Thomas Jeffrey Hanks, born July 9, 1956, is widely regarded as "America’s Dad" and one of the most versatile and respected figures in Hollywood history.
Early Life & Education
Hanks was born in Concord, California.
Education: He attended Skyline High School in Oakland, where he discovered acting as an outlet for his energy.
He later studied theater at Chabot College and California State University, Sacramento.
- The Big Leap: In 1977, he dropped out of college to intern at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Ohio, where he learned every facet of theater production, from lighting to stage management.
Career Milestones
1. The 1980s: Comedic Breakthrough
Hanks moved to New York in 1979 and landed a role in the sitcom Bosom Buddies (1980–82).
- Major Milestone: In 1988, the movie Big proved he could carry a film as a leading man.
It earned him his first Academy Award nomination and established him as a major Hollywood star.
2. The 1990s: Dramatic Dominance
This decade saw Hanks transition from "the funny guy" to one of the greatest dramatic actors of all time.
- Philadelphia (1993):
He played a lawyer with AIDS fighting discrimination, winning his first Best Actor Oscar.
- Forrest Gump (1994):
He won his second consecutive Oscar for this role, making him one of only two actors to achieve back-to-back Best Actor wins (the other being Spencer Tracy).
- Toy Story (1995):
He voiced Sheriff Woody, becoming the voice of a generation in the first-ever feature-length CGI film.
3. Collaboration with Spielberg
Hanks formed a legendary partnership with director Steven Spielberg, resulting in:
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- The Terminal (2004)
- Bridge of Spies (2015)
- The Post (2017)
Key Awards & Honors
Hanks is one of the most decorated actors in history.
| Award | Key Wins/Honors |
| Academy Awards | 2 Wins (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump) |
| Golden Globes | 4 Wins + Cecil B. DeMille Award (2020) |
| Emmy Awards | 7 Wins (mostly as Producer for Band of Brothers, John Adams) |
| Presidential Honors | Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016) |
| Lifetime Achievement | AFI Life Achievement Award (2002) |
Hanks has been married to actress Rita Wilson since 1988.
Beyond acting, Hanks is a published author (Uncommon Type, 2017; The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, 2023) and an avid collector of vintage typewriters.
Fun Fact: Tom Hanks is a distant relative of President Abraham Lincoln and Mr. Rogers (whom he eventually portrayed in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood).
Based on critical reception and "Tomatometer" scores from sources like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, here are the top 10 highest-rated films in Tom Hanks' career.
While movies like Forrest Gump and The Green Mile are massive fan favorites, they often rank slightly lower with professional critics than his technical masterpieces and the Toy Story franchise.
Top 10 Highest-Rated Films (Critical Score)
| Rank | Title | Critic Score (Avg) | Why Critics Loved It |
| 1 | Toy Story 2 (1999) | 100% | A rare sequel that critics argued actually surpassed the original in heart and humor. |
| 2 | Toy Story (1995) | 100% | Groundbreaking as the first CGI feature; praised for its "human" voice acting. |
| 3 | Big (1988) | 98% | Cited as the performance that proved Hanks' "Everyman" charm was legendary. |
| 4 | Toy Story 3 (2010) | 98% | Praised for its emotional maturity and perfect conclusion to the original trilogy. |
| 5 | Catch Me If You Can (2002) | 96% | Critics loved the chemistry between a peak Hanks and a young Leonardo DiCaprio. |
| 6 | Toy Story 4 (2019) | 96% | Surprising critics by managing to find a meaningful new chapter for Woody. |
| 7 | A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) | 95% | Hailed as a "masterclass in restraint" for his portrayal of Fred Rogers. |
| 8 | Apollo 13 (1995) | 94% | Regarded as one of the most accurate and gripping historical dramas ever made. |
| 9 | Saving Private Ryan (1998) | 94% | Noted for its unflinching realism and Hanks' steady, grounded leadership. |
| 10 | Captain Phillips (2013) | 93% | Celebrated for its high-stakes tension and Hanks' "raw, visceral" final scene. |
Honorable Mentions
Several other films sit just outside the top 10 with exceptional critical scores:
- That Thing You Do! (1996): 93% (Hanks’ directorial debut)
- Splash (1984): 91%
- Bridge of Spies (2015): 91%
- Cast Away (2000): 88%
Note on Forrest Gump: Interestingly, while it won Best Picture and is a cultural icon, it sits at roughly 75% with critics. Many felt the plot was overly sentimental, though they almost universally praised Hanks' performance itself.
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