E-mail is far more convenient than the telephone, as far as I'm concerned. I would throw my phone away if I could get away with it.
From now on we live in a world where man has walked on the Moon. It's not a miracle; we just decided to go.
Growing up in northern California has had a big influence on my love and respect for the outdoors. When I lived in Oakland, we would think nothing of driving to Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz one day and then driving to the foothills of the Sierras the next day.
I do the work that I think is absolutely fascinating. There's not nearly as much distraction for me now as there used to be.
I love what I do for a living, it's the greatest job in the world, but you have to survive an awful lot of attention that you don't truly deserve and you have to live up to your professional responsibilities and I'm always trying to balance that with what is really important.
I must say that I do wrestle with the amount of money I make, but at the end of the day what am I gonna say? I took less money so Rupert Murdoch could have more?
I will entertain anything; it doesn't matter. You know, it's not obviously about the price, it's not about who, it's kind of about when and what. It's material, that's all.
I would not want to live in a country that would have me as a leader in any sort of political bent.
If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great.
If you have to have a job in this world, a high-priced movie star is a pretty good gig.
It's always a combination of physics and poetry that I find inspiring. It's hard to wrap your head around things like the Hubble scope.
Movie-making is telling a story with the best technology at your disposal.
My favorite traditional Christmas movie that I like to watch is All Quiet on the Western Front. It's just not December without that movie in my house.
My kid could get a bad X-ray and I could get a call from the doctor saying I have something growing in my bum and that would change my perspective on everything instantaneously, on what is and what is not important.
Prior to Saving Private Ryan I never worked with men. I was always working with some babe, and it was always about falling in love, and it just got turned around. I'm not looking for any particular kind of story. I wait until it comes across my desk.
That's what's nice about directing a film and having it done: There's nothing more I can do about it. It's done. That's it. All I can do is let it go and hope that people are kind to it.
The year I was born, 1956, was the peak year for babies being born, and there are more people essentially our age than anybody else. We could crush these new generations if we decided too.
There is something basic about protecting land by taking it off the market. People should be able to enjoy where they live while at the same time protect the plants and animals around them.
There's a difference between solitude and loneliness. I can understand the concept of being a monk for a while.
What we're doing with Band of Brothers is trying to put it into human terms, so it is not just a flickering, black and white myth on a screen, it is a resonant story. I want the audience to recognize themselves in these men. They're not just mythic heroes.
You know, I'm just waiting for the moment when I throw up in the back seat of the limo on my way to a premiere.
Tom’s acceptance speech for winning the 1994 Academy Award for Best Actor Oscar for his role in Philadelphia included thanking his high school drama teacher who was gay. It was this revelation that inspired the Kevin Kline movie In & Out.
Tom was listed in the #2 position in the annual Harris Poll of America's top ten favorite movie stars in 2006.
Tom's daughter has a role as an 'extra' in Forrest Gump, she is the little red-haired girl on the school bus that he rides.
Tom was originally considered for the role of Larry Flint in the movie The People vs Larry Flint, the role was given to Woody Harrelson.
'Wilson', the volleyball that kept Tom's character company on a deserted island in Castaway, sold for $18,400 in an online auction of movie props in 2001.
Tom lists his favorite movies as: Fargo, Elephant, Boogie Nights, The Godfather, and A Space Odyssey.
Tom entered into the Guiness Book Of World Records as the actor with the most consecutive $100 million dollar grossing movies.
Tom has been inducted as an honorary member of the US Army's Ranger Hall of Fame. The honour was given for his performance in Saving Private Ryan and for his commitment to honouring those who served in the war.
Tom is a member of the International Thespian Society.
Tom was offered the title role in the movie Jerry Maguire.
Tom lost 30 lbs for his role of a dying AIDS patient in the 1993 movie Philadelphia.
Tom was ranked #31 on the Forbes list of top 100 celebrities in 2006.
Tom has been such a frequent guest host on Saturday Night Live that he has a recurring skit/character... "Mr. Short-Term Memory".
Tom's three favorite bands/artists are: Elvis Presley, Patrick Rondat and Alabama Thunderpussy. He says the music relaxes him.
Tom returned from an overseas shoot in 1999 with a bad staph infection in his leg where he needed emergency treatment.
Tom has a brother named Jim Hanks.
Tom attended Skyline High School in Oakland, California. After that Tom went to Cabot College.
Tom received the Distinguished Public Service Award for his role in Saving Private Ryan.
Tom's first wife was Samantha Lewes whom he married on January 24, 1978, and divorced on March 19, 1987.
Tom made a big step in the entertainment business when he wrote, directed, and starred in the film That Thing You Do in 1996.
Tom is a descendant of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. Tom is a fourth cousin, four generations removed. Common ancestors were William and Sarah Hanks, who were great-great-great grandparents of Abraham Lincoln.
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