THE EVERYMAN ACTOR WHO BECAME ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S MOST BELOVED TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNERS
Tom Hanks
b. 1956 · Actor
Early Life
Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California, and grew up moving frequently as his parents divorced and remarried, attending several schools across Northern California.
He developed an early interest in theater in high school and college, studying at Chabot College and California State University, Sacramento, before pursuing acting professionally.
Rise to Fame
Hanks gained early recognition with the sitcom Bosom Buddies in the early 1980s, and broke into film stardom with the comedy Splash in 1984.
He became a major box office draw through the late 1980s with hit comedies including Big in 1988, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Career Highlights
Hanks won back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actor for Philadelphia in 1993 and Forrest Gump in 1994, becoming one of only a small number of actors to achieve consecutive wins.
He went on to star in a string of acclaimed and commercially successful films, including Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Apollo 13, and the Toy Story franchise as the voice of Woody.
Personal Life
Hanks was previously married to actress Samantha Lewes, and he has been married to actress and producer Rita Wilson since 1988; the couple has appeared together in several films.
He has four children across both marriages, including actor Colin Hanks, and has spoken publicly about his type 2 diabetes diagnosis to raise health awareness.
Net Worth & Legacy
Tom Hanks’s net worth is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, built through decades of leading roles in some of the highest-grossing films in history.
From a comedic television actor to a two-time Academy Award winner, Hanks has built a legacy as one of the most trusted and beloved actors in American film.