Tom Hanks’ kids now – child ‘saved life’, following in dad’s footsteps and doppelganger

Tom Hanks may be Hollywood’s golden boy, having appeared in cult classics such as Toy Story, Cast Away and Forest Gump.

But fans may not know that his four children are no strangers to the spotlight either.

The actor’s large brood, consisting of Colin, Elizabeth Ann, Chet, and Truman, have all lived fascinating and unique lives that have had their fair share of ups and downs.

READ MORE: Peter Pan’s rarely-seen child star unrecognisable as he becomes a dad 20 years on

While some have followed in their father’s footsteps in front of the camera, others have found success behind the scenes.

However, it’s not been plain sailing for the celebrity offspring, with one his son’s having confessed to being the “black sheep” of the family, having battled cocaine and crack addiction, dealt drugs and had several stints in rehab.

Another admitted to avoiding the limelight altogether.

Join us as we dive into the juicy details of Tom Hanks’ four children and their wild and wacky paths in the entertainment world and beyond

Chet Hanks

Chester Hanks, aka Chet Hanx, was raised in the glitz of Los Angeles but this troubled actor has had his fair share of struggled.

The star famously battled cocaine and crack addiction, having been to rehab several times and even dealt drugs.

But it was the birth of his daughter Michaiah with partner Tiffany Miles in April 2016 that helped him turn his life around.

In his own words, she is the one who “saved my life.”

In 2014, Chet went to rehab to treat substance abuse that he had been struggling with since he was 16 years old.

Two years later, he shared that he got sober for his daughter Michaiah Hanks, whom he shares with his ex Tiffany Miles.

“I want to share something today because it’s about to be shared anyway in the press, which is the fact that I have a daughter,” he said in 2016.

“I do have a daughter, she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, she’s the reason why I turned my life around and got sober. I’ve been sober for over a year and a half from everything.”

Despite having minor roles in films like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Chet, 32, took a bold leap into hip hop music, where he made his mark.

His struggles with addiction nearly derailed his entertainment career, but he made a comeback with recurring roles in hit shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Shameless, and Empire – where he even recorded a track called How Ya Luv That.

Truman Hanks

The youngest son of Hollywood Royalty Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Truman, 27, has lived a life far from the spotlight.

Following in his father’s footsteps from behind the camera, Truman has been working in the entertainment industry as a production assistant on various projects, including the 2018 film The Cloverfield Paradox and the 2019 version of Charlie’s Angels.

He’s also worked for Bad Robot, J.J. Abrams’ production company.

Truman’s latest project was serving as Director of Photography for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story.

While Truman isn’t primarily an actor, he did collaborate with his dad on the 2022 film A Man Called Otto, playing the younger version of his father’s character.

As Tom Hanks himself noted, Truman bears a striking resemblance to his dad at the same age.

“I talked [to him] a little bit about some physical gestures and the way to walk when you’re pissed off,” Tom Hanks said at a screening in December 2022.

“The good news is that I looked like him when I was 26. The bad news is he’s gonna look like me in another 40 years. He is just gonna have to deal with that.”

Colin Hanks

Colin Hanks, the oldest son of Tom Hanks and his first wife Samantha Lewes, clearly inherited his father’s good looks and talent, and has successfully made a name for himself in the entertainment industry.

Colin’s acting debut was in the 1996 musical comedy That Thing You Do, which was written and directed by his dad.

He went on to star in major films like King Kong and Orange County, as well as TV shows like Fargo and Life in Pieces.

Despite his undeniable success, Colin has acknowledged the challenges of carving out his own identity as the son of a famous actor.

In an interview with Dax Shepard on Armchair Expert, he revealed that he once believed that his family name wouldn’t affect his career.

“When I was starting off, I was sort of lovingly naive, thinking that it wasn’t as big a deal as it is, that I would get the benefit of the doubt that I was my own person. And that doesn’t happen,” he said.

But Colin has proven that he is indeed his own person, not just in his career but in his personal life as well.

He married publicist Samantha Bryant in 2010, and the couple has two daughters, Olivia and Charlotte. Colin is also the founder of Hanks Kerchiefs, a line of stylish and sustainable handkerchiefs.

Elizabeth Ann

Tom Hanks’ Only Daughter, Elizabeth Ann is the second child of Tom Hanks and his first wife Samantha Lewes.

She attended the prestigious Archer School for Girls in L.A. and later studied literature at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

As a child, Elizabeth appeared in small roles in her father’s films, including the 1994 hit Forrest Gump.

The 40-year-old also starred in the 2015 short film Anchoraged and produced a 2019 fantasy short film called This World & The Next.

However, Elizabeth ultimately decided to pursue a career in writing rather than acting.

Under the pen name E.A. Hanks, she has contributed to several publications, including TIME, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, and The Huffington Post.

In 2021, she wrote an essay entitled Notes on Native Daughters to accompany the published screenplay of Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed film Lady Bird.

In addition to her journalism work, Elizabeth is also a published author.

Her debut novel, Piper Peregrine Vs. The Consortium For Better Thinking, is set to be released in 2024.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk