Tom Hanks has had a busy 2026. Toy Story 5 arrived in June with the series' biggest opening yet, he has been filming Greyhound 2 in Australia, and in October came news that he returns to Broadway in autumn 2027 with This World of Tomorrow, the play he co-wrote.
Here is our fan-to-fan look at one of the best-loved careers in film. Browse more big-screen favourites in our Hollywood icons collection.
Tom Hanks Fact File
| Full name | Thomas Jeffrey Hanks |
| Date of birth (age) | 9 July 1956 (70) |
| Place of birth | Concord, California, USA |
| Nationality | American (honorary Greek citizen since 2019) |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer and author |
| Years active | 1977-present |
| Production company | Playtone (co-founded with Gary Goetzman) |
| Known for | Big, Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away |
Key Films
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Big | Josh Baskin |
| 1993 | Philadelphia | Andrew Beckett |
| 1994 | Forrest Gump | Forrest Gump |
| 1995 | Apollo 13 | Jim Lovell |
| 1995 | Toy Story | Woody (voice) |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan | Captain John H. Miller |
| 2000 | Cast Away | Chuck Noland |
| 2013 | Captain Phillips | Richard Phillips |
| 2015 | Bridge of Spies | James B. Donovan |
| 2016 | Sully | Chesley Sullenberger |
| 2019 | A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood | Fred Rogers |
| 2022 | Elvis | Colonel Tom Parker |
| 2025 | The Phoenician Scheme | Leland |
| 2026 | Toy Story 5 | Woody (voice) |
A selection of Hanks' best-known films by year of release, not his complete filmography.
Early Years
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks was born in Concord, California, on 9 July 1956 and grew up in the Bay Area, attending Skyline High School in Oakland. He studied theatre at Chabot College and Sacramento State before an internship at the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland led him to leave college and act full-time.
His first film role came in He Knows You're Alone (1980), and the same year he landed a lead in the ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies, which ran until 1982 and showed off his gift for comedy.
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Breakthrough: From Splash to Big
Splash (1984), Ron Howard's mermaid romance, made Hanks a film star. A run of comedies followed, and in 1988 Big - as a 12-year-old boy who wakes up in a grown man's body - earned him his first Golden Globe and his first Oscar nomination.
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Back-to-Back Oscars and the Peak Years
The 1990s turned Hanks into the most trusted face in Hollywood. He won the Best Actor Oscar for Philadelphia (1993), then won again a year later for Forrest Gump (1994), becoming only the second actor after Spencer Tracy to win Best Actor in consecutive years.
Apollo 13 and Toy Story followed in 1995, then Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Cast Away (2000), both of which brought further Oscar nominations. He also directed That Thing You Do! (1996), while his company Playtone produced acclaimed TV such as Band of Brothers and The Pacific.
Later Career and What Comes Next
Hanks has kept finding great real-life roles, from Captain Phillips (2013) and Sully (2016) to Fred Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), his sixth Oscar nomination. He is also a published author, with the short story collection Uncommon Type (2017) and the novel The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece (2023).
One of those short stories became This World of Tomorrow, which he co-wrote with James Glossman and starred in alongside Kelli O'Hara at The Shed in New York in late 2025. Directed again by Kenny Leon, it heads to Broadway in autumn 2027 - his first Broadway role since Lucky Guy in 2013. He shows no sign of slowing down.
Awards
Academy Awards
- Best Actor - Philadelphia (1994 ceremony)
- Best Actor - Forrest Gump (1995 ceremony)
- Six nominations in total
Golden Globe Awards
- Best Actor wins for Big, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump and Cast Away
- Cecil B. DeMille Award (2020)
Primetime Emmy Awards
- Seven wins, mostly as producer, including Band of Brothers
Other Honours
- AFI Life Achievement Award (2002)
- Kennedy Center Honors (2014)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016)
Away From the Spotlight
Hanks has been married to actor and singer Rita Wilson since 1988. He chairs the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Hidden Heroes campaign for military caregivers, and was made an honorary Greek citizen in 2019 for the couple's help after the 2018 Mati wildfire.
FAQs
How old is Tom Hanks?
Tom Hanks is 70. He was born on 9 July 1956.
Where was Tom Hanks born?
He was born in Concord, California, and grew up in the Bay Area.
How many Oscars has Tom Hanks won?
Two, both for Best Actor: Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, in consecutive years. He has six nominations in total.
What is Tom Hanks' latest film?
His latest release is Toy Story 5 (June 2026), in which he voices Woody again. He has also been filming Greyhound 2 for Apple.
Is Tom Hanks returning to Broadway?
Yes. He will star in This World of Tomorrow on Broadway in autumn 2027, with Kelli O'Hara. The theatre and dates are still to be announced.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Forrest Gump and Saving Private Ryan.
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