Tom Hanks Biography
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Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is
an American actor famous for playing notable roles in many popular and
critically acclaimed movies. He is well known for his acting ability,
and is able to play characters that range from the vulnerable Forrest
Gump, to the inspirational lead in Philadelphia, to the never-say-die
commander in Apollo 13. Hanks is generally known for his ability to
imbue "nice-guy" roles with warmth, for example in the romantic comedy
Sleepless in Seattle, but is quite capable of taking the role of a mob
hitman in Road to Perdition.
Though Hanks starred mostly in comedies in
the early part of his career—he first came to notice in the 1980-82
situation comedy Bosom Buddies—he later moved away from comedies and
started making mostly more-serious dramas. In recent years, he has
alternated between comedic and serious dramatic roles.
Hanks is currently one of the most
sought-after leading men in Hollywood. His salary for two recent movies
was USD$20 million each. His portrayal of the likeable lead in Forrest
Gump earned him $70 million.
Born in Concord, California, Hanks later
studied theatre at California State University, Sacramento. He couldn't
get cast in a college play so he auditioned for community theater
instead. He was invited by the director of that play to go to Cleveland,
and it was there his acting career started.
Hanks is a member of the National Space
Society and was the producer of the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the
Moon about the Apollo program to send astronauts to the moon. Hanks also
provides the voice over for the Hayden planetarium show at American
Museum of Natural History in New York.
Hanks is a Democrat and has supported many
candidates, including Hilary Clinton, Diane Feinstein, Al Gore, and John
Kerry. Hanks is also a noted environmentalist who drives a hybrid car
and is a member of the Nature Conservancy. He has appeared in radio and
television public service announcements for the organization and even
serves on the board of trustees in Idaho, where he has a home.
Hanks has been married to actress Rita
Wilson since 1988. They met while working on the movie Volunteers
(1985). They have two children together. Hanks was married previously to
Samantha Lewes from 1978 to 1987. That union also produced two children
(one of whom is actor/son Colin Hanks). Through his contact with Wilson,
Hanks joined the Greek Orthodox Church.
Hanks also won back-to-back Academy Awards
for Best Actor for his roles in Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump
(1994). He was the youngest ever recipient of the American Film
Institute's Life Achievement Award on June 12, 2002.
Hanks claims to be a relative of James
Hanks, one of several possible fathers of Nancy Hanks, mother of United
States president Abraham Lincoln.
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URL of Original Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hanks
Date Article Copied:
July 12, 2005
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