Line #6 Creator/TomHanks


1	[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aa7acdee_fe0f_42da_b3cc_3adc3fa76d42.jpeg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:280:[[Series/SaturdayNightLive Any questions?]]]]
3
4	->''"I'm that actor in some of the movies you liked and some you didn't. Sometimes I'm in pretty good shape, other times I'm not. Hey, you gotta live, you know?"''
5	-->-- The bio of '''Tom Hanks'''[='=] {{Website/Twitter}} [[https://twitter.com/tomhanks account]]
6	%%%One quote is sufficient.%%%
7
8	Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker who is regarded as being one of the best performers of his generation.
9
10	He began his career in comedies like ''Series/HappyDays'' and ''Series/BosomBuddies'', where he displayed a flair for timing and physical comedy. Quickly moving onto film, he became well-known for lighthearted comedies like ''{{Film/Splash}}'' and ''Film/{{Big}}'' as well as romantic films. In the latter genre, he's famously one half of ThoseTwoActors with Creator/MegRyan, having starred as her love interest in three films[[note]]''Film/JoeVersusTheVolcano'', ''Film/SleeplessInSeattle'', and ''Film/YouveGotMail''[[/note]].
11
12	Going into the '90s, Hanks' career took a sharp swerve as he began turning in critically-acclaimed dramatic performances, earning him back-to-back [[MediaNotes/AcademyAwardForBestActorInALeadingRole Oscars for Best Actor]] for his portrayal of the dying Andrew Beckett in ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'' and the simple-but-well-meaning ''Film/ForrestGump''. Since then, his career has been eclectic, with his starring in films that run the gamut from comedy (''[[Film/TheLadykillers2004 The Ladykillers]]'') and children's films (''Franchise/ToyStory'') to heavy drama (''Film/RoadToPerdition''), science fiction (''Film/CloudAtlas''), and even his own blockbuster action franchise (''Film/TheDaVinciCode'' and its sequels).
13
14	Hanks is also a well-known space nerd and UsefulNotes/WorldWarII history buff; these interests are reflected in his career, with his having starred in ''Film/{{Apollo 13}}'', ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', and ''Film/{{Greyhound}}'', as well as having produced ''Series/FromTheEarthToTheMoon'', ''Series/BandOfBrothers'', ''Series/ThePacific'' and ''Series/MastersOfTheAir'' (the latter three boasting similar styles of gritty combat and U.S. soldier camaraderie as ''Saving Private Ryan'').
15
16	He's hosted ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' ten times (his fifth time hosting, in 1990, was the episode in which the "Five-Timers Club" was revealed, while his ninth, in 2016, introduced his well-known "David S. Pumpkins" character) and ''Radio/WaitWaitDontTellMe'' once, to rave reviews each time. He also runs his own studio called Playtone, named after the music label in his self-produced film ''Film/ThatThingYouDo''. He's additionally [[JustForFun/OneOfUs a big-enough fan of both]] Music/TheBeatles and Creator/MontyPython that he got to sing "The Lumberjack Song" (as one of the Lumberjacks) in the ''Concert for George'', the memorial concert celebrating the life of Music/GeorgeHarrison. He further appeared in the music video for Music/CarlyRaeJepsen's "I Really Like You" -- contrary to many rumours, it was actually ''his'' idea to take the role.
17
18	''And'' to top it all off, Hanks is the TropeNamer for TomHanksSyndrome, being the most famous and successful example of an actor being able to break away from comedic TypeCasting and show the world that SugarWiki/{{he really can act}}.
19
20	His son Creator/ColinHanks is also an actor, producer, and director. He also has a brother, Jim Hanks, who acts as [[TheOtherDarrin the official understudy]] for Woody in any ''Toy Story'' media Tom is too busy or expensive for.
21	----
22	!!His filmography includes:
23	* ''Film/HeKnowsYoureAlone'' (1980) - Tom's film debut.
24	* ''Film/MazesAndMonsters'' (1982) - Tom's first major role.
25	* ''Film/{{Splash}}'' (1984) - Tom’s StarMakingRole
26	* ''Film/BachelorParty'' (1984)
27	* ''Film/TheManWithOneRedShoe'' (1985)
28	* ''Film/{{Volunteers}}'' (1985)
29	* ''Film/TheMoneyPit'' (1986)
30	* ''Film/NothingInCommon'' (1986) - Tom’s first dramatic role
31	* ''Film/EveryTimeWeSayGoodbye'' (1986)
32	* ''Film/{{Dragnet}}'' (1987)
33	* ''Film/{{Big}}'' (1988) - First MediaNotes/AcademyAward nomination as Best Actor.
34	* ''Film/TheBurbs'' (1989)
35	* ''Film/TurnerAndHooch'' (1989)
36	* ''Film/JoeVersusTheVolcano'' (1990)
37	* ''Literature/TheBonfireOfTheVanities'' (1990)
38	* ''Film/ALeagueOfTheirOwn'' (1992)
39	* ''Film/SleeplessInSeattle'' (1993)
40	* ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'' (1993) - First MediaNotes/AcademyAward win for Best Actor.
41	* ''Film/ForrestGump'' (1994) - Second MediaNotes/AcademyAward win for Best Actor
42	* ''Film/{{Apollo 13}}'' (1995)
43	* The ''Franchise/ToyStory'' film series
44	** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' (1995)
45	** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'' (1999)
46	** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' (2010)
47	** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryToons'' (2011 - 2012)
48	** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryOfTerror'' (2013)
49	** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStoryThatTimeForgot'' (2014)
50	** ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory4'' (2019)
51	* ''Film/ThatThingYouDo'' (1996) - Directorial debut
52	* ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'' (1998)
53	* ''Film/YouveGotMail'' (1998)
54	* ''Film/TheGreenMile'' (1999)
55	* ''Film/CastAway'' (2000)
56	* ''Film/RoadToPerdition'' (2002)
57	* ''Film/CatchMeIfYouCan'' (2002)
58	* ''Film/TheTerminal'' (2004)
59	* ''Film/{{The Ladykillers\|2004}}'' (2004)
60	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePolarExpress'' (2004)
61	* The ''Robert Langdon'' film series based off Creator/DanBrown
62	** ''Film/AngelsAndDemons'' (2009)
63	** ''Film/TheDaVinciCode'' (2006)
64	** ''Literature/{{Inferno\|2013}}'' (2016)
65	* ''Film/CharlieWilsonsWar'' (2007)
66	* ''Film/LarryCrowne'' (2011)
67	* ''Film/ExtremelyLoudAndIncrediblyClose'' (2011)
68	* ''Film/CloudAtlas'' (2012)
69	* ''WebAnimation/ElectricCity'' (2012)
70	* ''Film/CaptainPhillips'' (2013)
71	* ''Film/SavingMrBanks'' (2013)
72	* ''Film/BridgeOfSpies'' (2015)
73	* ''Film/{{Ithaca}}'' (2015)
74	* ''Literature/AHologramForTheKing'' (2016)
75	* ''Film/{{Sully}}'' (2016)
76	* ''Film/{{The Circle\|2017}}'' (2017)
77	* ''WesternAnimation/TheDavidSPumpkinsHalloweenSpecial'' (2017) - Based on his character from ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''
78	* ''Film/ThePost'' (2017)
79	* ''Film/ABeautifulDayInTheNeighborhood'' (2019)
80	* ''Film/{{Greyhound}}'' (2020)
81	* ''Film/BoratSubsequentMoviefilm'' (2020) - AsHimself
82	* ''[[Film/NewsOfTheWorld2020 News of the World]]'' (2020)
83	* ''Film/{{Finch\|2021}}'' (2021)
84	* ''Film/{{Elvis\|2022}}'' (2022)
85	* ''[[Film/Pinocchio2022Disney Pinocchio]]'' (2022)
86	* ''Film/AManCalledOtto'' (2022)
87	* ''Film/AsteroidCity'' (2023)
88
89	!!Tom Hanks's career and works demonstrate the following tropes:
90	* AbilityOverAppearance: Aside from being white and male, he doesn't resemble Fred Rogers in the slightest, but there was not the faintest chance that anyone else was going to play the kindest man who ever lived.
91	* ConvertingForLove: Although raised Catholic (and later as a Mormon once his father Amos remarried), Hanks converted to Greek Orthodox Christianity before marrying Creator/RitaWilson.[[note]]Rita Wilson was raised Greek Orthodox, since her mother Dorothea Tzigkou is Greek. Interestingly, Rita's father Allan Wilson (who was born Hassan Ibrahimoff) converted from Islam to Greek Orthodox Christianity upon marrying Rita's mother.[[/note]]
92	* CoolOldGuy: In his mid sixties and as charming, likable and beloved as ever.
93	* CreatorBacklash:
94	** Hanks felt this way about his film debut in a SlasherMovie called ''Film/HeKnowsYoureAlone'', as stated in interviews many years later.
95	** He also poked fun at starring in ''Film/TheTerminal'' while hosting ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''.
96	** Hanks also felt this way about ''Film/BachelorParty'', ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'', and pretty much every other comedy film made during his "starving artist" phase of the '80s (''Film/{{Splash}}'' and ''Film/{{Big}}'' being obvious exceptions!). There's a reason TomHanksSyndrome is named for him.
97	** When asked in an interview what film he wished he could remove from his resume, his response was ''Film/TheManWithOneRedShoe''. He even went as far as calling it "a dog".
98	*** When Tom Hanks was asked in a [[https://www.davidsheff.com/tom-hanks 1989 interview with "Playboy"]] to give his thoughts on "The Man With One Red Shoe", he had this to say:
99	--->"Not a very good movie. It doesn't have any real, clear focus to it. It isn't about anything particularly that you can honestly understand. It made no money at all."
100
101	* CreatorsFavorite: When Tom Hanks was asked in a 2021 interview with [[https://youtu.be/Ix6dw8GHPhE?si=Iiwnjby2h15KbQ0G&t=28s “The Bill Simmons Podcast”]] to list his three favorite movies from his filmography, he responded with ''Film/ALeagueOfTheirOwn'', ''Film/CastAway'', and ''Film/CloudAtlas''.[[note]]Tom Hanks’ ranking of those three movies are more based on his ''personal experiences making those movies'' than according to the way those three movies came out.[[/note]]
102	* DoomMagnet: Origin of the "Never Travel With Tom Hanks" meme. Whether by [[Film/{{Sully}} airplane]], [[Film/CaptainPhillips ship]], or [[Film/Apollo13 spacecraft]], going anywhere with a Tom Hanks character can end in disaster.
103	* DyeingForYourArt: Penny Marshall convinced him that he should be "fat and sweaty" for his role in ''A League of Their Own'', so he gained twenty pounds. He also lost considerable weight and grew out his hair and beard for ''Cast Away''.
104	* TheEveryman: A recurring role for him.
105	* HappilyMarried: Although heavily averted for Tom's first wife Samantha Lewes (whom he married in 1978 and later divorced in 1987), it's played straight for his second wife Rita Wilson, whom he's been married to since 1988.
106	* KavorkaMan: Lampshaded by Tom Hanks when asked in a 1986 interview with ''[[https://books.google.com/books?id=9OYCAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA36&pg=PA36#v=onepage&q&f=false New York Magazine]]'' why he always found his average-looking characters hooking up with gorgeous leading ladies in his films such as Creator/DarylHannah in ''Film/{{Splash}}'', Tawny Kitaen in ''Film/BachelorParty'', Lori Singer in ''Film/TheManWithOneRedShoe'', and Sela Ward in ''Film/NothingInCommon'':
107	-->"I think it's because there are a lot of writers who aren't very attractive but who are fairly funny and ''want'' to have sex a lot, so they write about these guys who are not very attractive, but they're funny and ''do'' have sex a lot. So I guess I'm the [[AuthorAvatar chief beneficiary]] of that. It's not like I say, 'I'd like to do this movie...but I've got to have sex more often'."
108	* LovedByAll: Comedian Christopher Titus once put it best: "Tom Hanks has so many good karma points he could punch a nun and your first thought would be 'What did that bitch do to Tom Hanks?!?'"
109	* NiceGuy: Often regarded as one of the nicest actors in Hollywood. It's no surprise he was the perfect casting for [[Film/ABeautifulDayInTheNeighborhood Mr. Rogers]].
110	** Even the late Moshe Mizrahi who directed Tom Hanks in the 1986 romantic war drama ''Film/EveryTimeWeSayGoodbye'' went so far as to call Tom Hanks a ''[[https://www.haaretz.com/1.4912521 mensch]]''[[note]]A Yiddish word for "good person"[[/note]].
111	* OnceAnEpisode: As shown in this video, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wioW8xqXB1M Tom Hanks pees in a lot of movies]].
112	* PlayingAgainstType: While Hanks is known primarily for playing likeable and heroic characters, in ''Film/Elvis2022'' he plays the [[{{Jerkass}} loathsome]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], and [[ItsAllAboutMe selfish]] Colonel Tom Parker.
113	** He's directed his fair share of films and TV episodes. His debut? The fourth season premiere of ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'', "None But the Lonely Heart". An episode well-beloved due to it's highly detestable lead, twist ending and his own small appearance in it. (And death scene to boot)
114	* StarDerailingRole: ''Literature/TheBonfireOfTheVanities'' was '''nearly''' this for Tom Hanks, so much so that he took a 19-month break from acting in order to re-evaluate his career decisions as well as spend time with his family. It also didn't help that his previous movie had been the similarly unsuccessful ''Film/JoeVersusTheVolcano''. A year and a half later, Hanks returned to acting and redeemed himself with films like ''Film/ALeagueOfTheirOwn'', ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'', and ''Film/ForrestGump''[[note]]the latter two earned Hanks two back-to-back Oscars[[/note]]. Of course, [[Film/Apollo13 the]] [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory1 rest]] [[Film/SavingPrivateRyan is]] [[Film/CastAway history]].
115	* StarMakingRole: ''Series/BosomBuddies'' as a tv star and ''Film/{{Splash}}'' as a movie star. However, ''Film/{{Big}}'' would solidify Tom Hanks’ movie star power as it earned him his first Oscar nomination.
116	* TomHanksSyndrome: The TropeNamer. The change started after his work on ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}''.
117	** Prior to ''Philadelphia'', Hanks had only appeared in two dramatic films, ''Film/NothingInCommon'' and ''Film/EveryTimeWeSayGoodbye'', neither of which were commercially or critically successful, so he went back to doing comedic films instead.
118	* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Hanks was tapped to star in an English-language remake of ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'' in 2003, only for the project to be dropped within a year or so. The eventual English version of the film, 2022's ''Living'', would instead feature Creator/BillNighy in the lead role.

Context Creator / TomHanks