Tom Hanks has been one of Hollywood's most beloved actors for decades, but his first movie role actually came in a surprising film. Most remembered for his dramatic turns in films like 1993's Philadelphia, the Jack-of-all-trades actor wasn't limited to serious roles alone, and he actually got his start doing comedy. After making his debut in the 1970s, it didn't take Hanks long to establish himself, and by the 1990s he was an actor with one Oscar nomination under his belt. Hanks eventually won the Best Actor Oscar two years in a row in 1994 and 1995, and his place among Hollywood royalty had been cemented.
Hanks's strength as an actor came from his ability to play a mix of the likable everyman while also perfectly embodying historical figures as well. Tom Hanks's films with Robert Zemeckis were a match made in cinematic heaven, and he continued his string of hits into the 2020s with biopics like Elvis. Like most actors, Hanks's beginnings were humble, and he put in years of work before transforming into the household name that he would become. Despite the small size of his early roles, Hanks's true star power shined through even when he was making his big screen debut.
Tom Hanks Played Elliot In He Knows You're Alone
Tom Hanks's big screen debut came in the 1980 slasher film He Knows You're Alone when he played the small role of Elliot. Though Elliot factored little into the story, Hanks did get a single scene to shine in which he berated the main character for her perceived delusions about being stalked. Hanks wasn't the only famous actor to start in horror movies, but his largely forgotten role was quickly overshadowed by an impressive body of work throughout the '80s. While He Knows You're Alone was a box office success, grossing $4.9 million (via Box Office Mojo), it paled in comparison to other '80s slashers.
Unlike other early horror roles which typecast actors for years, Hanks moved from beneath the shadow of his horror debut later in 1980 when he landed a recurring role on the sitcom Bosom Buddies. Ironically, it was Hanks's comedic performances that found him typecast throughout the '80s, and he appeared in a string of successful movies that would set his career toward the heights it would eventually reach. After appearing in He Knows You're Alone, Hanks wouldn't grace the big screen again until his career-defining role in 1984's Splash.
It Was Hanks' Only True Horror Film To Date
Many of Tom Hanks's best movies are comedies and dramas, and the talented performer even gravitated toward action and crime films as the 1990s wore on. Interestingly, He Knows You're Alone is Hanks's only true horror film role, and it's largely forgotten. Hanks's comedic career did see him star in the 1989 black comedy The 'Burbs, which features horror elements, but its comedy is the real attraction. Tom Hanks often talked candidly about not liking the movie, and the somewhat cheesy nature of He Knows You're Alone might have turned the seasoned veteran off of horror movies forever.