Hanks, Tom

Hanks, Tom, 1956–, American film actor famous for his roles as an amiable American everyman, b. Concord, Calif., as Thomas Jeffrey Hanks. In 1980 he acted in his first film, and in 1980–82 he co-starred in a television sitcom. Hanks subsequently appeared in numerous Hollywood comedies, among them Splash (1984), Big (1988), the baseball-themed A League of Their Own (1992), and the romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle (1993). He turned to serious drama in Philadelphia (1993), receiving an Academy Award for his portrayal of an AIDS-stricken gay lawyer, and won a second Oscar for his performance in the title role of the box-office smash Forest Gump (1994). His later films include Apollo 13 (1995), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), The Terminal (2004), The Da Vinci Code (2006), and Charlie Wilson's War (2007). Hanks wrote, directed, and played in the film That Thing You Do! (1996), has voiced characters in several animated features, and has produced and directed television miniseries.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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