History of Tom Hanks in Timeline
Tom Hanks is a highly acclaimed American actor and filmmaker, recognized globally for his versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. As one of the most popular film stars worldwide, he's considered an American cultural icon and ranks as the fourth-highest-grossing American film actor. Throughout his career, Hanks has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. He has also been honored with prestigious awards such as the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.
1952: Birth of Samantha Lewes
In 1952, Samantha Lewes, later to become Tom Hanks's wife, was born.
1977: Birth of Colin Hanks
In 1977, Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks' son, was born.
1978: Marriage to Samantha Lewes
In 1978, Tom Hanks married American actress Samantha Lewes.
1980: Bosom Buddies TV Show
In 1980, Tom Hanks starred in the TV comedy 'Bosom Buddies'.
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, Tom Hanks' daughter, was born.
1982: Bosom Buddies TV Show
In 1982, Tom Hanks starred in the TV comedy 'Bosom Buddies'.
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 on Volunteers Set
In 1985, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were reunited on the set of Volunteers.
1987: Divorce from Samantha Lewes
In 1987, Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes divorced.
1993: Academy Award Nomination and Win for Philadelphia
In 1993, Tom Hanks received an Academy Award nomination and win for Best Actor for his role in Philadelphia.
1994: Academy Award Win for Forrest Gump
In 1994, Tom Hanks received his second consecutive Academy Award win for Best Actor for his role in Forrest Gump.
1995: Birth of Truman Hanks
In 1995, Truman Hanks, Tom Hanks' younger son, was born.
1998: Primetime Emmy Award Win for From the Earth to the Moon
In 1998, Tom Hanks received a Primetime Emmy Award win for his work as a producer on the limited series From the Earth to the Moon.
2000: Included on Forbes' List of Top Celebrities
In 2000, Tom Hanks was included on Forbes' list of the top ten most powerful celebrities in the world.
2002: Death of Samantha Lewes
In 2002, Samantha Lewes, Tom Hanks's ex-wife, passed away at the age of 49 due to bone cancer.
2002: Primetime Emmy Award Win for Band of Brothers
In 2002, Tom Hanks received a Primetime Emmy Award win for his work as a producer on the television film Band of Brothers.
2002: Included on Forbes' List of Top Celebrities
In 2002, Tom Hanks was included on Forbes' list of the top ten most powerful celebrities in the world.
2003: Ranked Among Top Celebrities
In 2003, Tom Hanks was voted Number 3 in Channel 4's countdown of the 100 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time and was included on Forbes' list of the top ten most powerful celebrities in the world.
2004: Donation of Espresso Machine to White House Press Corps
In 2004, Tom Hanks donated an espresso machine to the White House press corps after learning they did not have a coffee pot.
June 2006: Induction into the United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame
In June 2006, Tom Hanks was inducted as an honorary member of the United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame for his portrayal of a captain in Saving Private Ryan.
2006: Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award
In 2006, the Space Foundation awarded Tom Hanks the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award for significant contributions to public awareness of space programs.
March 10, 2008: Induction of The Dave Clark Five into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On March 10, 2008, Tom Hanks inducted The Dave Clark Five into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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: Primetime Emmy Award Win for John Adams
In 2008, Tom Hanks received a Primetime Emmy Award win for his work as a producer on the television film John Adams.
2008: Opposition to Proposition 8
In 2008, Tom Hanks was outspoken about his opposition to Proposition 8, an amendment to the California constitution that defined marriage as a union only between a man and a woman.
January 2009: Criticism and Apology for Proposition 8 Remarks
In January 2009, Tom Hanks called supporters of Proposition 8 "un-American" and later apologized for the remark, stating that nothing is more American than voting one's conscience.
2010: Donation of Espresso Machine to White House Press Corps
In 2010, Tom Hanks donated a new espresso machine to the White House press corps.
2010: Primetime Emmy Award Win for The Pacific
In 2010, Tom Hanks received a Primetime Emmy Award win for his work as a producer on the limited series The Pacific.
2011: Son Chet Releases Rap Song
In 2011, Chet Hanks, Tom Hanks' older son, released a rap song.
2011: Narration of Killing Lincoln
In 2011, Tom Hanks narrated the television program Killing Lincoln.
2012: Narration of The Road We've Traveled
In 2012, Tom Hanks narrated a documentary, The Road We've Traveled, created by Obama for America.
2012: Primetime Emmy Award Win for Game Change
In 2012, Tom Hanks received a Primetime Emmy Award win for his work as a producer on the television film Game Change.
October 2013: Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes
In October 2013, Tom Hanks revealed on Late Show with David Letterman that he has type 2 diabetes.
2013: Tony Award Nomination for Lucky Guy
In 2013, Tom Hanks received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Nora Ephron's play Lucky Guy.
2013: Starring in Lucky Guy on Broadway
In 2013, while starring in Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy on Broadway, Tom Hanks drew crowds of 300 fans after each performance, the highest number for any Broadway show.
August 2014: Release of Hanx Writer App
In August 2014, Tom Hanks released Hanx Writer, an iOS app designed to emulate the typewriter experience, which quickly reached number one on the App Store.
2015: Primetime Emmy Award Win for Olive Kitteridge
In 2015, Tom Hanks received a Primetime Emmy Award win for his work as a producer on the television film Olive Kitteridge.
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. He chose 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 presidential election.
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 to White House Press Corps
In 2017, Tom Hanks donated a new espresso machine to the White House press corps, accompanied by a note encouraging them to "Keep up the good fight for Truth, Justice, and the American Way."
2017: Publication of Uncommon Type
In 2017, Tom Hanks's collection of short stories, Uncommon Type, inspired by his typewriter collection, was published.
July 2018: Wildfire in Mati
In July 2018, a devastating wildfire ripped through the seaside village of Mati, near Athens, prompting Tom Hanks and his family to appeal for aid, contributing to their honorary citizenship.
2018: Attribution of Diabetes Condition
In a 2018 interview, Tom Hanks attributed his type 2 diabetes to a combination of genetics and lifestyle choices.
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 Naturalization as Greek Citizen
On December 27, 2019, the President of Greece signed an honorary naturalization order for Tom Hanks and his family, making them Greek citizens.
July 2020: Photographed with Greek Passport
In July 2020, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were photographed with their Greek passports alongside the Prime Minister of Greece and his wife.
2020: Endorsement of Joe Biden
In 2020, Tom Hanks endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden in the presidential election.
March 24, 2022: Officiated a Wedding in Pittsburgh
On March 24, 2022, it was reported that Tom Hanks, an ordained minister, recently officiated a wedding in Pittsburgh.
2022: Truman Hanks Portrays Young Tom Hanks
In 2022, Truman Hanks portrayed the younger version of his father's character in A Man Called Otto.
May 2023: Publication of The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece
In May 2023, Tom Hanks's debut novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, was published.
2023: Founding of Hanx for the Troops
In 2023, Tom Hanks founded Hanx for the Troops, a coffee company supporting veterans and military families.
2025: Cancellation of Sylvanus Thayer Award Ceremony
In 2025, Tom Hanks was to receive the Sylvanus Thayer Award from the West Point Association of Graduates, but the ceremony was cancelled.
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