Tom Hanks has been one of Hollywood’s top actors for a long time.
After moving to New York City, he made his film debut in the slasher film He Knows You’re Alone in 1980. His career picked up after scoring a leading role in Splash, a rom-com fantasy about a mermaid, and by 1988, around the time he appeared in Big, he became known as a major player in the film industry. Hanks hasn’t slowed down in the slightest. He has continued to pick up huge roles, and at 63-years-old, he remains a favorite actor of many. Along the way, he has scored a handful of awards and consistently receives praise from many critics. While some longtime actors eventually fade out of sight, Hanks isn’t going anywhere soon.
In fact, the trailer for the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, a biographical drama about beloved TV personality Fred Rogers, just premiered. Hanks is front and center, taking on the role of Rogers himself.
In honor of Hanks and his lifetime of incredible acting credits, its time to look back on some of his most iconic roles to date.
Cast Away
Cast Away is the 2000 survival drama film in which Hanks plays a FedEx employee who has been stranded on a South Pacific island after his plane crashes. It is famous for containing Wilson, a painted volleyball that serves as Hank’s only friend during his marooned adventure.
Cast Away was praised by critics for featuring a desperate and believable performance by Hanks, who largely carried the film on his own. The film led him to win the award for Best Actor — Motion Picture Drama at the 58th Golden Globe Awards.
Forrest Gump
Life is like a box of chocolates. At least, that’s what Forrest Gump taught us.
This 1994 comedy-drama film covers the life of a slow-witted but sweet man who is endlessly in love with his childhood sweetheart. The scenes of the film are centered around many historical and culturally significant 20th century events, leading to the films lasting societal mark.
Hanks’ starring performance is sentimental and heartwarming, making his character one that forever lives on in film history.
Big
This 1998 fantasy comedy film tells the story of Josh, a young boy who wishes to be big. This wish causes Josh to grow into an adult who retains the mind of a twelve-year-old.
Hanks stars as the adult-version of Josh, maintaining a likable innocence and naive persona. The story is clever and funny, cementing it as one of Hanks’ most memorable stories. It has also appeared on acclaimed all-time best-movie lists on multiple occasions.
You’ve Got Mail
This 1998 romantic comedy starred Meg Ryan and of course, Tom Hanks. The lighthearted film tells of two competing New York City bookshop owners who accidentally develop an online relationship, despite being at odds with each other in real life.
The film received lightly positive reviews, many finding the chemistry between Ryan and Hanks to be heartwarming and lovable. The film remains a staple in the rom-com genre.
Sleepless in Seattle
Before Ryan and Hanks were online partners, they were long-distance letter-writing lovers. 1993’s Sleepless in Seattle has all the makings of a romantic classic, receiving a handful of Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Though it didn’t win any, its legacy lives on.
While Hanks character was compellingly cute, he retained the type of complexities that made him feel human. This made the movie all the more endearing.
Saving Private Ryan
Saving Private Ryan is the 1998 epic war drama that is based around the events of the Invasion of Normandy during World War II. It is lauded for its realistic portrayal of war and its cinematic completeness.
Hanks plays the lead and delivers a performance that is praised for being both powerful and raw.
While the film received many Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Effects Editing, it lost Best Picture to Shakespeare in Love — a choice many critics considered a snub.
Toy Story
It’s impossible to think of Toy Story without thinking of Tom Hanks, the voice actor of the animated franchises’ favorite cowboy.
Hanks’ voice talents adds an authentic warmth to Woody that has continued to impress.
Please tell us we weren’t the only ones crying at the end of Toy Story 4. Woody’s ending deserved a few tears, and Hanks was the one who brought us all the way there.
Apollo 13
Apollo 13 is the stunning 1995 docudrama that dramatizes the aborted 1970 moon-landing mission. Although the role of Commander Jim Lovell was offered to John Travolta, Hanks was the one who ultimately played the role of the hero. His combined vulnerability and strength make it hard for us to imagine anyone else taking on the part.
The powerful film was highly regarded and received multiple Academy Award nominations. It won Best Sound and Best Film Editing.
Bridge of Spies
Historical drama Bridge of Spies relays the story of lawyer James B. Donovan who negotiates the release of a U.S. pilot in exchange for a convicted Soviet spy during the Cold War. Hanks plays the famed lawyer, bringing a much-needed seriousness to the weighty role.
The film as a whole was praised for being sure of itself, packing in all the thrill one could beg for. Hanks was also lauded once again, for bringing believability to his character. His consistency is worth remembering.
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is the fictionalized retelling of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The 2012 film has Tom Hanks acting as manager, and despite the film being called light, critics loved it.
The sports film became regarded as a classic, with the United States Film Registry selecting to preserve it for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Though only 25 films are selected by the Library of the Congress to enter the registry every year, there is more than one Tom Hanks films in the collection. Forrest Gump also resides in it, but we're not surprised.