Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks
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Name	Tom Hanks
Birth date	July 9, 1956
Birth place	Concord, California, United States
Occupation	Actor, filmmaker

Tom Hanks is a renowned American actor and filmmaker, known for his versatility and range in films like Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, and Saving Private Ryan. Born in Concord, California, Hanks grew up in a family that moved frequently, attending Chabot College in Hayward, California, and later transferring to California State University, Sacramento. He began his acting career in the early 1980s, performing in stage productions at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival and later moving to New York City to pursue a career in film and television, including appearances on Saturday Night Live and Happy Days.

● Early Life and Education

Tom Hanks was born to Amos Mefford Hanks and Janet Marylyn Frager, and his parents divorced when he was young, leading to a nomadic childhood with his father, a chef, and his three siblings, including Sandra Hanks Benoiton and Larry Hanks. He attended Skyline High School in Oakland, California, and later studied theater at Chabot College, where he was mentored by Rawley Farnsworth, a former University of California, Berkeley professor. Hanks' early life was marked by frequent moves, including time spent in Red Bluff, California, and Oakland, California, before eventually settling in New York City to pursue a career in acting, where he worked with Herbert Berghof at the HB Studio.

● Career

Hanks' breakthrough role came in 1980 with the ABC television series Bosom Buddies, which he starred in alongside Peter Scolari. He then transitioned to film, appearing in movies like Splash and The Money Pit, before landing his first major leading role in Nothing in Common, opposite Jackie Gleason and Eva Marie Saint. Hanks' subsequent films, including Big and Punchline, showcased his versatility as a comedic actor, and he went on to work with acclaimed directors like Steven Spielberg on Always and Robert Zemeckis on Back to the Future Part II and The Polar Express. He also collaborated with Ron Howard on Apollo 13 and The Da Vinci Code, and appeared in films like A League of Their Own and Sleepless in Seattle, alongside Meg Ryan.

● Filmography

Some of Hanks' most notable films include Forrest Gump, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and Saving Private Ryan, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He has also appeared in Cast Away, The Terminal, and Charlie Wilson's War, opposite Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Hanks has worked with a range of directors, including Sam Mendes on Road to Perdition and Paul Greengrass on Captain Phillips, and has lent his voice to animated films like The Polar Express and Toy Story 3, alongside Tim Allen and Woody Harrelson. He has also appeared in films like The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, based on the novels by Dan Brown, and has worked with Tom Tykwer on Cloud Atlas.

● Awards and Nominations

Throughout his career, Hanks has received numerous awards and nominations, including multiple Academy Award nominations and wins, as well as Golden Globe Awards and Emmy Awards. He has been recognized for his work in films like Philadelphia and Saving Private Ryan, and has received honorary awards from institutions like the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors. Hanks has also been nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards and BAFTA Awards, and has won awards from the National Board of Review and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards.

● Personal Life

Hanks has been married twice, first to Samantha Lewes from 1978 to 1987, and then to Rita Wilson in 1988, with whom he has two sons, Chet Hanks and Colin Hanks. He is a convert to the Greek Orthodox Church and has been involved in various philanthropic efforts, including supporting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the March of Dimes. Hanks is also a collector of vintage typewriters and has been involved in various environmental initiatives, including the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund.

● Philanthropy

Hanks has been involved in a range of philanthropic efforts, including supporting the Space Foundation and the National Space Foundation. He has also been involved in various charitable initiatives, including the Stand Up to Cancer telethon and the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. Hanks has worked with organizations like the USO and the Wounded Warrior Project to support veterans and their families, and has been recognized for his philanthropic work with awards from the Jefferson Awards and the Horatio Alger Association. He has also supported the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Starkey Hearing Foundation, and has been involved in various initiatives to support the arts, including the Kennedy Center and the American Film Institute.