Full Name: Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks; Profession: American actor and filmmaker whose versatile performances in both comedy and drama have made him one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide; Nationality: American; Born: 9 July 1956; Birthplace: Concord, California, United States; Generation: Baby Boomer, born at the heart of the post–World War II baby boom and frequently cited as a quintessential baby‑boomer screen icon; Chinese Zodiac: Fire Monkey, belonging to the Monkey year of 1956 and specifically identified in Chinese astrology sources as a Fire Monkey personality known for wit, creativity, and show‑business success. Zodiac Sign: Cancer, the water sign traditionally associated with empathy, emotional depth, and protectiveness, which governs all births on July 9; Age in 2026: 70 years old as of July 9, 2026, having been born in 1956 and continuing to work actively in film and television. Marital Status: Married to actress, singer, and producer Rita Wilson, whom he met in the early 1980s and married on April 30, 1988, forming one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting and most publicized partnerships; Children: Four children—Colin Lewes Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks from his first marriage to actress Samantha Lewes, and Chester “Chet” Marlon Hanks and Truman Theodore Hanks from his marriage to Rita Wilson—who together form a blended family that has also attracted media attention in its own right. Cause of Death: Still living as of 2026, with no reported cause of death and continuing to appear in and produce major film and television projects; Description: Tom Hanks rose from a modest California upbringing to become one of the most beloved and bankable stars in modern cinema, praised for his “everyman” persona and emotional accessibility that resonate with global audiences across generations. After early work in theater and television, he broke through in film with a run of critically and commercially successful comedies such as "Splash" and "Big," the latter earning him his first Academy Award nomination and establishing him as a leading man capable of combining humor with genuine pathos. In the 1990s, he transitioned into weightier dramatic roles, winning back‑to‑back Academy Awards for Best Actor for his performances as a lawyer living with AIDS in "Philadelphia" and as the title character in "Forrest Gump," achievements that cemented his reputation as a serious dramatic actor while maintaining his mainstream popularity. He has headlined or played pivotal roles in a wide range of landmark films, including war epic "Saving Private Ryan," survival drama "Cast Away," space race docudrama "Apollo 13," crime saga "Road to Perdition," maritime thriller "Captain Phillips," and multiple installments of the "Toy Story" franchise, in which he voices Sheriff Woody, further expanding his cultural presence among younger audiences. Beyond acting, Hanks has worked as a producer, director, and occasional writer, helping to shepherd projects that explore American history and culture, and he is frequently described in major reference works as an American cultural icon whose body of work reflects themes of resilience, moral choice, and ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.