Tom Hanks is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood across the globe. Hanks is known not just for his acclaimed performances on screen but also for his admirable behaviours offscreen, making him an all-round well-liked personality. He is known to be political, is fiercely protective of his family, and is well-loved among his peers. His films have earned nearly $10 billion worldwide. As an actor, Tom Hanks is known to dabble in various genres, from romcom to drama, from war movies to action-thrillers. He is also a director, having made two films in That Thing You Do (1996) and Larry Crowne (2011). Tom Hanks Birthday Special: Did You Know the Actor is Related to Late President Abraham Lincoln? 5 Facts About the Forrest Gump Star That Will Surprise You!

As the actor turns 68, we look at seven important facets of Tom Hanks's personal and professional life that every admirer of his must know.

1. Where and When Was Tom Hanks Born?

Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, in California, USA. His real name is Thomas Jeffrey Hanks. His mother, Janet Marylyn, is Portuguese, while his father, Amos, is English. Tom Hanks has three siblings: Sandra, Larry, and Jim.

2. Which Was Tom Hanks' First Film and Which Made Him Famous?

Before getting into movies, Tom Hanks studied theatre, which also made him drop out of college as he fell more in love with acting. Tom Hanks' feature debut was a 1979 slasher horror film called He Knows You're Alone. The role that brought him a lot of notice was the 1984 fantasy romcom Splash, which was directed by Ron Howard. The movie features Hanks playing a young man who falls in love with a mermaid played by Daryl Hannah. The movie was a success at the box office and continues to enjoy cult fandom even today. The same year, he delivered another hit in Bachelor Party, an adult comedy that was also a major hit.

Tom Hanks in Big

However, the film that pushed him into the major league was another fantasy romcom in the 1988 film Big, directed by Penny Marshall. The movie saw him play a kid who turns into an adult overnight and begins to experience the pressure of love and career while still retaining the mind of a child. Big was a major commercial success and also gave Hanks his first Oscar nomination. Big was later remade in Hindi as Aao Wish Karein, starring Aftab Shivdasani and Aamna Shariff.

3. Which Are Tom Hanks' Best Films?

While Tom Hanks has starred in some of the most beloved films of all time in a career spanning nearly 45 years, here are, in our opinion, 10 of his best films to date.

1. A League of Their Own

2. Philadelphia

3. Forrest Gump

4. Apollo 13

5. Saving Private Ryan

6. The Green Mile

7. Cast Away

8. Road to Perdition

9. Toy Story 3

10. The Post

4. Did Tom Hanks Win An Oscar?

Tom Hanks has received five nominations as Best Actor from the Academy Awards, which are for Big (1989), Philadelphia (1994), Forrest Gump (1995), Saving Private Ryan (1999), and Cast Away (2001), which he won twice, for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump.

Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump

He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 2020 for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. If you consider all the other awards, Hanks has a tally of 53 wins and 136 nominations. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Movie Review: Watch This Quaint Little Gem for an Incredibly Sanguine Tom Hanks.

5. What is Tom Hanks' Net Worth?

According to the website Celebrity Networth, Tom Hanks's net worth is about USD 400 million.

6. Who is Tom Hanks Married to?

Tom Hanks has married twice in his lifetime. His first marriage was with actress Samantha Lewes, whom he married in 1978. They later divorced in 1987. Later, he dated and married actress Rita Wilson, with whom he worked in the show Bosom Buddies and the movie Volunteers. Their marriage happened in 1988 and continues to be strong and successful to this day. However, his first wife passed away in 2002 of bone cancer. She was just 49.

Tom Hanks' Post on His 36th Wedding Anniversary With Rita Wilson

 

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A post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks)

7. How Many Children Does Tom Hanks Have?

Tom Hanks has two children from his first marriage - Colin and Elizabeth. Colin is also a popular actor, having appeared in series like Band of Brothers (which his father co-produced), The OC, Dexter, Fargo, and others, and in movies like King Kong, The House Bunny, Vacation, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, among others.

From his marriage to Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks has two sons, Chet and Truman, both of whom have done their fair share of acting. Hanks is also distantly related to the former President of the USA, Abraham Lincoln. He is also related to popular television programme host Fred Rogers, whom he had played in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 09, 2024 09:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).