Tom Hanks Biography 2026: Age, Height, Family, Career & Net Worth

Tom Hanks biography is the story of Hollywood’s most loved star. He is the actor behind Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Woody in Toy Story. Fans call him America’s Dad for a reason.

Why is Tom Hanks famous? He has won two Oscars in a row. He has starred in some of the biggest movies ever. As of September 2026, he is still active with new films, books, and Toy Story 5 on the way.

Quick Facts

If you love Tom Hanks, you will also like Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Tim Allen, Steven Spielberg, Denzel Washington, and Keanu Reeves. They are all trending Hollywood legends with huge fan bases in America right now. Tim Allen is linked to Hanks as his Toy Story co-star Buzz Lightyear.

Early Life & Education

Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California. His full name is Thomas Jeffrey Hanks. His dad was a cook and hospital worker. His mom was a hospital worker. His parents split up when he was only 5 years old.

Tom moved a lot as a kid. He lived with his dad in Oakland. He has said he was shy growing up. Movies and school plays helped him open up. He loved watching TV and acting out scenes for his family.

He went to Skyline High School in Oakland. Classmates remember him as funny and popular. After high school, he joined Chabot College in Hayward. He studied theater there. He later moved to California State University, Sacramento. He did not finish his degree. He left college to act full time.

His early interest was stage acting. He joined the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Ohio. He worked as an intern. He did lights, sets, and small roles. He learned real acting skills there. He won a best actor award at the festival. That gave him the push to move to New York City in 1979 to chase TV and film roles.

Career Journey and Recent Activity in 2026

Tom Hanks career spans almost 50 years. He started in comedy. He became a drama king. Now he is a living legend. Here is how it happened.

Early Career: TV and Comedy (1980-1987)

Tom got his first break in the ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies (1980-1982). He played a guy who dresses as a woman to live in cheap housing. It was funny and bold. Directors noticed his timing and charm.

His first film lead was Splash (1984) with Daryl Hannah. He played a man who falls for a mermaid. The movie was a hit. Then came Bachelor Party (1984), The Money Pit (1986), and Dragnet (1987). He was seen as a fun comedy guy.

The big shift came with Big (1988). He played a kid who wakes up as an adult. It was sweet and perfect. He earned his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Everyone saw he could do more than jokes.

Superstardom: Back-to-Back Oscars (1988-2000)

The 1990s made Tom Hanks a superstar. He picked smart, emotional roles.

• Philadelphia (1993): He played a lawyer with AIDS. He won his first Academy Award for Best Actor.
• Forrest Gump (1994): He played Forrest, a kind man with a big heart. The film made over $678 million. He won his second Oscar in a row. Only two actors in history have done that.
• Apollo 13 (1995): He played astronaut Jim Lovell. Huge hit.
• Toy Story (1995): He voiced Sheriff Woody. Kids still love him for this. It started one of the biggest animated series ever.
• Saving Private Ryan (1998): He played Captain Miller in Steven Spielberg’s war epic. He got another Oscar nomination.
• You’ve Got Mail (1998): Hit rom-com with Meg Ryan.
• Toy Story 2 (1999), The Green Mile (1999), Cast Away (2000): Three classics in a row. For Cast Away, he lost 55 pounds and won a Golden Globe.

By 2000, Tom Hanks was the most trusted actor in Hollywood. Studios paid him $20 million per movie.

Producer, Director and Hollywood Leader (2001-2019)

Tom did not just act. He built shows with Steven Spielberg. They made Band of Brothers (2001) and The Pacific (2010) for HBO. Both won Emmys. His company Playtone produced My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Mamma Mia!

His acting stayed strong:

• Catch Me If You Can (2002) with Leonardo DiCaprio
• The Terminal (2004), The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), Captain Phillips (2013)
• Saving Mr. Banks (2013) as Walt Disney
• Bridge of Spies (2015), Sully (2016), The Post (2017)
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) as Mister Rogers – Oscar nomination
• Toy Story 4 (2019) – made over $1 billion

He also wrote books and hosted Saturday Night Live many times. He became a Kennedy Center Honoree and got the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Recent Work and What Tom Hanks Is Doing in 2026

Tom Hanks is 70 in 2026, but he is not slowing down. In 2022-2024, he starred in Elvis, A Man Called Otto, Asteroid City, and Here with Robin Wright. A Man Called Otto was a surprise hit. Fans loved his grumpy but sweet role.

In 2025, he appeared in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. He also toured for his novel The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece and his short story book Uncommon Type.

As of 2026, his big project is Toy Story 5. Disney and Pixar set the release for June 19, 2026. Tom is back as Woody with Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. The teaser broke records online in early 2026. Tom has done voice work and press for the film through spring 2026.

He is also working on a new World War II series project and a Hanx podcast. In interviews in 2026, he said he wants to do more writing and small character roles. He still runs Playtone with Gary Goetzman.

Watch his most famous role:

Tom Hanks Movies List – Career Stats

Tom has 100+ acting credits. His movies have made over $9.6 billion worldwide. That makes him one of the top 5 highest-grossing actors ever.

• Total Films: 85+ as actor, 40+ as producer
• TV Shows: Bosom Buddies, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Masters of the Air (2024 producer)
• Top Grossing Films: Toy Story 4 ($1.07B), Toy Story 3 ($1.06B), The Da Vinci Code ($760M), Forrest Gump ($678M), Saving Private Ryan ($482M)
• Rotten Tomatoes Favorites: Toy Story series (100%), Apollo 13 (96%), Saving Private Ryan (93%)
• Books: Uncommon Type (2017), The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece (2023)

Personal Life

Tom Hanks has been married twice. His love story with Rita Wilson is famous in Hollywood.

Wife and Marriage

Tom first married Samantha Lewes in 1978. They had two kids. They divorced in 1987. Samantha passed away in 2002.

He met actress and singer Rita Wilson on the set of Bosom Buddies in 1981. They reconnected on Volunteers in 1985. They married on April 30, 1988. In 2026, they have been married for 38 years. That is rare in Hollywood. They both battled COVID-19 in 2020 and recovered. Rita also beat breast cancer in 2015 with Tom by her side.

Children and Family Tree

• Colin Hanks (born 1977): Actor in Fargo and Jumanji. Married with kids.
• Elizabeth Hanks (born 1982): Writer and actress. She released a memoir in 2025.
• Chet Hanks (born 1990): Rapper and actor in Empire and Shameless. Often in the news.
• Truman Hanks (born 1995): Works behind the camera. Keeps a low profile.

Tom is a proud grandpa. Colin has kids. Tom often talks about family dinners and holidays in Los Angeles and Greece. He and Rita became honorary Greek citizens in 2020. They own a home in Antiparos, Greece.

Hobbies and Community Work

Tom loves typewriters. He owns over 250 vintage typewriters. He loves space and history. He is on the board of the National WWII Museum. He supports veterans, NASA, and film preservation. He is a big baseball fan of the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Guardians. He also loves to bike and write on his typewriters.

Awards & Achievements

• Academy Awards: 2 Wins – Best Actor for Philadelphia (1994) and Forrest Gump (1995). 6 nominations total.
• Golden Globes: 4 Wins, Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2020
• Emmy Awards: 7 Wins as producer for Band of Brothers, The Pacific, Game Change
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: 3 Wins
• Other Honors: AFI Life Achievement Award (2002), Kennedy Center Honors (2014), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016), Honorary Greek Citizen (2020)
• Box Office: One of only a few actors with 4 films over $500M and 2 films over $1B
• Hollywood Walk of Fame: Star received in 1992

Physical Statistics

Tom Hanks age in 2026 is 70 years old. He still looks fit and active. Here are his body stats:

• Height: 6’0″ (183 cm)
• Weight: 165-175 lbs (75-79 kg) – changes for roles
• Body Type: Average, fit for age
• Chest: Approx. 42 inches
• Waist: Approx. 34 inches
• Biceps: Approx. 14 inches
• Hair Color: Gray / White now
• Eye Color: Light Blue
• Shoe Size: US 11
• Health: Has Type 2 diabetes since 2013. He manages it with diet and walking.

Famous Quotes by Tom Hanks

“My mama always said, life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” – As Forrest Gump

“If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.” – As Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own

“I have always thought that a good party needs good music, good food, and good friends. The rest is just details.” – Tom Hanks in real life

Controversies

Tom Hanks has a very clean image. He has almost no big scandals. A few small moments made news:

• Nepotism Debate: Some critics say his sons Colin and Chet got roles because of him. Tom says he supports them but they earn their own work.
• Chet Hanks Drama: His son Chet has made headlines for social media rants. Tom has stayed calm and said he loves his son.
• Elvis Role Criticism: His role as Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis (2022) got mixed reviews. Some fans did not like the accent. He won a Razzie for it, but he laughed it off.
• AI Likeness Warning: In 2023-2024, Tom warned fans about fake AI ads using his face. He said he does not approve them. In 2026, he still speaks about AI rules in Hollywood.

Overall, he is seen as kind, honest, and down to earth.

Favorites

• Favorite Movie of His Own: Cloud Atlas and A League of Their Own
• Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers, Greek food, coffee
• Favorite Team: Oakland Athletics, Aston Villa (soccer)
• Favorite Book: History books about WWII and space
• Favorite Actor: Spencer Tracy
• Favorite Hobby: Typing letters on vintage typewriters
• Favorite Place: Greece and California coast

Earnings and Net Worth in 2026

Tom Hanks net worth in 2026 is estimated at $400 million. Some outlets list $400 to $410 million. He and his wife Rita Wilson have a combined wealth of about $500 million.

How does he make money?

• Movies: He earned $20-$25 million per film at his peak. For Forrest Gump, he took profit share and made about $60 million. For Saving Private Ryan and Cast Away, he made $40 million each.
• Toy Story Voice: He made $15 million for recent Toy Story films plus backend pay.
• Producing: Playtone has made hit HBO shows and films. That brings steady income.
• Books and Audio: His books and the Hanx101 trivia app add income.
• Real Estate: He owns homes in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, New York, and Greece worth over $100 million total.

In 2024-2026, he still earns $10-$15 million per movie. Industry benchmarks show legends like him get big streaming deals too. Apple TV+ paid well for Greyhound and Masters of the Air.

Interesting Facts

• He was not born famous. He sold popcorn and worked as a bellhop before acting.
• He is related to President Abraham Lincoln through his mom’s side.
• An asteroid is named after him: 12818 Tomhanks.
• He loves the Cleveland Guardians so much he once worked as a vendor for fun.
• He has played Walt Disney, Mister Rogers, and Captain Sully – all real American heroes.
• He has hosted Saturday Night Live 10 times. He is in the Five-Timers Club.
• He types personal thank-you notes on typewriters and mails them to fans.
• He and Rita Wilson were among the first famous people to test positive for COVID-19 in March 2020 in Australia.

Did You Know Already?

Did you know Tom Hanks almost did not play Forrest Gump? The role was first offered to John Travolta. He said no. Tom took it and made history.

Did you know he did not get paid upfront for Forrest Gump? He took a share of profits instead. That smart move made him $60 million.

Did you know his brother Jim Hanks often does Woody’s voice for toys and games? They sound alike.

Did you know in 2026, Tom Hanks turned 70 and still voices Woody? He has played Woody for over 30 years since 1995.

Social Media Links

Tom Hanks stays mostly off social media in 2026. He does not run X or TikTok himself. His verified accounts are:

• Instagram: @tomhanks – Verified, posts typewriter photos and movie updates
• Facebook: Tom Hanks – Verified official page
• YouTube: Appearances via Pixar, Playtone, and talk shows – no personal channel
• Website: Playtone official site for company news

Be careful of fake accounts. Tom has warned about AI scams using his name in 2024 and 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Tom Hanks biography in 2026 shows why he is still on top at age 70. He went from a shy California kid to a two-time Oscar winner. He is a great actor, dad, husband, and storyteller. From Woody to Forrest Gump, his roles will live on forever.

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Key Sources:

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – Oscar records and nominations
• People Magazine – Family and marriage interviews
• The New York Times – Career profiles and book coverage
• Pixar and Disney official announcements for Toy Story 5