Collects manual typewriters
Tom Hanks has a personal collection of over 100 manual typewriters. He says that he loves “the focus-stealing racket” of typewriters, as well as “the sheer physical pleasure” that their use generates.
So intrigued is he by these antique machines that they provided the common theme for a series of short stories that the actor published in 2017 titled Uncommon Type. Whilst each of the stories examines a different subject, a typewriter can be found somewhere along the way. Hanks claimed that this helped him to “formulate each story”.
The stories are engaging due to their brief nature, but the writing style is bizarrely Americanised. While some jargon is to be expected, Uncommon Type has phrases such as ‘lazy-butt loners’ and ‘lollygagging’. Nonetheless, Uncommon Type is certainly engaging and worth the read.
Honorary member of the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame
In 2006, Tom Hanks’s name was entered as an honorary member into the US Army’s Ranger Hall of Fame, thanks to his outstanding performance in Steven Spielberg’s box office hit Saving Private Ryan, becoming the first actor to be awarded the honour.
Asteroid named after him
The asteroid 12818 Tomhanks is, perhaps unsurprisingly, named after the Oscar-winning actor. Hanks has a keen interest in space, and originally expressed interest in becoming an astronaut before having to settle for playing one on screen, taking the role of Jim Lovell in the 1995 film Apollo 13. In 2000, Hanks received the NASA Public Service Award for his dedication to raising public interest in space.
In 2013, a picture was posted on the ‘Reasons My Son Is Crying’ Facebook group which sparked intense Internet debate. The photo shows the Groundhog Day actor Bill Murray mimicking a crying baby, but some people online were convinced that it was in fact Tom Hanks who was posing for the camera. The mother of the child has since confirmed it to be Murray, but the resemblance is uncanny…
In the past, Tom Hanks took film roles that required extreme levels of weight loss and gain. For A League of Their Own, Hanks put on 30 pounds and then a few years later lost 50 pounds for the film Castaway. In fact, fellow Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey sought Hanks’ weight-loss advice in preparation for his role in The Dallas Buyers Club. Hanks has since been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and has decided not to take on any parts which require such drastic weight change.
Alongside directing, he has also written music for many films including That Thing You Do in 1996 and The Polar Express in 2004. In 2015, he starred in Carly Rae Jepson’s music video for her single I Really Like You. However, the album Emotion was a commercial flop. His involvement was due to his friendship with Jepson’s manager, Scooter Braun.
What happens when you combine a sunny September day, the greenery of Central Park, the beauty of New York City… and Tom Hanks in his jogging outfit!? Answer: The perfect wedding photos. In late 2016, Hanks crashed the post-nuptial snaps of couple Elizabeth and Ryan. Much to their surprise, he was simply walking by and stopped to take a few pictures with the happy, and confused, couple. Check out the video online if you’re in need of a smile!
Aston Villa supporter
Hanks is a long-time supporter of Birmingham-based football team Aston Villa, and has been seen sporting the club’s claret and blue colours on the red carpet. Although he himself has only ever seen one Villa game, a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers, Hanks says that he keeps up-to-date with the Championship side via his friend, also an avid Villa fan.
Relation to Abraham Lincoln
Tom Hanks is a distant relative of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. More precisely, he is the third cousin, four times removed, of the American leader, via Lincoln’s mother Nancy Hanks. The Forrest Gump actor revealed this fact before the release of Killing Lincoln for which Hanks provided the narration.
Oliver Sykes and Natasha Livingstone
Students of Durham University interning with t2
