Brother of Jim Hanks.
After a one-shot guest appearance on "Happy Days" (1974), producer Ron Howard asked him to read for a secondary part in Splash (1984), and he got the lead instead.
Children, with Lewes, Colin Hanks (b. 1977) and Elizabeth Hanks (b. 1982).
Married first wife Samantha Lewes (real name: Susan Dillingham) two months after their son, Colin, was born.
Hanks cited the help of a nearby ice cream shop which helped him gain 30 pounds for his role in A League of Their Own (1992).
Received emergency treatment for serious staph infection in leg in summer, 1999 after returning from overseas location shoot.
Was asked to play the title role in Jerry Maguire (1996).
Born at 11:17 AM
His Oscar acceptance speech for 1993's Philadelphia (1993) led to the plot of the movie In & Out (1997). Hanks thanked a gay teacher in his speech.
Has another brother who is a professor at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, IL.
Received American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, presented by fellow Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg on 12 June 2002 in Los Angeles. The youngest ever recipient.
Has also credited Joe Spano, former co-star of "Hill Street Blues", as being another of his most important early inspirations.
Returned to Skyline High School, his old school in Oakland, CA, to dedicate a renovated theater named for Rawley T. Farnsworth, the retired drama teacher he thanked in his "Philadelphia" Oscar speech. Oakland Tribune reports Hanks donated about 1/4 of the $465,000 cost of the project. Then he led audience of some 1000 people in chorus of "There's No Business Like Show Business". (3 June 2002)
According to Patrick Stewart (Captain Picard), Hanks is a huge trekkie and the first time the two met, Star Trek was the only thing Hanks wanted to talk about.
Is a member of the International Thespian Society (a group supporting theatre for high school students internationally).
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