It looks like the debate on nepotism in Hollywood is here to stay as the fire just keeps getting rekindled with one statement after the other. Now, renowned actor Tom Hanks, too, has gotten his point of view out in the open. His children, Chet Hanks, Truman Hanks, Elizabeth Hanks, and Colin Hanks are all in the entertainment industry.
The term that people would now use to describe Tom Hanks’ children is “Nepo Babies.” The term is simply used to refer to those people who have gotten a privileged entry into the entertainment industry thanks to a famous someone being related to them. However, Tom Hanks himself doesn’t believe in nepotism as he calls this a family business, instead.
Tom Hanks’ Children are in a Family Business
We have often seen children following their parents’ footsteps and taking the hold of the reins of their family business. However, this might be the first time you would have ever heard someone state that getting into Hollywood was a “family business.” But, that is exactly what Tom Hanks believes.
Talking to The Sun, Hanks dismissed the entire nepotism debate stating that his family has been doing it forever. He further added that this wasn’t only a one-case scenario and that if he was in a plumbing business or a florist, the family would’ve been a part of that as well.
“Look, this is a family business. This is what we’ve been doing forever. It’s what all of our kids grew up in. If we were a plumbing supply business or if we ran the florist shop down the street, the whole family would be putting in time at some point, even if it was just inventory at the end of the year.”
Hanks further elaborated his point of view stating that it didn’t matter which family an artist comes from. What matters is the work they do in the industry which ultimately makes them who they are.
“The thing that doesn’t change no matter what happens, no matter what your last name is, is whether it works or not. That’s the issue anytime any of us go off and try to tell a fresh story or create something that has a beginning and a middle and an end. Doesn’t matter what our last names are. We have to do the work in order to make that a true and authentic experience for the audience.”
While some would agree that Hanks does make a solid point in his statement, one couldn’t possibly deny the fact that “nepo babies” surely have it easier than others. On one hand, a lot of celebrities believe that they only got a foot in the industry thanks to their last names and had to do the rest of the work themselves. On the other hand, people clap back at them saying that getting the foot in for some people was a challenge, too. Where do you stand on the debate?
Tom Hanks’ Children
The Forrest Gump actor has four children – Chet Hanks, Truman Hanks, Colin Hanks, and Elizabeth Hanks. While the former two are the children of Hanks and actress Rita Wilson, the latter two are from his previous marriage with the late Samantha Lewes. All four of his children have dipped their toes into the shark waters of the entertainment industry.
Chet Hanks has appeared in movies like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). However, he later switched his acting career and turned to hip-hop music to become a rapper. Truman Hanks worked behind the camera for a number of Hollywood productions and was even a production assistant for Charlie’s Angels (2019). Recently, he joined his father in the 2022 movie, A Man Called Otto where he played a young Otto.
Colin Hanks is also an actor who starred in projects like Orange County, NCIS, Jumanji: The Next Level, King Kong, and so on. Elizabeth Banks too was an actor and even appeared in Forrest Gump. However, she later moved on from acting and found her calling as an author instead.
Looks like Hanks was right about it being a family business, after all!
Source: The Sun
