The “Forrest Gump” actor rose to fame in the 1980s after he landed his first few roles in Hollywood movies. His role as Josh Baskin in the 1988 movie “Big” gave him fame and success, skyrocketing his acting career to new heights.
At that point, Tom Hanks had established himself as an actor before he went on to give more super-hit films. While his fans praised his success, they did not know that their favorite actor had a rocky childhood.
Tom Hanks in West Hollywood, California, 1986 | Source: Getty Images
Being the youngest of his siblings, Tom saw his parents’ marriage come to an end at a very young age. He was five when they divorced, which marked the beginning of a new era in the actor’s life.
In an interview with Graham Bensinger, Tom revealed that he spent his childhood moving houses and had to look after himself. He said:
“We were tasked with making our own lunches and dinners.”
Despite having a difficult childhood, Tom was never abused but didn’t get the care he wanted. During the interview, he said he “pretended to be somebody he’s not” when he was a kid. The actor confessed it felt lonely to live without adults supervising him.
Why Did Tom Hanks Call Himself the Worst Dad after a Hard Divorce?
After living a difficult life as a child, Tom tied the knot at an early age in hopes of getting rid of his loneliness. He wanted to have a partner, so he married his first wife, Samantha Lewes, at 21.
During their short-lived marriage, the couple welcomed two children, Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks. Tom shared what he felt after becoming a father for the first time:
“Having a kid at 21 was the greatest thing that ever happened to me because I didn’t smoke pot.”
However, things did not work out between Tom and Lewes, which made them part ways. The “Cast Away” actor confessed divorcing his wife brought back memories from his childhood. He didn’t want his children to feel the same way he did when his parents parted ways...CONTINUE READING