Some people refer to Tom Hanks as one of the greatest living actors today. He has starred in a number of iconic films including Big, Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and most recently, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
Heโs a beloved man all around the world, and a pretty huge Hollywood star. Because of that, meeting him in personal is a big deal. Some fans have been lucky enough to meet him and then share their personal moments with the rest of the world via the Internet.
Check out 60+ of these hilarious and sweet responses to meeting the man, the myth, the legend: Tom Hanks.
1. โWhereโs Buzz?โ
Earlier last year, Hanks met a fan with a Woody tattoo on his torso and decided to post about it on his own Instagram page! โWell, howdy partner! Whereโs Buzz? Hanxโ he wrote in the caption, since he played the voice of Buzz in the movie. Pretty cool!
2. Flat tire
If you pull over on the side of the road in the middle of a blizzard and try to replace a flat tire, a stranger might just get out of their car to help you. And that stranger might end up being Tom Hanks.
3. Typewriter
โI was shocked to receive this personal reply from Tom when I offered him my deceased fatherโs typewriter for Tomโs typewriter collection,โ the fan wrote. โMy dad had โsmuggledโ it out of Germany when he immigrated to the US as a WWII refugee. I will treasure Tomโs letter forever.โ
4. The gift of selfies
โA number of years ago I left my iPhone unattended in the same room as Tom Hanks,โ this person wrote. โThe next day, I found this photo in my camera roll. To be clear: Iโve never met him. But I do believe he is exactly who we hope he is, and I donโt want to know if Iโm wrong.โ
5. โSee any movie stars today?โ
โRelatives visiting LA from back east. Took them on tour of celebrity homes,โ a fan tweeted. โWeโre pulled over on Mulholland so ppl could take a pic of the Hollywood sign when someone pulls up, rolls down window and says โSeen any movie stars today?โ Tom Hanks.โ
6. Typewriters for life
Give Tom the gift of typewriters and he will save it forever.
7. โLighter guy!โ
โ2/ and Advance Lead told me he was in attendance & wanted to meet me. Walked over & introduced myself & he yelled โLighter Guy!!!โ. Thanked me profusely and we chatted for a few minutes. Received a very nice hand-written note from him days later. A real mensch.โ
8. โHanks looks like heโs going to dieโฆโ
Thank gosh he didnโt!
9. Be coolโฆ
The dancers were trying to be cool around Tom, but little did they knowโฆ He would be the one to start fangirling. So down to earth.
10. A great lesson
โCharacter is how you can treat people who can do nothing for you.โ
11. A true typewriter collector
There are a couple lovely Tom Hanks stories that have to do with typewriters.
12. Dozens of stories laterโฆ
A true king to honor.
13. โNicest human everโ
If youโre feeling uncomfortable, Tom will probably find a way to make you a part of the conversation.
14. Fire fighters unite
โ2/2 travel coffee mug in hand. I bet I donโt have to tell you who it was. (Tom Hanks),โ the user wrote. โHe took the time to profusely shake everyoneโs hand and chat with all these firefighters even though Iโm sure heโd hoped he wouldnโt run into anyone up there.โ
15. โHumble, sweet, and kindโ
Only Tom Hanks would bring a bag full of toys to set for the crewโs children.
16. Apollo 13 set
Imagine meeting Tom in his astronaut costume and shaking his hand?! Surreal. He is so down to Earth (pun intended).
17. A story from the 80s
A man who supports his friend instead of competing with him has true character.
18. Giant floor piano
Sometimes it feels like Tom Hanks is one big kidโฆ In the best way, of course.
19. โNicest customerโ
Even when Tom is on the other side of the counter buying things as a customer, he is still the nicest person to work with. Rita Wilson is a lucky woman!
20. Most people wish they had a Tom Hanks story
Especially after hearing about all of these gem moments.
21. Islanders vs. Rangers
You could be hanging out at a hockey game when all of a sudden, Tom Hanks comes around to hand out popcorn. What are the chances!
22. Wedding crasher
This couple has a pretty great Hanks story: he crashed their wedding! Pretty sure they werenโt mad about it at all.
23. Nurse Hanks
Sometimes Tom Hanks might even end up being your nurse in Africa. Never doubt the man and his abilities.
24. Extra love
Even extras on his movie sets could tell what a great guy Tom was, whether or not they had the opportunity to meet him directly.
25. Guess who was dancing next to this personโฆ
Wendy Jo Sperber. The actress from Bosom Buddies (it was the hit of the moment). Her date? A young Tom Hanks.
26. โAmazing humanโ
When you are the fan meeting Tom, but Tom acts like the fan and ends up asking you a thousand questions. โSolid citizen,โ this Twitter user calls him.
27. โI want a Tom Hanks storyโ
Donโt we all?
28. Let Tom give you a ride!
โ2/2โฆarrange a ride for us,โ Winston tweeted. โJust then Tom and his wife get up, hug the restaraunt owner and the owner asks if Tom can give this nice newlywed couple a ride back to their hotel. He smiles, says โof courseโ and introduces himself โHi, Tom, big movie star.โ We had a great fun ride back. They could not have been nicer.โ
29. Tom might even call your girlfriend
Just to make sure that she knows that you are actually sitting next to him at a game.
30. If you want to get technical about it
Technically, we have all had a special moment with Tom Hanks at some point. That is, if youโve seen any of his movies. This guy has a point!
31. The one that got away
If you are dating someone who is related to Hanks, AKA the nicest person ever, you put a ring on it immediately if not sooner.
32. โNeed a lift?โ
Tom Hanks has been kind enough to give people a ride more than once.
33. Tea, anyone?
Tom saw that this young journalist was nervous, so instead of ignoring it or making them feel worse, he decided to relax them by getting a cup of tea first. So sweet.
34. A real story?
Probably not, but still cute. Plus, we could probably see something similar happening with Tom โ heโs just that magical of a person.
35. We all have our own Tom story
Even if you havenโt met him personally. It counts if he has sparked joy in your life in one way or another.
36. Who knew!
This one woman had no idea who Hanks was, and he didnโt tell her until they wrapped Forrest Gump. They would talk together every dayโฆ How sweet.
37. Back to safety
Hanks saw a little girl lost on set who wouldnโt โgo with a stranger,โ so he stayed with her until she was found.
38. For the children
Hanks is always helping children and cherishing family time, whether heโs out on vacation with the fam or getting food for his kids. He even went on a run with this one boy because his dad could no longer skii.
39. We all need a Tom Hanks story
So many people are contributing their personal storiesโฆ We want a slice of the joy pie!
40. He gives everyone recognition
Even when the film he was in didnโt give a town recognition, he made sure to personally do it himself.
41. Seated at a small, local fundraiser
โExcited to have a good joke, I say, โFYI, I think itโs all-you-can-eat.โ Everyone laughs. tom hanks then explains heโs on break from film where he plays shipwrecked guy and has to lose enormous amount of weight. He shares his tips and talks about how itโs going,โ the Twitter user shared.
Me: But how do you handle feeling hungry every day?
Him: (smiling/joking) โI try not to talk about it *all the time!*โ
Me: Letโs talk about local education funding policy.
Him: Great idea!
(entire table in hysterics).โ
42. Starving artist
Tom Hanks wants you to be a successful artist without all of that stereotypical starving stuff and we love it.
43. He will usually wave no matter what
Even if, at that moment, he is the busiest man on Earth, he will throw his ego to the side and make time to wave to fans.
44. Remember, if you ever need a rideโฆ
โฆTom Hanks will give you one. Especially if you are in heels!
45. Or you might just see Tom Hanks
And freak out and run away. Thatโs fair. Heโs a big movie star.
46. The New York Times even wrote about how nice Tom Hanks is
We feel like you have to be really, really nice in order for The NY Times to write a whole story about it.
47. On the set of That Thing You Do
Even if youโre just tagging along for the ride and have nothing to do with the project, Tom will make you feel seen.
48. Photos with a drunk guy
โThis is a pretty good Tom Hanks story. Guy was passed out, so Tom Hanks had someone take pics with his phone with him. The guy never knew till he looked at his phone later,โ a Twitter user wrote.
49. Wholesome
This woman is so right.
50. Guess who was standing next to them
โ(2/2) Thatโs right, Tom Hanks was next to us, looking at his Blackberry, wearing a name tag that said โTom Hanks.โ We quickly ran away. He was spotted around campus many times those years, always a delight,โ the Twitter user shared.
51. That time a filming was blocking a wedding
So he got out and personally fixed it himself.
52. Tom Hanks even helps out his character Woody
Hanks poses cutely with Woody at the premiere of Toy Story 4.
53. Peeing Toms
โA tom hanks story i love is one he told on conan about the โ98 oscars. he ended up in the bathroom standing next to tom selleck and cracked, โlooks like weโre a couple of Peeing Toms!โ andโฆ.โ
54. Another wonderful Tom Hanks story
He is even an enthusiasm enthusiast.
55. He has fixed peopleโs toilets
โGladly.โ
56. New carpets for everyone
Hanks once walked into a room for an interview, saw the carpet was a mess, and wrote a check for a new one right then and there.
57. In-N-Out dreams
Everyoneโs paying for each otherโs lunch, thanks to Tom.
58. The most beautiful phrase
Written by the one and only Tom.
59. โI need coffee!โ
If he suddenly runs away from you to get coffee, understand that he really just needed coffee and that he will make the effort to come back.
60. No โfuss or pressโ
Just a truly good citizen out of the kindness of his own heart.
Everyone should have at least one heartwarming encounter with Tom Hanks at some point in their lives.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.