Early Life and Education of Tom Hanks: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of Tom Hanks. A timeline of key moments.
Tom Hanks is a highly acclaimed American actor and filmmaker, celebrated for his versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. A globally recognized film star and American cultural icon, Hanks ranks as the fourth-highest-grossing American film actor. His extensive accolades include two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards, alongside nominations for five BAFTA Awards and a Tony Award. He has received prestigious honors such as the AFI Life Achievement Award (2002), the Kennedy Center Honor (2014), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016), and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (2020).
1952: Birth of Samantha Lewes
In 1952, Samantha Lewes, who later married Tom Hanks, was born.
1977: Birth of Colin Hanks
In 1977, Colin Hanks, son of Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes, was born.
1978: Marriage to Samantha Lewes
In 1978, Tom Hanks married American actress Samantha Lewes.
1981: Meeting Rita Wilson
In 1981, Tom Hanks met actress Rita Wilson on the set of the TV comedy Bosom Buddies.
1982: Birth of Elizabeth Hanks
In 1982, Elizabeth Hanks, daughter of Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes, was born.
1984: Fan of Aston Villa
Since 1984, Tom Hanks has been a fan of the English Premier League club Aston Villa.
1985: Reunion with Rita Wilson
In 1985, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson reunited on the set of Volunteers.
1987: Divorce from Samantha Lewes
In 1987, Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes divorced.
1988: Marriage to Rita Wilson
In 1988, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson married.
1995: Birth of Truman Hanks
In 1995, Truman Hanks, the younger son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, was born.
2002: Death of Samantha Lewes
In 2002, Tom Hanks's ex-wife, Samantha Lewes, died at the age of 49 from bone cancer.
2004: Donation of Espresso Machine
In 2004, Tom Hanks donated an espresso machine to the White House press corps after learning they did not have one.
August 2005: Vice President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
In August 2005, Tom Hanks was voted in as vice president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
April 11, 2007: Angels & Demons Announcement
On April 11, 2007, it was announced that Tom Hanks would reprise his role as Robert Langdon in Angels & Demons and would receive the highest salary ever for an actor.
August 2007: Legal action against Gold Circle Films
In August 2007, Tom Hanks, along with co-producers Rita Wilson and Gary Goetzman and writer and star Nia Vardalos, initiated a legal action against the production company Gold Circle Films for their share of profits from My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
March 10, 2008: Induction of The Dave Clark Five into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On March 10, 2008, Tom Hanks was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to induct The Dave Clark Five.
2008: Endorsement of Barack Obama
During the 2008 United States presidential election, Tom Hanks uploaded a video to his MySpace account endorsing Barack Obama.
2008: Opposition to Proposition 8
In 2008, Tom Hanks was outspoken about his opposition to Proposition 8, an amendment to the California constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
January 2009: Apology for Remarks on Proposition 8
In January 2009, Tom Hanks apologized for calling supporters of Proposition 8 "un-American" after criticizing LDS Church members.
2010: Donation of Espresso Machine
In 2010, Tom Hanks donated new espresso machines to the White House press corps.
2011: Chet Hanks releases rap song
In 2011, Chet Hanks, Tom Hanks's older son, released a rap song.
2011: In the Garden of Beasts Adaptation
In 2011, it was announced Tom Hanks is attached to star in an adaptation of the non-fiction book In the Garden of Beasts, about American diplomat William Dodd's time in Nazi Germany.
2012: Narration of Obama Documentary
In 2012, Tom Hanks narrated The Road We've Traveled, a documentary created by Obama for America.
October 2013: Hanks Reveals Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis
In October 2013, Tom Hanks disclosed on Late Show with David Letterman that he has type 2 diabetes.
2013: Starring in Lucky Guy on Broadway
In 2013, while starring in Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy on Broadway, Tom Hanks attracted crowds of 300 fans after each performance, marking the highest number for any Broadway show.
May 8, 2016: Guest on Desert Island Discs
On May 8, 2016, Tom Hanks was the guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, choosing Richard Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra by the Vienna Philharmonic, A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester, and a Hermes 3000 typewriter and paper as his favorite items.
2016: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton
In 2016, Tom Hanks endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.
March 2017: Masters of the Air Production
In March 2017, it was reported that production was progressing on Masters of the Air, a miniseries executive produced by Tom Hanks, under the working title The Mighty Eighth.
April 2017: Boycott of the NFL
In April 2017, Tom Hanks stated he would boycott the NFL for two years after the Raiders filed for relocation to Las Vegas.
2017: Donation of Espresso Machine with Note
In 2017, Tom Hanks donated another espresso machine to the White House press corps, accompanied by a note supporting truth and justice.
July 2018: Devastating Wildfire in Mati
In July 2018, a devastating wildfire ripped through the seaside village of Mati, near Athens, killing more than 100 people, prompting Tom Hanks and his family to appeal for aid.
2018: Interview on Diabetes Condition
In a 2018 interview, Tom Hanks further discussed his type 2 diabetes, attributing it to genetics and lifestyle choices.
October 11, 2019: Masters of the Air Title Announcement
On October 11, 2019, it was announced that the World War II miniseries produced by Tom Hanks would keep the original title Masters of the Air and stream on Apple TV+.
November 2019: Discovery of Relation to Fred Rogers
In November 2019, shortly before the release of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Tom Hanks learned through Ancestry.com that he and Fred Rogers were sixth cousins.
December 27, 2019: Honorary Greek Citizenship
On December 27, 2019, Tom Hanks and his family were granted honorary Greek citizenship by the President of Greece for their exceptional services to Greece.
April 11, 2020: Hosting Saturday Night Live After COVID-19 Diagnosis
On April 11, 2020, Tom Hanks hosted Saturday Night Live, marking his first television appearance since his COVID-19 diagnosis. This was the first episode of SNL after a hiatus due to the pandemic and featured remote sketches from the cast members' homes.
July 2020: Photographed with Greek Passports
In July 2020, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were photographed with their Greek passports alongside the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and his wife.
December 2020: Pinocchio Involvement Confirmed
In December 2020, Tom Hanks' involvement in Walt Disney Studios' live-action adaptation of Pinocchio was officially confirmed.
2020: Endorsement of Joe Biden
In 2020, Tom Hanks endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden in the presidential election.
March 2, 2022: Dead Eyes Podcast Interview
On March 2, 2022, Connor Ratliff revealed that Tom Hanks would be interviewed for the season three finale of Ratliff's podcast Dead Eyes, 22 years after Ratliff was fired from Band of Brothers.
March 24, 2022: Officiated a Wedding
On March 24, 2022, it was reported by CBS News that Tom Hanks, an ordained minister, had recently officiated a wedding in Pittsburgh.
2022: Truman Hanks portrays younger version of his father
In 2022, Truman Hanks portrayed the younger version of his father's character in A Man Called Otto.
2023: Founded Hanx for the Troops
In 2023, Tom Hanks founded Hanx for the Troops, a coffee company supporting veterans and military families.
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