Hanks Had No Acting Experience, Yet He is One of the Best!

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks was born in Concord, California, to Janet Marylyn (Frager), a hospital worker, and Amos Mefford Hanks, an itinerant cook. His father had English, and some German, ancestry, while his mother's family, originally surnamed "Fraga", was entirely Portuguese.

Birth Name Thomas Jeffrey Hanks

Date of Birth 9 July 1956, Concord, California, USA

Height 6' (1.83 m)

Tom grew up in what he has called a "fractured" family. He moved around a lot after his parents' divorce, living with a succession of step-families. No problems, no abuse, no alcoholism - just a confused childhood.

Younger brother of Sandra Hanks and Larry Hanks and older brother of Jim Hanks. Has another brother who is a professor at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, IL.

He had no acting experience in college and, in fact, credits the fact that he couldn't get cast in a college play with actually starting his career.

He went downtown, auditioned for a community theater play, was invited by the director of that play to go to Cleveland, and there his acting career started.

Married his first wife Samantha Lewes (real name: Susan Dillingham) two months after their son Colin's birth.

He met his second wife, actress Rita Wilson on the set of his television show Bosom Buddies (1980) - she appeared in one episode in the second season (1981), Bosom Buddies: All You Need Is Love (1981).

They have two children, and Tom has another son and daughter by his first wife, Samantha Lewes. In 1996, he made his first step behind the camera, directing and writing as well as starring in the film, That Thing You Do! (1996).

Entertainment Weekly chose him as the only actor worthy of $20 million.

Married his first wife Samantha Lewes (real name: Susan Dillingham) two months after their son Colin's birth.