Tom Hanks’s Wife Rita Wilson Played His On-Screen Sister in ‘Sleepless In Seattle’
Tom Hanks is one of America’s most beloved stars. His friendly smile and easygoing demeanor make him incredibly likable. He also happens to be insanely talented, having starred in a myriad of blockbuster films throughout his career.
Hanks’s wife, Rita Wilson, is also a talented entertainer. She seems to be just as easygoing and friendly as her hubby, with a fabulous sense of humor to boot. The delightful pair is one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting couples, and it’s easy to see why. They even played brother and sister in a film once–that might be weird for a lot of people, but they handled it like champs.
Tom Hanks was once voted the ‘most trusted person in America’
Hanks is–hands down–one of Hollywood’s most respected actors. His impressive career is full of iconic roles, from the lovable Forrest Gump to everyone’s favorite cowboy, Woody. In 2013, Hanks snagged the top spot in a Reader’s Digest poll of the “100 Most Trusted People in America.”
Hanks was born in 1956 in Concord, California. He went to high school in Oakland, then pursued a theater degree at California State University. In 1980, he dropped out and moved to New York City. His talent was recognized immediately, and he was offered his breakout television role as Kip Wilson on Bosom Buddies.
Once producers saw him shine on Bosom Buddies, he became much sought after for guest roles on comedies including Happy Days, Family Ties, and Taxi. In 1984, Hanks made his way to the big screen in the Ron Howard film, Splash. In 1988, he starred in the iconic comedy, Big–this led to his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
That was just the first of several Academy Award nominations for Hanks, who went on to win two Best Actor awards for his performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. In addition to acting, Hanks has a gift for directing and screenwriting. His work behind the camera for That Thing You Do! and From the Earth to the Moon was powerful.
Hanks has numerous awards and honors, including AFI’s 30th Life Achievement Award. He was awarded The Space Foundation’s Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award for raising awareness of space programs. He is also an honorary member of the United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame.
Rita Wilson isn’t just an actor, she’s also a musician
Wilson is best known for her work as an actor, but she also has another talent–music. Nearly 40 years after she began her acting career, she dove into the music industry. She is now a respected singer/songwriter, with six albums under her belt.
Wilson was born in 1956 in LA, California–with a totally different name. Wilson’s original name was Margarita Ibrahimoff–we’re not sure why she changed it, but it was probably due to her acting career. She began acting during her teen years in sitcoms including The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, Who’s the Boss?, and Three’s Company.
In 1979, Wilson had her first big screen role in the film The Day It Came To Earth. The sci-fi flick was about a group of college kids who see an alien–said alien then turns into a flesh-eating zombie after it takes over a corpse that was dumped in a lake by the mob. It was a hit at the drive-in, and allowed Wilson to show that her acting range wasn’t limited to sitcoms.
Wilson, like her husband, is also talented behind the camera. She co-produced the 2002 smash, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, as well as the screen adaptation of Mamma Mia!.
In 2006, she was cast in the Broadway revival of Chicago. The experience reminded Wilson of her love for singing, and she was inspired to start recording music. She released her first album, AM/FM, in 2012. The album consisted of covers of some of Wilson’s favorite songs from the 70s and 80s. She went on to release four more albums, along with a special Christmas album.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson played siblings in ‘Sleepless in Seattle’
Sleepless in Seattle became one of Tom Hanks’ best-known films. The iconic film featuring the incredibly charming Meg Ryan is one of the most famous romantic comedies of all time.
When the film was made, Hanks and Wilson had already been married for five years. Wilson had a supporting role in the movie–ironically, she played Hanks’ character’s sister. Although playing siblings might have been tough for many married couples, the two took it all in stride and delivered their usual stellar performances.
