The Great Tom Hanks Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rita Wilson

Rita Wilson is an American actress and singer who has appeared in many movies and released a number of albums. Hanks and Wilson first worked together on the TV comedy show "Bosom Buddies", before meeting again on the set of the movie "Volunteers" in 1985. They were married in 1988 and have two children together.

Answer: Philadelphia

Hanks won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Andy Beckett in the 1993 movie "Philadelphia". The movie is set in the US city of Philadelphia and follows the story of Andrew Beckett, played by Hanks, who has been sacked from his job for being gay and having AIDS and is seeking to sue his former boss.

This was the second time Hanks had been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, the first time being in 1989 for the movie "Big". The following year Hanks also won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in "Forrest Gump" making him the first actor to win two consecutive Best Actor Oscars since Spencer Tracy in 1938/39.

Answer: True

Hanks played Kip/Buffy Wilson, one of the main characters in the comedy TV series "Bosom Buddies" which ran for two series starting in November 1980. This was Hanks' first major role. Prior to this Hanks had a role as an old friend of Gopher's in the first episode of season 4 of "The Love Boat", which aired in October 1980.

Answer: Colin

Colin Hanks was born in 1977 and is the son of Tom Hanks and his first wife, Samantha Lewes. Colin Hanks has had roles in many movies and TV shows, including the role of Alex Whitman in the first two seasons of the sci-fi show "Roswell". His portrayal of Officer Gus Grimley in the 2014 TV show "Fargo" saw Colin Hanks nominated in the Best Supporting Actor categories of the Critics Choice TV Awards, the Golden Globe Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2014.

Answer: California State University, Sacramento

Hanks grew up in California and initially attended the community college Chabot College, in the city of Hayward, in California. After two years he transferred to California State University, Sacramento. At both institutions he studied theatre and acting. Hanks dropped out of college after an internship with the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio turned into a longer role that saw Hanks gain experience of many theatre roles.

Answer: Lucky Guy

Although Hanks had done stage acting early in his career he had not appeared in a Broadway production until 2013. He made his debut on Broadway in "Lucky Guy" by Nora Ephron which had its 2013 premiere a year after Ephron's death. Hanks plays the character of journalist Mike McAlray, who is based on the real journalist of the same name.

The play is set during the 1980s and 1990s in the world of the New York City tabloid newspaper industry and is based on McAlray's life and career, including his recovery from a major car accident.

Answer: False

Hanks is very interested in space and is a member of the National Space Society which advocates for space exploration. Although Hanks does not have a star named after him he does have an asteroid baring his name. Asteroid 12818 Tomhanks was discovered in 1996 and has a diameter of 5.4km.

Answer: That Thing You Do!

Hanks made his directing debut with the 1996 musical comedy-drama "That Thing You Do!", which Hanks wrote as well as directed and acted in. The movie is set in the 1960s and focuses on rock and roll culture, telling the story of a fictional pop band.

Answer: United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame

Hanks was made an honorary member of the United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame in June 2006, the first time an actor had been inducted there. The US Army Ranger Hall of Fame celebrates those service personal who have served with the US Rangers with most distinction. Hanks' induction was due to his role as Captain John H Miller in the 1998 movie "Saving Private Ryan" and in recognition of his support for the World War II Memorial Campaign and the D-Day Museum Capital Campaign.

Answer: The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece

"The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece" spans a period of eighty years and is about the people behind the making of a fictional film called "Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall". The novel focuses on the lives of members of the production crew, as well as those acting in the movie.

This was Hanks' first full length novel although he had previously published a collection of short stories called "Uncommon Type" which came out in 2017.