Even though he didn’t become a household name until he was in his thirties, Tom Hanks is now one of the most well-known actors in the world. He's renowned for great performances in a host of films, including Splash, Big, Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, You've Got Mail, and Saving Mr. Banks. He’s even done voiceover work as the role of Woody in all the Toy Story movies.
The characters he plays in the movies are beloved by many, and his iconic performances often leave people wondering whether the man underneath the mask is as kind and lovable. Not to worry, fans around the world have proved that Tom Hanks is indeed one of the nicest men in Hollywood.
Here are 20 heartwarming stories of people meeting Tom Hanks in real life.
20 Don’t Leave Your Phone Unattended
There's always one friend who takes weird pictures if you happen to leave your phone behind! Apparently that is Tom Hanks! A Twitter user posted the surprise picture to their account, saying they discovered it after leaving a phone unattended. Remember not to leave your phone unattended the next time you’re in the same room as Tom Hanks!
19 The Woody Tattoo
Don’t call yourself a real fan unless you go as far as to tattoo your favorite character on your body! Tom Hanks ran into a fan of Woody from Toy Story and took a selfie with him. Tom then posted it to his Instagram, with the caption, “Well, howdy partner! Where’s Buzz?”
18 Seen Any Movie Stars Today?
Los Angeles is the home of many famous celebrities, so much so that they even give tours for tourists interested in the most famous Hollywood residents! A Twitter user posted a story about his family members, who were out on one of those tours when someone pulled up in his car and said, “Seen any movie stars today?” It turned out to be Tom Hanks!
17 The Personal Typewriter Letter
After learning about Tom Hanks’ typewriter collection, a fan wrote him a letter offering Tom his own typewriter. The fan said that his dad smuggled it out of Germany when he immigrated to the US as a WWII refugee. Tom wrote this personal letter back and it has to be one of the most heartwarming letters from a star to a fan!
16 Drumming Up Business
One story is about the time Tom Hanks helped a local bookstore. The store wasn’t doing well and people decided to do a fundraiser in the hopes that it could keep the bookstore's doors open a little longer. Tom Hanks ended up stopping by and even signed autographs to help bring more people to the store!
15 Respect For Firefighters
Another Twitter user told a heartwarming story about the time their dad met Tom Hanks while he was on a firefighting detail. The firefighters were in the mountains one morning when a man in sweatpants was walking his dog. It was early in the morning, but that didn’t stop Tom from shaking every single man’s hand and chatting about their jobs!
14 Escorting The Bride
In 2008, Tom Hanks was filming Angels and Demons in Italy when he encountered a wedding. Tom was shooting quite close to the chapel this couple was going to get married at, and the bride was having trouble getting through everyone. That’s when Tom stopped filming and escorted the bride through the crowd so she could get married.
13 He’s Not Afraid To Get Dirty
One man got the surprise of a lifetime after getting a flat tire. Let's say the flat tire didn't exactly ruin his day like you would expect it to. It was snowing like crazy when the guy got a flat. Despite the freezing temperatures, a good Samaritan stopped by to give him a hand. When they finished, the man realized that this good Samaritan was none other than Tom Hanks.
12 Making Time For The Little Guy
One reporter was sent to work on the red carpet one year, but only had a voice recorder, while all the other reporters had video cameras. While most celebrities skipped by her, Tom Hanks made a point to stop and answer her questions. He even made a point to compliment her old school recorder.
11 Remembering The Lighter Guy
While working in The White House, one fan read that Tom Hanks collected certain lighters. Later, when he was on a trip to Moscow, he bought a U.S. Embassy Moscow lighter and sent it to Tom, along with a nice note. He later met Tom and when he introduced himself, Tom remembered who he was right away, calling him “Lighter Guy”!
10 Impressing Fan’s Girlfriend
After chatting with a guy for part of a Detroit Tigers game, one fan realizes that he has been talking to Tom Hanks the entire time. This fan texts his girlfriend to let her know that he was sitting by Tom Hanks...and his girlfriend doesn’t believe him. So Tom tells him to FaceTime his girlfriend to prove it!
9 He Loves To Goof Off
Tom Hanks filmed Larry Crowne at a local college and sometimes ran into students. One student remembered meeting Tom and talking with him about dueling pianos! Tom Hanks has obviously remained down to earth, but I'm sure there are many celebrities who let fame get to them and are no longer sweethearts.
8 Come Get Some Popcorn
While at a playoff game between the Islanders and the Rangers, one fan heard the men behind him start giving popcorn away to everyone. When the fan turned around, he was looking right at Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz! He ended up chatting to them about hockey for the rest of the game.
7 Did You Drop This?
Tom Hanks is always looking out for the little guy and isn’t afraid to go the extra mile. One woman recalled her Tom Hanks story on Twitter; it was about a dropped glove. After realizing it was missing, she turned around to see Tom Hanks holding her glove! There need to be more people in this world like Tom.
6 Not Even Tom Can Resist Girl Scout Cookies
If Tom Hanks can’t resist Girl Scout cookies, I’m not sure there’s hope for the rest of us. Not only did Tom buy cookies and take pictures with the Girl Scouts...he also got them some extra business! When other fans asked for a picture, Tom Hanks said only if they also buy cookies.
5 Returning Lost Items
Lauren didn’t know that she would be getting a signed note from Tom Hanks after losing her Student ID in the park. Tom Hanks took to Twitter with a picture of the lost ID to see if he could find its owner. Lauren was happy to get it back and said she would be paying it forward.
4 The Cab Driver Invitation
Did you know that Tom Hanks performed on Broadway? While performing in Lucky Guy, he had trouble finding a cab and finally found one, even though the driver’s shift had just ended. He ended up taking pictures with the driver and gave him tickets to the show, but it makes me wonder what else we don’t know about Tom Hanks!
3 Lunch Date With Fans
While getting a bite to eat at In N’ Out, Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, made a point of taking pictures with fans and even chatted with them. I’m sure Tom and Rita were just trying to have a nice lunch, but they didn’t seem to mind the extra company!
2 The Surprise Selfie
During a workout in the park, Tom Hanks came across a bride and groom taking pictures. Of course, he had to stop and take a selfie with them, which probably made their wedding day that much more special. He even told the bride how beautiful she was and let the groom know how lucky he was!
1 An Emotional Fan
Tom Hanks made a fan’s day (and maybe, even her year) when he chatted with her at a gas station. The young girl told Tom Hanks about her trip that week to Disneyland and talked all about high school. Her mom spoke to the local newspaper and said, “He is so kind. She will never forget the moment… total memory for her.”