TOM HANKS BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, MOVIES & FACTS

Tom Hanks — one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood history and a two-time Oscar winner — returned as Sheriff Woody in Toy Story 5 (2026), reminding audiences why generations of fans call him "America's Dad." Over four decades, he has moved effortlessly from beloved comedies to heartbreaking dramas, building one of the most celebrated filmographies in cinema.

Image: Raph_PH, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Tom Hanks Age & Early Life

Full name: Thomas Jeffrey Hanks
Born: July 9, 1956, in Concord, California, USA
Age: 70 — he turned 70 on July 9, 2026

Hanks was born to Amos Mefford Hanks, a cook, and Janet Marylyn Frager. His parents divorced when he was about four years old, and he was raised largely by his father in Northern California. He studied theatre at Chabot College and California State University, Sacramento, before leaving college to join the Great Lakes Theater Festival, where he honed his craft on stage.

Career & Movies

The 1980s — sitcom debut to stardom: Hanks debuted on television in the sitcom Bosom Buddies (1980) and broke through on the big screen with Splash (1984). His unforgettable turn in Big (1988) earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

The 1990s — the peak: Hanks achieved the rare feat of back-to-back Best Actor Oscars for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). The decade also brought Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Apollo 13 (1995), Saving Private Ryan (1998), You've Got Mail (1998), and The Green Mile (1999) — plus the first Toy Story (1995), where he began voicing Sheriff Woody, a role he carried all the way to Toy Story 5 (2026). Read our full Toy Story 5 (2026) soundtrack, songs & movie facts for more on the film.

The 2000s–2010s — a modern legend: Cast Away (2000), Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Terminal (2004), The Da Vinci Code (2006), Charlie Wilson's War (2007), Captain Phillips (2013), Sully (2016), Greyhound (2020), News of the World (2020), and Elvis (2022) as Colonel Tom Parker.

2022–2026 — recent work: A Man Called Otto (2022), Asteroid City (2023), Here (2024) — a Forrest Gump reunion with Robin Wright and director Robert Zemeckis (Sony) — The Phoenician Scheme (2025, Wes Anderson), and Toy Story 5 (June 19, 2026), in which he returned as Woody. He also executive-produced the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air (2024). Hanks co-founded the production company Playtone with Gary Goetzman, and his films' worldwide gross is commonly reported at over $9 billion.

For more Hollywood profiles, check out our Brad Pitt biography and Tom Cruise biography.

Awards & Achievements

Tom Hanks has won 2 Academy Awards (Best Actor) from 6 nominations. His honors also include the AFI Life Achievement Award (2002), the Kennedy Center Honors (2014), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016, presented by Barack Obama), the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award (2020), and honorary Greek citizenship (2020).

Personal Life

Hanks has been married to actress Rita Wilson since 1988. He has four children: Colin and Elizabeth from his first marriage to Samantha Lewes (1978–1987), and Chet and Truman with Rita Wilson. He converted to the Greek Orthodox faith, is an avid typewriter collector, and revealed in 2013 that he has type 2 diabetes. He is also an author, having written Uncommon Type (2017) and The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece (2023).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tom Hanks' real name and age?
His real name is Thomas Jeffrey Hanks. Born on July 9, 1956, he turned 70 in July 2026.

What are his biggest movies?
Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, Apollo 13, The Green Mile, and the Toy Story films rank among his most celebrated work.

How many Oscars has he won?
He has won two Academy Awards — back-to-back Best Actor wins for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994) — from six career nominations.

What is his most recent work?
He returned as Sheriff Woody in Toy Story 5 (June 19, 2026), and also appeared in Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme (2025).