23 heartwarming stories of people meeting Tom Hanks that'll instantly brighten your day
From the time he stopped the shooting of his 2008 film Angels and Demons to escort a bride and her father to the altar to when he randomly helped out Girl Scouts sell cookies to passers-by, netizens love sharing stories about how nice Hanks is.
Roses are red, violets are blue, Tom Hanks is a nice guy, and we have proof. Possibly the only nice caucasian straight male left in Hollywood, the Forrest Gump star has time and again spread joy in his fans' lives both through his incredible performances on screen and heartwarming random interactions in real life. As the Oscar-winning actor was honored with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Cecil B. DeMille Award for Achievement in Film at the 2020 Golden Globe ceremony, those lucky few who had the good fortune of meeting the celeb in real life, took to Twitter to share their uplifting experiences.
From the time he stopped the shooting of his 2008 film Angels and Demons to escort a bride and her father to the altar to when he randomly helped out Girl Scouts sell cookies to passers-by, netizens love sharing stories about just how empathetic, kind, and down to earth a person Hanks is. Remember when a New York Times story about the actor published on World Kindness Day set off a whole avalanche of tales about Hanks' "good guyness"? Well, it happened again and we are feeling all kinds of warm and mushy after reading through some of these heartwarming tweets. Check out a few of our favorite ones below:
1.
My one Tom Hanks story. Was out West skiing. Ended up on road connecting 2 areas. Snowing like hell. Had flat tire. Get out, start doing usual. SUV pulls over, guy gets out. Damn near white out now. Both of us freezing. We get it done. At end introduce ourselves. Tom Hanks.
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) January 6, 2020
2.
2/ and Advance Lead told me he was in attendance & wanted to meet me. Walked over & introduced myself & he yelled "Lighter Guy!!!". Thanked me profusely and we chatted for a few minutes. Received a very nice hand-written note from him days later. A real mensch. #hanx @tomhanks
— Dennis W. Alpert (@DennisWAlpert) January 6, 2020
3.
Here's the pic from that encounter. pic.twitter.com/aVHhq4I81b
— Coastal Eddy (@Coastal__Eddy) January 6, 2020
4.
My one Tom Hanks story. I was on the set of “A League of Their Own”. Tom was talking with one of my friends and I was just sitting there trying not to be weird while waiting for her. Being the nicest human ever, Tom makes introductions and includes me in the conversation. 😍
— Amy✨ (@TheAmyMaxey) January 6, 2020
5.
I was shocked to receive this personal reply from Tom when I offered him my deceased father’s typewriter for Tom’s typewriter collection. My dad had “smuggled” it out of Germany when he immigrated to the US as a WWII refugee. I will treasure Tom’s letter forever. pic.twitter.com/UFj6mQsCcs
— Maria Z (@zwackmom) January 7, 2020
6.
He is absolutely a good human. A few years ago when our local book store was doing a fundraiser to try to keep the doors open, he passed by and ended up staying for quite some time signing autographs and trying to get people to come in.
— susie (@SusieMolloy) January 6, 2020
7.
A number of years ago I left my iPhone unattended in the same room as Tom Hanks. The next day, I found this photo in my camera roll. To be clear: I’ve never met him. But I do believe he is exactly who we hope he is, and I don’t want to know if I’m wrong. pic.twitter.com/TUrCarxt8N
— whitney pastorek (@whittlz) January 6, 2020
8.
Once, in 2008, when Tom Hanks was shooting “Angels & Demons” in Rome by the Pantheon, a bride and her father couldn’t approach the chapel because of the hullabaloo, so Hanks stopped filming to escort them to the altar. pic.twitter.com/XcG4vaclIr
— Steve Goldberg (@Steve_Goldberg) November 13, 2019
9.
Tom Hanks story: actress friend in Cleveland started out w him at Great Lakes Theater. He’s stayed in touch with that group for decades, emailed my friend other day about his Mr Rogers role. Makes effort to meet up when in CLE and when they visit him in LA. 💯 genuine good guy ❤️
— cbtotts (@steinmondo) January 7, 2020
10.
But Tom Hanks did. He made a beeline for me and my recorder, praised my “old school” approach, answered a couple of my (likely terrible) questions and then headed inside. He’s just a nice guy.
— megan lynn (@meganmarielynn) January 6, 2020
11.
Did a month of stand in work on a film he was making. The man sat next to me, asked me about my life... it was a war movie and my brother was serving at the time. He got out a pen and sent him something. Nicest man.
— Audrey Wauchope Lieberstein (@audreyalison) January 6, 2020
12.
One time I realized I dropped a glove and instinctively turned around to see if it was behind me and there was Tom Hanks, holding it out to me. ❤️
— Ellen O'Neill (@E_ONeill1024) January 6, 2020
13.
Was at Detroit Tigers game. Guy behind me semi whispers “how’d that guy get on 1st”. Without looking back I said he walked. Figured it was Tom at the half inning and told him my girlfriend in BR doesn’t believe I am sitting by him. Got Tom to call gf on the phone. Incred
— Matthew Shirley (@saysshirley) January 6, 2020
14.
Tom Hanks donated a fancy espresso machine to our office pic.twitter.com/6zfedv6HRY
— LA Review of Books (LARB) (@LAReviewofBooks) January 6, 2020
15.
My Tom Hanks story: April 5, 1990 at MSG playoff game between Islanders & Rangers. I'm sitting w/ friends near center ice and the guys behind us start giving everyone boxes of popcorn. I turn around and it was Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz! Just talking to us all about hockey! Cool!
— John Pretino (@JPretino) January 7, 2020
16.
2/2 travel coffee mug in hand. I bet I don’t have to tell you who it was. (Tom Hanks)
— Elna ✨❄️ (@elnaalbano) January 7, 2020
He took the time to profusely shake everyone’s hand and chat with all these firefighters even though I’m sure he’d hoped he wouldn’t run into anyone up there.
17.
Gotta add my Tom Hanks story. My now husband was Tom's personal security for his movie That Thing You Do. I tagged along as an extra once and while walking by myself to the set. Tom looked me in the eyes and asked how I was doing. My husband said he is who everyone thinks he is.
— Francee (@Franceesworld) January 6, 2020
18.
My @tomhanks story: was in audience at taping for Newhart, had to be prior to 1985. He was sitting a couple rows in front of us. Clearly there to support his friend who acted with him in Bosom Buddies, he laughed uproariously at all the jokes, esp. Peter Scolari’s.
— Laura Camp (@LauraCampCA) January 7, 2020
19.
My one Tom Hanks story. Worked at the Sherman Oaks Galleria mall in the early 80s. Busy day at the jewlery store where I worked. In strolls Tom Hanks. Bought a necklace for his then girlfriend, Rita (recalling pearls). One of the nicest customers I had the pleasure to serve.
— Don'tMakeMeStopThisCar (@ttapreed) January 6, 2020
20.
I love these! My most relevant @tomhanks story is when escorted @CLTballet for @kencen Honors the dancers were trying to be cool & not gawk at the afterparty. He came up to them & gushed about their talent & how impressed he was by them asking if he could have a pic w them.
— Benjamen Douglas (@benjamendouglas) January 6, 2020
21.
My TH story: When a former high school actor of mine is cast on Broadway in Hanks’ “Lucky Guy,” I get backstage after and meet Tom, who asks me more questions about me than I can ask about him! #solidcitizen #amazinghuman
— Lewiston Area Trout (@MarkReisetter) January 7, 2020
22.
I met @tomhanks when I was working in the mailroom as an Agent Trainee at CAA LA in 2010. I have never forgotten how kind he was to me. One of the most genuine people I have ever met.
— ashleyeicher (@ashleyeicher) January 6, 2020
23.
I met him when he was shooting Larry Crowne at my university. He walked into my guitar class in the recital hall with some location scouts. He noticed the two pianos and started taking about “dueling pianos”. Super cool guy!
— Scott Morris (@ScottMorrisGtr) January 6, 2020
Share on Facebook
