A truly terrific actor. Born Thomas J. Hanks, he originally resided
in California but moved around a lot during his childhood with a succession
of step-families. Ironically, he had no acting experience in college--a
hardship which prompted him to start looking for parts in community theater
plays. He moved to Cleveland soon after, and there his acting career
began. His first major role was on the television show Bosom Buddies,
but he moved to the silver screen soon afterwards and stayed there.
His directorial debut came in 1996, when he directed (and starred in) That
Thing You Do!
His son, Colin Hanks, has also started acting.
Academy Awards
Nominated for Best Actor for Big in 1989
Won Best Actor for Philadelphia in 1994
Won Best Actor for Forrest Gump in 1995
Nominated for Best Actor for Saving Private Ryan in 1999
Complete Movie Filmography:
Cast Away (2000) .... Chuck Noland
The Green Mile (1999) .... Paul Edgecomb
Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice) .... Woody
You've Got Mail (1998) .... Joe Fox
Saving Private Ryan (1998) .... Captain John H. Miller
That Thing You Do! (1996) .... Mr. White
Toy Story (1995) (voice) .... Woody
Celluloid Closet, The (1995)...Interviewee
Apollo 13 (1995) .... Jim Lovell
Forrest Gump (1994) .... Forrest Gump
Philadelphia (1993) .... Andrew Beckett
Sleepless in Seattle (1993) .... Sam Baldwin
A League of Their Own (1992) .... Jimmy Dugan
Radio Flyer (1992) (uncredited) .... Older Mike
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) .... Joe Banks
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) .... Sherman McCoy
Turner & Hooch (1989) .... Det. Scott Turner
The 'burbs (1989) .... Ray Peterson
Punchline (1988) .... Steven Gold
Big (1988) .... Joshua "Josh" Baskin
Dragnet (1987) .... Pep Streebeck
Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) .... David
Nothing in Common (1986) .... David Basner
The Money Pit (1986) .... Walter Fielding
The Man with One Red Shoe (1985) .... Richard
Volunteers (1985) .... Lawrence Bourne III
Bachelor Party (1984) .... Rick Gassko
Splash (1984) .... Allen Bauer
He Knows You're Alone (1980) .... Elliot | 
