Thomas Jeffrey Hanks, known professionally as Tom Hanks, is a highly acclaimed American actor, filmmaker, and writer. He was born in Concord, California in 1956 and developed an early interest in acting during his high school years in Oakland. Hanks went on to study theater at California State University, but his career took off before he could complete his degree.
In 1980, Hanks moved to New York City and began acting in various television shows, including "Bosom Buddies," "Family Ties," "Happy Days," "The Love Boat," and "Taxi." His exposure on these shows led to more significant roles, and Hanks soon became a household name. He gained widespread recognition for his role in the 1988 film "Big," which earned him his first Academy Award nomination.
Hanks has since received five more Academy Award nominations, including for his roles in "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump," for which he won back-to-back Best Actor awards in 1993 and 1994, respectively. He has also received numerous other honors, including the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the French Legion of Honor, and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.
In addition to his work in film, Hanks is also an accomplished writer. His writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker. He is also the author of a best-selling collection of stories, "Uncommon Type," and the forthcoming novel "The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece." Hanks continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry and a respected artist in his field.