Tom Hanks Family Guide: The Actor's 4 Kids and Their Mothers (2024)

Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood’s most notable stars, but he’s also a doting dad to Colin, Elizabeth, Chet and Truman Hanks.All of the actor’s kids have somewhat followed in his footsteps with various jobs in the entertainment industry. Tom gushed over his "very creative" children during a January 2023 interview with Reuters. He was also quick to shut down any and all nepo baby discussion, referring to Hollywood as “a family business.”“This is what we’ve been doing forever. It’s what all of our kids grew up in,” Tom explained at the time. “If we were a plumbing supply business or if we ran the florist shop down the street, the whole family would be putting in time at some point, even if it was just inventory at the end of the year.”Tom welcomed his eldest children, Colin and Elizabeth, with late ex-wife Samantha Lewes. After he married Rita Wilson, the actor welcomed Chet and Truman.Even though his kids’ last name is Hanks, the actor said all that matters is “whether it works or not” when it comes to their careers.“That’s the issue anytime any of us go off and try to tell a fresh story or create something that has a beginning and a middle and an end,” he continued. “Doesn’t matter what our last names are. We have to do the work in order to make that a true and authentic experience for the audience.”Keep scrolling for a complete guide to Tom’s family:

Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood’s most notable stars, but he’s also a doting dad to Colin, Elizabeth, Chet and Truman Hanks.All of the actor’s kids have somewhat followed in his footsteps with various jobs in the entertainment industry. Tom gushed over his "very creative" children during a January 2023 interview with Reuters. He was also quick to shut down any and all nepo baby discussion, referring to Hollywood as “a family business.”“This is what we’ve been doing forever. It’s what all of our kids grew up in,” Tom explained at the time. “If we were a plumbing supply business or if we ran the florist shop down the street, the whole family would be putting in time at some point, even if it was just inventory at the end of the year.”Tom welcomed his eldest children, Colin and Elizabeth, with late ex-wife Samantha Lewes. After he married Rita Wilson, the actor welcomed Chet and Truman.Even though his kids’ last name is Hanks, the actor said all that matters is “whether it works or not” when it comes to their careers.“That’s the issue anytime any of us go off and try to tell a fresh story or create something that has a beginning and a middle and an end,” he continued. “Doesn’t matter what our last names are. We have to do the work in order to make that a true and authentic experience for the audience.”Keep scrolling for a complete guide to Tom’s family:

Tom married his college sweetheart, Lewes, in 1978. While they were together, the duo welcomed son Colin in 1977 and daughter Elizabeth in 1982. Tom and Lewes divorced in 1987 after nine years of marriage.

“I was just too young and insecure for marriage,” Tom told The Daily Express in 2013. “I was 23 and my son Colin was already two when I married for the first time. I was not really ready to take on those responsibilities.”

Lewes and Tom stayed on good terms following their split, especially as they coparented their two children. Lewes died in March 2002 at age 49 following a battle with bone cancer.

Tom’s eldest son is perhaps the most famous of his kids. Colin was quick to follow in his dad’s footsteps, making his acting debut in 1996. He starred alongside his father in the 2009 movie The Great Buck Howard and has since made a name for himself in films and TV shows including The Offer, Jumanji: The Next Level, The House Bunny, Elvis & Nixon and more. Colin married wife Samantha Bryant in 2010.

They share two daughters, Olivia (born in 2011) and Charlotte (born in 2013).

Tom’s only daughter is a writer but also has a few acting and producing credits under her belt. She’s a Vassar College graduate and is set to release her first novel under the moniker E.A. Hanks.

After splitting with his first wife, Tom moved on with Wilson. The couple met on the set of Bosom Buddies in 1981. They didn’t go public with their romance until 1986. (Hanks and Lewes’ divorce was finalized the following year.)

Tom and Wilson tied the knot in 1988 and have since welcomed two kids, Chester “Chet” in 1990 and Truman in 1995.

“We got married, we committed to each other, we love each other and we work hard at our relationship,” Wilson told Us Weekly in 2019 when asked for the secret to their successful marriage. “Not only do we love each other, we really like each other, and we like being together, and we support each other and we keep the communication channels open. That’s always important.”

Chet has also become a permanent fixture in Hollywood. Not only has he nabbed a few acting roles over the years, but Chet has made music under various monikers, including Chet Haze and Something Out West. Chet and Tom worked together in the 2020 AppleTV+ film Greyhound.

Chet shares a daughter named Michaiah, born in 2016, with former partner Tiffany Miles. He’s also been candid about struggling with substance abuse since his teen years.

Tom’s youngest son, Truman, is also an actor. Most notably, he appeared as the younger version of his dad’s character in the 2022 movie A Man Named Otto.

“It's special because, you know, I changed his diapers," Tom told People of working with Truman on the film. "But you get past that right away because you gotta show up, and you gotta hit the marks, and you gotta do it on time, and you gotta be right there."

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