Thomas Jeffrey Hanks, born on July 9, 1956, in Concord, California, is an American actor and filmmaker whose cheerful, relatable persona has endeared him to audiences worldwide. 

Tom Hanks grew up with three siblings after his parents' divorce. His father raised him, along with his brother Jim, while his mother cared for his other siblings. He made his mark in the 1980s and 1990s, stealing scenes in films like He Knows You're Alone (1980) and establishing himself as a comedic force in movies such as Splash (1984) and Big (1988).

Tom Hanks seamlessly transitioned from comedy to drama. He won back-to-back Academy Awards for Best Actor, portraying a gay lawyer in Philadelphia (1993) and the iconic Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (1994). His partnership with director Steven Spielberg resulted in powerful films like Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Catch Me If You Can (2002).

Tom Hanks charmed audiences in romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You've Got Mail (1998). He tackled diverse roles in movies such as Apollo 13 (1995), The Green Mile (1999), and Cast Away (2000).

Tom Hanks ventured into directing with That Thing You Do! (1996) and continued with projects like Larry Crowne (2011). He comes from a close-knit family, including his brother Jim Hanks, who is also an actor.

His contributions to film earned him accolades like the AFI Life Achievement Award and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.