Tom Hanks Biography

TOM HANKS is an award-winning actor, producer and director. One of only two actors in history to win back-to-back Best Actor Academy Awards®, he won his first Oscar® in 1994 for his moving portrayal of AIDS-stricken lawyer Andrew Beckett in Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia." The following year, he took home his second Oscar® for his unforgettable performance in the title role of Robert Zemeckis' "Forrest Gump." He also won Golden Globe Awards for both films, as well as a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® for the latter.

Hanks has also been honored with Academy Award® nominations for his performances in Penny Marshall's "Big," Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan," and Robert Zemeckis' "Cast Away," also winning Golden Globes for "Big" and "Cast Away." In 2002, Hanks received the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is currently at work starring in the epic "Cloud Atlas," being directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer. His other feature film credits include the animated adventure "The Polar Express," which he also executive produced and which reunited him with director Robert Zemeckis; the Coen brothers' "The Ladykillers"; Steven Spielberg's "The Terminal" and "Catch Me If You Can"; Sam Mendes' "Road to Perdition"; Frank Darabont's "The Green Mile"; Nora Ephron's "You've Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle"; Penny Marshall's "A League of Their Own"; Ron Howard's "Apollo 13," "The Da Vinci Code," "Angels & Demons" and "Splash"; and the computer-animated blockbusters "Cars," "Toy Story," "Toy Story 2" and "Toy Story 3."

Hanks' work on the big screen has translated to success on the small screen. Following "Apollo 13," he executive produced and hosted the acclaimed HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon," also directing one segment, and writing several others. His work on the miniseries brought him Emmy, Golden Globe and Producers Guild Awards, as well as an Emmy nomination for Best Director.