagnale, Jr., who is pursued by FBI agent Carl Hanratty (played by Leonardo DiCaprio).
And in Captain Phillips, he gave a gripping performance as the lead character, who is taken hostage by Somali pirates but somehow survives.
Hanks is one of the few actors who has been able to achieve consistent success throughout his career, and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Find Out What Tom Hanks is Planning Next.
Hanks has recently signed a deal with Apple TV+ and Playtone which opens the door to new films in 2023 and beyond.
He is also due to release the film A Man Called Otto on December 14th, 2022. The film is about a lonely Swedish man who is in a bad place in his mind. He finds himself in an unlikely friendship with new neighbors and he starts to change.
Hanks: The Personal Life of an American Icon.
Tom Hanks is an iconic American actor who has starred in some of the most popular films of all time. He has also been married twice and has four children.
Tom Hanks was first married to Samantha Lewes from 1978 to 1987. The couple had two children together: a son, Colin, and a daughter, Elizabeth. Hanks then married Rita Wilson in 1988. The couple has two sons together: Chester Marlon “Chet” and Truman Theodore.
What is Tom Hanks’s Net Worth?
Tom Hanks’s net worth is estimated to be $400 million. This fortune has been accumulated through a combination of his successful acting career and his investments in various businesses. Hanks is one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, and his films have grossed billions of dollars at the box office.
In addition to his acting income, Hanks also earns a significant amount of money through his endorsements and personal appearances. He has endorsement deals with companies such as Pepsi and Nissan, and he is a frequent guest on talk shows.
Hanks is one of the most successful and well-known actors in the world, and his net worth reflects that.
Hanks Philanthropy Work: AIDS Research and Awareness.
Tom Hanks is no stranger to philanthropy. The successful actor has been giving back since the early days of his career. One of his most well-known philanthropic efforts is his work with AIDS research and awareness.
Hanks has been a supporter of AIDS research and awareness since the early days of the AIDS crisis. He was one of the first celebrities to publicly speak out about the disease and its impact on the LGBTQ community. He has also been a longtime supporter of amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.
In recent years, Hanks has continued his work with AIDS research and awareness through his involvement with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. He has also participated in several fundraising events for HIV/AIDS charities.
Hanks’ work with AIDS research and awareness has had a significant impact on both the scientific community and society at large.
Why we love (and quote) Tom Hanks.
Most Famous Life Quotes:
“I think it’s better to feel good than to look good.”
“There’s no greater gift you can give or receive than to acknowledge the impact that someone else has made in your life.”
“The best thing about life is that it keeps happening whether you’re ready for it or not.”
“Life is made up of a lot of small things that, when added up, make a big difference.”
“You can’t really control how people perceive you. All you can do is be yourself and hope that they see the same person that you see.”
Most Famous Film Quotes:
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” – Forrest Gump.
“Never give up because you never know what the tide will bring in the next day.” – Cast Away.
“I guess sometimes the past just catches up with you, whether you want it to or not.” – The Green Mile.
Conclusion.
Tom Hanks is one of the most successful and well-known actors in Hollywood. He has achieved consistent success throughout his career, and he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
In addition to his acting career, Hanks is also a successful businessman and philanthropist. His net worth is estimated to be over $400 million, and he always has several film projects in development.
Hanks is still very much in demand, and it looks like he will continue to entertain us for many years to come.
Sources: Business Insider, THX News, Wikipedia & Hypebeast
