Tom Hanks is arguably one of America’s most talented and beloved actors, and he seems to have a penchant for playing real-life figures, especially in more recent years. There are a lot of iconic roles in Hanks’ dozens of film credits, and many of his most memorable performances are based on real people from different historical eras. From leaders like Captain Richard Phillips in Captain Phillips to film visionary Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks, Hanks definitely has a knack for playing trustworthy, impactful people. Throughout his career, he’s appeared in several biopics, plus many more films that are inspired by true stories but don’t recreate real events or characters.
Though the actor may be a fan-favorite for his incredibly kind characters like Mr. Rogers and Forrest Gump, many don’t know that Hanks’ very first feature film was a slasher horror called He Knows You’re Alone. Several appearances on TV series, including The Love Boat and Happy Days, and a steady stream of smaller Hollywood films lead to his big break and first Oscar nomination with 1988’s heart-warming Big. It wasn’t until Hanks’ first Oscar win for portraying Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia that he transitioned to drama films and became known as a serious actor. Shortly afterwards, he played his first real-life figure in Apollo 13—astronaut Jim Lovell.
Hanks’ brilliant performances and six Oscar nominations have made him one of the most prolific and talented actors of his generation. He’s known as “America’s Sweetheart” because he most often plays soft-hearted, benevolent characters. Hanks even says about himself that he doesn’t “instill fear in anybody,” and that’s likely why he’s never cast as a bad guy, though his characters are still always complex. Here is a full list of the real-life people Hanks has played throughout his career.
Jim Lovell in Apollo 13 (1995)
In Apollo 13, Hanks plays Jim Lovell, one of the three astronauts who was aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft when it experienced serious internal damage that put all their lives at risk. The film is based on the book Lovell wrote along with journalist Jeffrey Kluger, titled Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 about his experience surviving the dangerous mission. Lovell is a retired astronaut who is one of only 24 people to have flown to the moon, the first to fly to it twice, and the first to fly into space four times. Because Apollo 13 is based on Lovell’s own narrative of his experience, it’s considered to be a very accurate film adaptation of a real historical event.
Abraham Lincoln and Others in Freedom: A History of the U.S. (2003)
A much less well-known Hanks project is the documentary series Freedom: A History of the U.S. based on the books by Joy Hakim and presented by Katie Couric. Tracing the history of the U.S. across 16 episodes, it features many Oscar-winners playing historical figures in re-enactment portions. Hanks is in seven of the episodes and plays President Abraham Lincoln as well as Charles E. Wood, Paul Revere, Daniel Boone, and Jacob Coxey.
Charlie Wilson in Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Hanks’ next biopic was Charlie Wilson’s War, the story of U.S. Congressperson Charlie Wilson who, along with CIA operative Gust Avrakotos, helped the Afghan mujahideen fight against the Soviet Union in the Afghan-Soviet war of the 1980s. Their actions, which led to Operation Cyclone, had far-reaching and unforeseen consequences. With a script by Aaron Sorkin based on the book Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, this character showed Hanks’ range in transforming into an astute political and humanitarian leader.
Captain Richard Phillips in Captain Phillips (2013)
Hanks must love playing captains, because he’s starred in roles as a captain four times, not to mention his other military, astronaut, and pilot roles. As Captain Richard Phillips, Hanks played a merchant mariner whose vessel was taken over and held hostage by Somali pirates. The film’s script is based on Captain Phillips’ own book about his experiences, co-written with Stephan Talty. In the film, Captain Phillips is responsible for protecting his ship and his crew in a high-stakes story about survival.
Walt Disney in Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Saving Mr. Banks tells the true story of the development of the Disney film Mary Poppins, with Hanks playing Walt Disney himself opposite Emma Thompson as author P.L. Travers. Their initially difficult relationship soon becomes one of mutual respect as they learn about each other’s childhoods and the reason why they both love bringing children’s stories to life.
James B. Donovan in Bridge of Spies (2015)
Hanks plays real-life lawyer James B. Donovan, who has to defend an arrested Soviet spy in order to negotiate for the release of a U.S. pilot captured by the KGB. Another military genre biography, in this film Hanks’ character is involved in an intense mission to recover real CIA pilot Frank G. Powers during the Cold War. Directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies assembled an impressive amount of talent.
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in Sully (2016)
Once again, Hanks plays a real-life captain and hero in Sully, about Captain Sully’s daring landing of a plane on the Hudson River, saving all lives on board. Directed by Clint Eastwood, this movie based on the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” and tribute to the still-living Captain Sullenberger sees Hanks in the familiar role of American hero.
Ben Bradlee in The Post (2017)
In The Post, directed by Spielberg, who also has a penchant for real-life stories, Hanks plays veteran editor of The Washington Post Ben Bradlee as he fights alongside Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep) to publish the Pentagon Papers. The real Bradlee was a journalist and executive editor of The Washington Post from 1965 to 1991, seeing the newspaper through both the Pentagon Papers and Watergate scandal. Bradlee was also portrayed by Jason Robards in All The President’s Men, for which Robards won an Academy Award. Unfortunately, Hanks wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for his turn as Bradlee.
Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)
Perhaps his most heart-warming film to date, Hanks plays beloved children’s TV star Fred Rogers in this true story based on Rogers’ friendship with journalist Tom Junod. In this film, Hanks is wise, cheery, wistful, and serious all at once as he inhabits the life and legacy of a meaningful figure to countless individuals. The two men are similar in many ways, but Hanks still learned a lot from portraying Mr. Rogers.
Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis (2022)
Having already played so many real life characters, Hanks isn’t stopping anytime soon. In his next film, Hanks plays legendary music entrepreneur Colonel Tom Parker, who is best known as Elvis Presley’s manager. Colonel Parker immigrated to the U.S. from the Netherlands when he was 20 years old, found his way into the music and entertainment business, and discovered Elvis Presley in 1955. The film, directed by Baz Luhrmann, will chart Presley’s (Austin Butler) career and relationship with his manager. Filming in Australia was interrupted when Tom Hanks and actor Rita Wilson, also his wife, caught COVID, but the film is scheduled for a summer 2022 release.
