Let’s talk about something truly heartwarming! Tom Hanks, one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons, recently opened up about a cherished memory from his past. It’s the story of how his eldest son, Colin Hanks, reacted the very first time he saw his dad on television. Now, Tom has shared countless stories over the years, but this one? It’s something special.
Tom, who just turned 63, sat down with Renée Zellweger for Variety’s “Actors on Actors” series and reminisced about a moment back in 1980. That year, he landed a role on the legendary show "The Love Boat." When the episode aired, Tom described how it felt like a monumental moment in his life. “I was on the freaking ‘Love Boat,’” he said with a laugh, emphasizing the significance of that moment. “My fifth-grade teacher even called me up to congratulate me. I couldn’t afford a big party, so we just gathered around the TV with the kids and watched it together.”
A Moment That’ll Melt Your Heart
Tom went on to share a story that’s equal parts funny and endearing. “My son Colin, who was only about 3 or 4 at the time, started crying at the end of ‘The Love Boat,’” he recalled with a chuckle. “The ship sails off into the sunset, and the credits roll, and there he is, sobbing. I asked him why he was crying, and he said, ‘Because you’re going away on the Love Boat.’ He genuinely thought I was sailing away on that ship. It was such a sweet moment.”
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Now, if that doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, I don’t know what will. It’s a perfect example of how kids see the world through a completely different lens—one filled with innocence and imagination.
A Family Legacy Built on Love
Tom Hanks, the star of "Forrest Gump," shares two children from his first marriage to Samantha Lewes—Colin Hanks, now 41, and daughter Elizabeth, 37. Samantha passed away in 2002 after battling bone cancer, leaving behind a legacy of love and family. Tom later found love again with actress Rita Wilson, whom he married in 1988. Together, they’ve added two more sons to their family: Chet, 29, and Truman, 23.
This isn’t the first time Tom has opened up about what it’s like being a dad. In a recent interview with The New York Times, he talked about how his early years as a parent were a bit of a challenge. “Colin was born when I was really young, and so was my daughter,” he explained. “It wasn’t easy raising a newborn while trying to figure out life myself. I was just 21 when I became a dad for the first time.”
Tom also admitted that there’s a noticeable difference in the experiences his older and younger children have had growing up. “There’s this unspoken understanding between Colin and Elizabeth because they remember a time when their dad was just a regular guy trying to make ends meet,” he shared. “My other kids? They were born after I’d already established myself in Hollywood. Their lives have been shaped by a completely different reality.”
A Legacy of Love and Laughter
