Born in California, Tom Hanks grew up in what he calls a "fractured" family. His parents were pioneers in the development of marriage dissolution law in that state, and Tom moved around a lot, living with a succession of step-families. No problems, no abuse, no alcoholism, just a confused childhood. He had no acting experience in college and, in fact, credits the fact that he couldn't get cast in a college play with actually starting his career - he went downtown, auditioned for a community theater play, wa - www.imdb.com

Actor, director. Born July 9, 1956, in Concord, California. His parents divorced when Hanks was five years old; he was raised, along with his older brother and sister, by their father, Amos, a chef. The family moved frequently, finally settling in Oakland, California, where Hanks attended high school.After graduating in 1974, Hanks attended junior college in Hayward, California. He decided to pursue acting after reading and watching a performance of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, and transferred into t - www.biography.com

Tom Hanks won back-to-back acting Oscars for the films Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994), confirming his place as one of the busiest and best actors of the era. Hanks proved his comedic skills in the 1980s crossdressing sitcom Bosom Buddies, then starred with Daryl Hannah and John Candy in the mermaid comedy Splash (1984). His film career didn't really take hold until Big (1988), for which he earned an Oscar nomination. After several more light comedies, he appeared as an AIDS victim in Philadelph - www.answers.com