Tom Hanks

All-American actor Tom Hanks was born on July 9, 1956 in Concord, California . Growing up, Hanks had to constantly adjust to new environments, as his father’s job as a contracted cook required the family to move often. After settling in Oakland, California , Hanks took his adjustable nature to the stage, performing in high school plays.  He went on to attend university at Cal State , Sacramento , but left before graduating to pursue a full-time career in acting.  In 1978, Hanks headed east to the Big Apple to try his hand at acting. While in New York City , Hanks married actress/producer Samantha Lewes in 1978, although the couple later divorced in 1987. 

In 1979, Hanks made his film debut in the low-budget slasher flick, He Knows You're Alone. Soon after, he moved back to the west coast where he landed a co-starring role in the television sitcom Bosom Buddies alongside Peter Scolari. At the same time, Hanks continued acting in other popular series such as Taxi and Family Ties, guest-starring as Michael J Fox’s alcoholic uncle.

Hanks finally splashed onto the big-screen in 1984, when he starred opposite Daryl Hannah in Disney’s modern-day mermaid comedy, Splash!. Hollywood took notice of the wholesome young hopeful, and Hanks began getting offers to act in various comedies before starring as a child in an adult’s body in Big (1988).  Although Big was just that at the box-office, Hanks’ next film, the 1990 flick Bonfire of the Vanities (co-starring Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith) was more of a bomb than a blockbuster. Hanks’ career did not suffer, however; and for most of the 90s he would become  the go-to guy in Hollywood.