WhereIsAtlas · Film & Television

Tom Hanks

Two-time Oscar winner and one of Hollywood's most bankable stars

Active — Still acting and producing; recent work includes Asteroid City (2023).

Born in Concord, California in 1956, Tom Hanks moved from sitcoms to stardom with Big (1988) and became the first actor since Spencer Tracy to win consecutive Best Actor Oscars — for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). His voice as Woody in the Toy Story franchise made him a fixture of animation as well.

Unlike many peers of his era, Hanks never disappeared: he has starred or produced steadily through every decade since, from Saving Private Ryan to Captain Phillips, and remained a box-office draw into his sixties with films like A Man Called Otto (2022) and Wes Anderson's Asteroid City (2023).

He has been married to actor Rita Wilson since 1988, runs the production company Playtone, and is routinely cited in polling as one of America's most trusted celebrities.

Timeline

  1. 1956 — Born in Concord: Thomas Jeffrey Hanks is born in California, the son of a hospital worker and a chef.
  2. 1988 — Breakthrough with Big: A body-swap comedy earns Hanks his first Oscar nomination and leading-man status.
  3. 1994 — Back-to-back Oscars: Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994) deliver consecutive Best Actor wins.
  4. 1995 — Voice of Woody: Toy Story launches Pixar and one of animation's longest-running lead roles.
  5. 1998 — Saving Private Ryan: Spielberg's D-Day epic redefines the war film and cements Hanks' dramatic range.
  6. 2013 — Captain Phillips: A late-career peak: his hostage-negotiation drama draws career-best reviews.
  7. 2023 — Still on screen: Asteroid City and A Man Called Otto confirm a sixth decade of leading roles.

Quick facts

Born
Jul 9, 1956, Concord, CA
Academy Awards
2 wins, 6 nominations
Notable films
Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Saving Private Ryan
Voice role
Woody, Toy Story (1995–2019)
Spouse
Rita Wilson (m. 1988)
Production co.
Playtone

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Tom Hanks — Wikipedia (2026-01-10)
  2. Tom Hanks — Encyclopædia Britannica (2025-12-15)
  3. Tom Hanks filmography — IMDb (2025-12-15)

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