Thomas Jeffrey Hanks is a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor, voice-over artist and movie producer who starred in family-friendly and screwball comedies before achieving notable success as a dramatic actor. He is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

Hank was born in Concord, California, to Amos Mefford Hanks and Janet Merilyn Frager. As a child, Hanks experienced a wandering, middleclass life with neither ambition nor talent much in evidence. He acted in a few school plays, acting never seemed a real possibility until Hanks transferred from San Francisco Bay Area junior college Chabot College to Sacramento State University. It was during these acting classes that Hanks met Vincent Dowling, head of the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, he had decided that he wanted to become an actor. Part of the bug was due to the Cleveland Critics Circle Award, which he won as best actor for his performance as Proteus in Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona, one of the few times he played a villain.

In New York City, Hanks acted for the Riverside Shakespeare Company. In addition, he made his film debut in a low-budget film and got a part in a television movie entitled Mazes and Monsters. He continued to audition and finally landed a role on an ABC television pilot called Bosom Buddies.

Hanks has been married to actress Rita Wilson since 1988. They became involved while working on the movie Volunteers (1985), although they first worked together in an episode of Bosom Buddies.

Public Name: Tom Hanks
Birth Name: Thomas Jeffrey Hanks
Date of Birth: July 9, 1956
Place of Birth: Concord, California

Filmography

• Boone's Lick (2008)
• Angels & Demons (2008)
• The Risk Pool (2008)
• A Cold Case (2008)
• Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
• The Great Buck Howard (2007)
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• Cars (2006)
• Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• Elvis Has Left the Building (2004)
• The Terminal (2004)
• The Ladykillers (2004)
• "Great Performances" (1 episode, 2004)
• Catch Me If You Can (2002)
• Road to Perdition (2002)
• "Band of Brothers" (2001)
• Cast Away (2000)
• The Green Mile (1999)
• Toy Story 2 (1999)
• You've Got Mail (1998)
• Saving Private Ryan (1998)
• "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998)
• That Thing You Do! (1996)
• Toy Story (1995)
• Apollo 13 (1995)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• "Sunday Night Clive" (1 episode, 1994)
• Vault of Horror I (1994)
• Philadelphia (1993)
• "Fallen Angels" (1 episode, 1993)
• Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
• A League of Their Own (1992)
• "Tales from the Crypt" (1 episode, 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)
• "Family Ties" (3 episodes, 1983-1984)
• Mazes and Monsters (1982)
• "Happy Days" (1 episode, 1982
• "Taxi" (1 episode, 1982)
• "Bosom Buddies" (4 episodes, 1980-1981)
• "The Love Boat" (1 episode, 1980)
• He Knows You're Alone (1980)

Awards

• People's Choice Award Favorite All-Time Entertainer 2004
• American Film Institute Life Achievement Award 2002
• Emmy Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special "Band Of Brothers" 2002
• People's Choice Award Favorite Motion Picture Actor 2002
• People's Choice Award Favorite Motion Picture Star in a Drama 2002
• Producers Guild of America David L. Wolper Producer of the Year Award in Longform Television Award "Band of Brothers" 2002
• American Film Institute Award Movie or Mini-Series of the Year "Band of Brothers" 2001
• Golden Globe Award Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television "Band of Brothers" 2001
• Chicago Film Critics Award Best Actor "Cast Away" 2000
• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) "Cast Away" 2000
• New York Film Critics Award Best Actor "Cast Away" 2000
• Online Film Critics Society Award Best Actor "Cast Away" 2000
• People's Choice Award Favorite Actor in a Motion Picture 1999
• People's Choice Award Favorite Actor in a Motion Picture 1999
• ShoWest Star of the Decade 1999
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Picture Made for Television "From the Earth to the Moon" 1998
• Emmy Outstanding Miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon" 1998
• Golden Globe Award Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television "From the Earth to the Moon" 1998
• Golden Satellite Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television "From the Earth to the Moon" 1998
• Producers Guild of America Golden Laurel Award Most Promising Emergent Television Producer "From the Earth to the Moon" 1998
• Producers Guild of America Norman Felton Producer of the Year Award Non-episodic Television "From the Earth to the Moon" 1998
• People's Choice Award Favorite Motion Picture Actor 1996
• People's Choice Award Favorite Actor in a Dramatic Motion Picture 1996
• People's Choice Award Favorite Actor in a Dramatic Motion Picture "Apollo 13" 1995
• The Actor Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Motion Picture "Apollo 13" 1995
• American Comedy Award Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture "Forrest Gump" 1994
• Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Actor "Forrest Gump" 1994
• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) "Forrest Gump" 1994
• MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance "Philadelphia" 1994
• National Board of Review Award Best Actor "Forrest Gump" 1994
• Oscar Best Actor "Forrest Gump" 1994
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role "Forrest Gump" 1994
• Berlin Film Festival Best Actor Award "Philadelphia" 1993
• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) "Philadelphia" 1993
• Oscar Best Actor "Philadelphia" 1993
• Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "Big" 1988
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award Best Actor "Big" and "Punchline" 1988