Trivia

Childhood – Early Stage Trivia:

As a teenager, Tom Hanks was a popcorn and peanuts vendor at the Oakland Coliseum. He also worked as a hotel bellman and carried bags for a number of celebs. Tom Hanks also worked as an actor in several plays for the Great Lakes Shakespearean Festival in Cleveland, Ohio.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks

Tom married Rita Wilson on April 30, 1988, and as of Mars 2009, are still happily married.

Carrier Trivia:

Tom attended Skyline High School in Oakland, California. After that Tom went to Cabot College.

Tom had no acting experience when he entered college, but tried out for a play unsuccessfully. He subsequently went downtown to the local community theatre and auditioned for a play there. The director liked his style and asked him to join the cast that was going on tour to Cleveland, Ohio. Tom has since credited his defeat in college as his passport into the entertainment world.

Tom was asked by director Ron Howard himself, to audition for the movie Splash.

Tom Hanks and his son Colin Hanks

Tom gained 30 pounds for his role in “A League of Their Own”; he credited a local ice cream shop with helping him to gain the weight.

Tom was considered for the role of ‘Peter Banning’ in the movie Hook, in 1991.

Tom lost 30 lbs for his role of a dying AIDS patient in the 1993 movie Philadelphia.

Ron Howard sent him the Apollo 13 script because he knew that Tom had an interest in space flight and had followed the Apollo program as a boy.

Tom would not write with his left hand in the movie “Apollo 13” even though his character, Jim Lovell is left handed.

Tom’s acceptance speech for winning the 1994 Academy Award for Best Actor Oscar for his role in Philadelphia included thanking his high school drama teacher who was gay. It was this revelation that inspired the Kevin Kline movie In & Out.

Tom’s daughter has a role as an ‘extra’ in Forrest Gump; she is the little red-haired girl on the school bus that he rides.

Tom’s younger brother Jim doubles for him in the movie Forrest Gump; it is Jim that you see in many of the mindless running scenes.

Tom was originally considered for the role of Larry Flint in the movie The People vs Larry Flint; the role was given to Woody Harrelson.

US Magazine voted Tom “Best Actor” in 1995.

Tom made a big step in the entertainment business when he wrote, directed, and starred in the film That Thing You Do in 1996.

Tom was offeredthe title role in the movie Jerry Maguire.

Tom admits to having an affair with Rita Wilson, while married to his first wife Samantha Lewes.

Tom received the Distinguished Public Service Award for his role in Saving Private Ryan.

Tom made a big step in the entertainment business when he wrote, directed, and starred in the film That Thing You Do in 1996.

Tom returned from an overseas shoot in 1999 with a bad staph infection in his leg where he needed emergency treatment.

Slinky’s line in Toy Story 2: ‘I may not be a smart dog, but I know what road kill is,’ is a reference to Forrest Gump. Tom starred in both movies.

Tom returned from an overseas shoot in 1999 with a bad staph infection in his leg where he needed emergency treatment.

Tom had to gain and then lose 50 lbs for his role in the movie Castaway.

‘Wilson’, the volleyball that kept Tom’s character company on a deserted island in Castaway, sold for $18,400 in an online auction of movie props in 2001.

Tom was listed in the #2 position in the annual Harris Poll of America’s top ten favorite movie stars in 2006.

In 2006 Tom entered into the Guiness Book Of World Records as the actor with the most consecutive $100 million dollar grossing movies.

Tom was listed in the #2 position in the annual Harris Poll of America’s top ten favorite movie stars in 2006.

In 2006 Tom entered into the Guiness Book Of World Records as the actor with the most consecutive $100 million dollar grossing movies.

Tom was ranked #31 on the Forbes list of top 100 celebrities in 2006. He was at #11 in 2007.

Tom is one of the people responsable for bringing the hit Abba Musical “Mama Mia” to the big screen.

Tom donated $50,000to help pay for Barak Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2009

Tom donated $50,000to help pay for Barak Obama’s inauguration on January 20, 2009.

Trivia – Various Subjects:

Tom is a diehard Cleveland Indians baseball team fan and has been for a long time. Tom is a member of the International Thespian Society.

Tom is a very big Star Trek fan.

Tom is among the celebrities that are putting their personal artistic spins on the La Coste Polo Shirts, in a bid to raise funds for the fight against Pediatric AIDS.

Tom joined the long list of celebrities lampooned by South Park. It happened in South Park episode 22 entitled Chef’s Salty Chocolate Balls.

Tom lists his favorite movies as: Fargo, Elephant, Boogie Nights, The Godfather, and A Space Odyssey.

Tom’s favorite actor is James Stewart.

Tom’s three favorite bands/artists are: Elvis Presley, Patrick Rondat and Alabama Thunderpussy. He says the music relaxes him.

Tom is 6′1″ (1.83m) tall.

Tom is a descendant of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. Tom is a fourth cousin, four generations removed. Common ancestors were William and Sarah Hanks, who were great-great-great grandparents of Abraham Lincoln.

Tom was the first actor to win back to back Oscars since 1938 .

Tom has been such a frequent guest host on Saturday Night Live that he has a recurring skit/character… “Mr. Short-Term Memory”.

Tom’s trademark in the business is playing conflicted regular guys.