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Colin Hanks
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Colin Lewes Hanks (born November 24, 1977)[1][2] is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his role as Gus Grimly on the FX crime series Fargo (2014–2015), which earned him nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Critics' Choice Television Award.
Key Information
Hanks gained mainstream attention after a main role on the WB science fiction series Roswell (1999–2001) and his lead role in the film Orange County (2002), which was followed by a starring role in the blockbuster King Kong (2005). Hanks has also had starring roles in the films The Great Buck Howard (2008), Untraceable (2008), The House Bunny (2008), Parkland (2013), Elvis & Nixon (2016), and Nobody 2 (2025). He had a supporting role as Alex Vreeke in the Jumanji film series (2017–2019).
Hanks had a main role as Jack Bailey on the Fox series The Good Guys (2010) and had a role as Travis Marshall, the main antagonist on the 6th season of Showtime series Dexter (2011), the latter of which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Hanks' other main television roles include Greg Short on the CBS sitcom Life in Pieces (2015–2019), Barry Lapidus on the Paramount+ miniseries The Offer (2022), and Bob Broberg in Peacock's A Friend of the Family (2022). He voiced the titular character on the web series Talking Tom & Friends (2014–2021).
Hanks directed the documentary films All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records (2015), Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends) (2017) and John Candy: I Like Me (2025).
Early life
[edit]Hanks was born in Sacramento, California[3] to actor Tom Hanks and producer and actress Samantha Lewes (born Susan Jane Dillingham; 1952–2002).[4] He has a sister, Elizabeth, and through his father's marriage to his stepmother, actress Rita Wilson, he has two younger half-brothers, Chester "Chet" and Truman.
Hanks attended Sacramento Country Day School, and then Chapman University, before transferring to Loyola Marymount University. He left without earning a degree.[5]
Career
[edit]
In 1999, Hanks was cast as Alex Whitmann in the science-fiction series Roswell, where he appeared for the first two seasons (making a brief appearance in the third). During that time, he acted in the teen comedies Whatever It Takes with Shane West and Get Over It with Ben Foster. Hanks also made an appearance in an episode of The OC. He appeared in part eight of HBO mini-series Band of Brothers as Lt. Hank Jones. In 2002, he starred in his first film as Shaun Brumder in Orange County, alongside Jack Black and Schuyler Fisk. The comedy features Hanks' character trying to get into Stanford University after his guidance counselor mistakenly sends out the wrong transcript.
In 2005, he appeared in the remake of King Kong, playing the assistant to Jack Black's character. In 2006, Hanks had a cameo role in Black's Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, playing a drunken fraternity brother. He starred in the romantic comedy The House Bunny in 2008, playing Oliver, a charming manager of a nursing home and the love interest of Anna Faris' character. In 2008, Hanks began work as director on All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records, a documentary about Tower Records which ultimately premiered on March 17, 2015, at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.[6] The film received funding of nearly $100,000 through a Kickstarter campaign.[7]
In 2009, Hanks appeared in The Great Buck Howard, which was produced by his father and also starred John Malkovich. He also played Father Gill, a young Roman Catholic priest, in season 2 of the TV show Mad Men.[8] In 2009, he made his Broadway debut, acting alongside Jane Fonda in the Moisés Kaufman play 33 Variations.[9] Hanks starred in the 2010 Fox TV series The Good Guys as young detective Jack Bailey, alongside Bradley Whitford who played an old-school detective (Dan Stark). In 2011, he starred in the indie film Lucky, alongside Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret, and Jeffrey Tambor.[10] He also joined the cast of Dexter for season six opposite Edward James Olmos, where he portrays an art historian Travis Marshall[11] who is involved in a murderous apocalyptic cult.[12]
In 2014, he starred as Allison in the second season of the web series Burning Love. The same year, he also portrayed Dr. Malcolm Perry in the historical film Parkland and began a voice role in the show Talking Tom & Friends. He voices Talking Tom, the main character.[13][14] In 2015, he played Officer Gus Grimly in the FX television series Fargo, for which he received Critics' Choice Television Award and Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
In 2018, Hanks appeared as the adult Alex Vreeke in the film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, a role he would later reprise in the film's 2019 sequel, Jumanji: The Next Level. In 2019, Hanks portrayed a young Fred Rogers on the Comedy Central show Drunk History. The same year, Hanks appeared as a guest judge on Netflix's baking competition Sugar Rush in the episode "Sweet Geeks".
Personal life
[edit]Hanks dated Busy Philipps in the 1990s while in college. In June 2009, Hanks became engaged to former New York publicist Samantha Bryant.[15] The couple married on May 8, 2010, in Los Angeles.[15] Together, they have two daughters, one born in 2011,[16] and the other born in 2013.[17]
Hanks is a San Francisco Giants baseball fan and attended their World Series-clinching victory in Texas in November 2010. He also directed a 30 for 30 short, The Anti-Mascot, about their disastrous Crazy Crab stint in the 1980s.[18] He is also a fan of Liverpool FC, the San Francisco 49ers, Sacramento Kings,[19] and Los Angeles Kings.[20] He was the official Kevin and Bean Los Angeles Kings playoff correspondent for the 2011–12 and 2012–14 seasons.[21]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! | Male Page | |
| 2000 | Whatever It Takes | Paul Newby | |
| 2001 | Get Over It | Felix Woods | |
| 2002 | Orange County | Shaun Brumder | |
| 2003 | 11:14 | Mark | |
| 2005 | Rx | Jonny | Also co-producer; a.k.a. Simple Lies |
| Standing Still | Quentin | ||
| King Kong | Preston | ||
| 2006 | Alone with Her | Doug | |
| Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny | Drunken fraternity brother | ||
| 2007 | Careless | Wiley Roth | |
| 2008 | The Great Buck Howard | Troy Gable | |
| Untraceable | Griffin Dowd | ||
| My Mom's New Boyfriend | Henry Durand | a.k.a. My Spy | |
| The House Bunny | Oliver | ||
| W. | David Frum | ||
| 2010 | High School | Brandon Ellis | |
| Barry Munday | Heavy Metal Greg | ||
| 2011 | Lucky | Ben Keller | |
| 2012 | The Guilt Trip | Rob | |
| 2013 | Super Buddies | Megasis/Captain Canine (voice) | Video |
| Parkland | Dr. Malcolm Perry | ||
| 2015 | No Stranger Than Love | Clint Coburn | |
| All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records | — | Director; documentary | |
| Vacation | Jake | ||
| 2016 | Elvis & Nixon | Egil Krogh | |
| 2017 | Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends) | — | Director; documentary |
| Band Aid | Uber Douche | ||
| Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle | Adult Alex Vreeke | Uncredited cameo | |
| 2019 | Jumanji: The Next Level | Alex Vreeke | |
| 2021 | How It Ends | Charlie | |
| 2024 | Orion and the Dark | Adult Orion Mendelson (voice) | |
| And Mrs | Nathan | ||
| 2025 | Nobody 2 | Abel | |
| John Candy: I Like Me | — | Director; documentary | |
| Nuremberg | Gustave Gilbert |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2001 | Roswell | Alexander Charles "Alex" Whitman | Main role (seasons 1–2); 45 episodes |
| 2001 | Band of Brothers | Lieutenant Henry Jones | Episode: "The Last Patrol" |
| 2004 | The O.C. | Grady | Episode: "The L.A." |
| 2005, 2008 | Numb3rs | Marshall Penfield | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Mad Men | Father John Gill | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | The Good Guys | Jack Bailey | 20 episodes |
| 2011 | Dexter | Travis Marshall | 12 episodes |
| Robot Chicken | Sam Witwicky / Vanity Smurf | Voice, episode: "Terms of Endaredevil" | |
| 2012 | Happy Endings | Himself | Episode: "Cocktails & Dreams" |
| 2012, 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Himself / Movie Cop | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Burning Love | Allison | 8 episodes |
| NCIS | Richard Parsons | 3 episodes | |
| Key & Peele | Director | Episode: "The Power of Wings" | |
| Ghost Ghirls | Tom Wellington / Bloody Bat | Episode: "Field of Screams" | |
| 2014 | Bad Teacher | Coach Donnie | 3 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Fargo | Officer Gus Grimly | Main cast (season 1); guest (season 2) |
| 2014–2021 | Talking Tom & Friends | Talking Tom, Gardener, Wesley | Voice, main role |
| 2015 | 30 for 30 Shorts | Director | Short film: The Anti-Mascot |
| Mom | Andy Dreeson | Episode: "Godzilla and a Sprig of Mint" | |
| What Lives Inside | Taylor Delaney | 4 episodes | |
| 2015–2019 | Drunk History | Various | 6 episodes |
| Life in Pieces | Greg Short | Main cast | |
| 2017 | 30 for 30 Shorts | Director | Short film; The Amazing Adventures of Wally and The Worm |
| 2018 | Sugar Rush | Himself / Guest Judge | Episode: "Sweet Geeks"[22] |
| 2019 | The Final Table | Himself / Guest Judge | Episode: "USA" |
| 2019–2021 | Big City Greens | Mark | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2020 | American Dad! | Alien Captain / Successful Classmate | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Impeachment: American Crime Story | Mike Emmick | 7 episodes |
| 2022 | The Offer | Barry Lapidus | Miniseries |
| A Friend of the Family | Bob Broberg |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | King Kong | Preston |
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | MTV Movie Awards | Best Male Breakthrough Performance | Orange County | Nominated |
| 2005 | Spike Video Game Awards | Best Cast | Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie | Won |
| 2005 | San Diego Film Festival[23] | Soaring Star Award | Body of Work | Won |
| 2011 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Dexter | Nominated |
| 2014 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | Fargo | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy | Life in Pieces | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ Mike Rose, cleveland com (November 24, 2023). "Famous birthdays list for November 24, 2023 includes celebrities Stephan Merchant, Katherine Heigl". cleveland. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Edwards, Gavin (2018). The World According to Tom Hanks. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9781538712214.
- ^ Sweeney, Adam (September 14, 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Colin Sam Hanks". Playmaker. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "I was born and raised in Sacramento, California, which most people don't know is where Tower started and was based until the end." — ¶ 4.
- ^ "Samantha Lewes Biography – Everything about the first wife of Tom Hanks". It is Weird. January 21, 2017. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (August 13, 2014). "Colin Hanks Talks 'Fargo' and Career: Emmy Q&A". Deadline. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- ^ Alison Martino (March 9, 2015). "The Legendary Past and Celluloid Future of Tower Records on the Sunset Strip". Los Angeles Magazine.
- ^ Vaziri, Aidin (November 3, 2015). "Colin Hanks on record for his 'Rise and Fall of Tower Records'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ Vilkomerson, Sara (2009-03-03). Sic 'n' Span Son of Tom Hanks Shines Up the Great White Way: Archived March 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. The New York Observer, LLC. Retrieved on 2009-03-08
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (April 2, 2009). "Celebroadway!". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ Gina DiNunno (September 4, 2013). "Colin Hanks and Jeffrey Tambor Get Lucky". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
- ^ "Colin Hanks' 'Dexter' Role Revealed". The Huffington Post. May 10, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ Ern, Matt (October 19, 2011). "T.V. That Matters: 10/20 "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Mr. Bob's Toddle Kaleidoscope"". Hofstra University. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- ^ Talking Tom and Friends (January 19, 2017). "Talking Tom and Friends – Meet the Cast". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ Talking Tom and Friends (April 20, 2017). "The Voices of Talking Tom and Friends – Behind the Scenes". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ a b "Colin Hanks Is Officially O ff the Market". People.com. May 9, 2010. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ Julie Jordan (February 3, 2011). "It's a Girl for Colin Hanks". People. People. Archived from the original on February 6, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
- ^ Michaud, Sarah (July 2, 2013). "Colin Hanks Welcomes Daughter Charlotte". Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
- ^ Exclusive Interview: Colin Hanks Archived June 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Playmakeronline.com (2011-09-14). Retrieved on 2014-01-14.
- ^ "Podkast with Colin Hanks: "Dexter," Bay Area sports, and the Sacramento Kings", Los Angeles Lakers Blog, ESPN Los Angeles. Retrieved on 2014-01-14.
- ^ "Colin Hanks talks on Kings, 'High School'", ESPN, Retrieved on 2014-01-14.
- ^ "Kevin & Bean Podcasts – May 2013". KROQ. Retrieved on 2014-01-14.
- ^ Sweet Geeks, retrieved June 28, 2019
- ^ "san diego film festival 2007: award winners". July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colin Hanks.
- Colin Hanks at IMDb
Colin Hanks
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Family background
Colin Lewes Dillingham, later known as Colin Hanks, was born on November 24, 1977, in Sacramento, California, to actors Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes (born Susan Jane Dillingham, 1952–2002). His parents married in 1978, shortly after his birth, and welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hanks, on May 17, 1982.[3][12] The family faced significant changes when Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes divorced in 1987, at which point Colin was nine years old.[13] Following the divorce, Colin and his sister primarily resided with their mother in Sacramento, where their parents had first met while studying acting at Sacramento State University.[14][15] Despite the separation, Colin maintained a close relationship with his father, who had begun achieving prominence in Hollywood.[16] Tom Hanks remarried actress Rita Wilson in 1988, and the couple had two sons: Chet Hanks, born in 1990, and Truman Theodore Hanks, born in 1995, whom Colin regards as half-brothers.[3][12] Colin's childhood was marked by early exposure to the entertainment industry through his father's career, including visits to film sets such as the production of Splash in 1984, where he met co-stars like John Candy at age six.[17] Growing up partly in the shadow of his father's rising fame presented challenges, including frequent comparisons in his own pursuits, but it also familiarized him with Hollywood dynamics from a young age.[18]Education
Hanks attended Sacramento Country Day School in Sacramento, California, for his elementary and middle school years, completing his early education in a college-preparatory environment.[19] The independent PK-12 institution provided a foundation that aligned with his family's emphasis on academic development.[20] After graduating high school in 1995, Hanks enrolled at Chapman University in Orange, California, initially exploring interests in film and drama through classes that sparked his creative pursuits.[21] However, he left after a brief period, transferring to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles to continue his studies in theatre and communications. Influenced by his exposure to the film industry from a young age due to his family's profession, Hanks developed an early passion for cinema but initially leaned toward behind-the-scenes roles like writing or producing rather than performing.[22] At Loyola Marymount, Hanks further honed his skills in a program known for its film and media focus, but he ultimately departed without earning a degree in the late 1990s, choosing instead to enter the entertainment industry full-time.[23] This decision marked a pivot from formal academia to professional opportunities, reflecting his growing commitment to creative work amid familial encouragement to forge his own path.[24]Career
Acting roles
Hanks made his acting debut at age 18 in his father Tom Hanks's directorial debut, That Thing You Do! (1996), portraying a minor role as a studio page in the ensemble comedy about a one-hit-wonder band. Early supporting parts followed, including Cosmo in the teen romantic comedy Whatever It Takes (2000), a modern adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac.[25] His first major television exposure came with the role of Alex Whitman, a witty high school student and love interest in the sci-fi series Roswell (1999–2001), where he appeared in the first two seasons before departing for film opportunities. Hanks achieved his breakthrough as the lead in the coming-of-age comedy Orange County (2002), playing Shaun Brumder, an aspiring writer navigating family chaos and college admissions mishaps, earning praise for his natural comedic timing and relatable everyman charm. He continued building his film resume with supporting roles such as Preston, the earnest assistant to Jack Black's filmmaker in Peter Jackson's adventure epic King Kong (2005). In 2008, Hanks starred opposite his father—who made a cameo—in the dramedy The Great Buck Howard, as Troy Gable, a law school dropout assisting a fading mentalist played by John Malkovich. That same year, he appeared in the raunchy comedy The House Bunny as Oliver Hauser, the shy love interest to Anna Faris's ex-Playboy Bunny turned sorority advisor.[26] Later highlights include his reprisal as the adult Alex Vreeke, a video game avatar survivor, in the ensemble blockbusters Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019).[27] On television, Hanks co-led the buddy-cop comedy The Good Guys (2010) as the by-the-book Detective Jack Bailey, partnered with Bradley Whitford's maverick Dan Stark in a series blending action and humor. He guest-starred in a pivotal arc on Dexter (2011) as Travis Marshall, the unhinged Doomsday Killer in season six, showcasing his range in psychological thriller territory.[28] A career-defining performance came as the kind-hearted single father and police officer Gus Grimly in the first season of FX's anthology series Fargo (2014–2015), earning him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, as well as a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination. He then anchored the family sitcom Life in Pieces (2015–2019) as Greg Short, a mild-mannered husband and father in a multi-generational household comedy structured around vignette storytelling.[29] Subsequent roles include Charlie in the comedy-drama How It Ends (2021), Bob Broberg in the Peacock miniseries A Friend of the Family (2022), and Nathan in the romantic comedy And Mrs (2024).[30][31][32] In voice acting, Hanks provided the voice of the mischievous cat Talking Tom in the animated series Talking Tom and Friends (2014–2017), with additional specials extending through 2021, bringing a playful energy to the mobile app-inspired characters for a young audience. Most recently, Hanks took on the role of Dr. Gustave Gilbert, a psychologist evaluating Nazi leaders, in the historical drama Nuremberg (2025), released on November 7, opposite Rami Malek and Russell Crowe. Earlier in the year, he played the antagonistic corrupt Sheriff Abel, a henchman aligned with Sharon Stone's villainess, in the action sequel Nobody 2 (2025), released on August 15, opposite Bob Odenkirk's returning Hutch Mansell, marking a shift toward more intense supporting parts in high-stakes thrillers.[33] Throughout his career, Hanks has navigated early perceptions as a "nepo baby" due to his famous lineage, evolving into a versatile character actor valued for his understated authenticity in ensemble-driven projects across comedy, drama, and genre fare.[34][35]Directing and producing
Colin Hanks transitioned from acting to directing in the mid-2010s, focusing primarily on documentary filmmaking that explores cultural and musical legacies. His directorial debut came with the 2015 documentary All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records, which chronicles the history of the iconic music retailer founded by Russ Solomon, from its expansion to over 200 stores worldwide to its bankruptcy amid the digital music revolution.[36][37] The film features interviews with music industry figures like Bruce Springsteen and Elton John, emphasizing Tower's role as a hub for music discovery and fan culture.[38] Hanks continued this non-fiction approach with Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends) in 2017, a HBO documentary that recounts the rock band's experience during the 2015 Bataclan theater attack in Paris, blending survivor testimonies, behind-the-scenes footage, and the band's return performance at the venue.[39] The film highlights themes of resilience and community in the face of tragedy, drawing on the personal bonds within the music scene to frame the narrative.[40] In addition to directing, Hanks has taken on producing roles in documentary projects, often collaborating on works centered around entertainment and cultural icons. He served as a producer on several of his own films, including All Things Must Pass, where he helped secure funding through crowdfunding to bring the story to life over a seven-year production period.[41] His producing credits extend to other non-fiction endeavors, reflecting a consistent interest in authentic storytelling drawn from real-life events and figures. Hanks's most recent directorial effort, John Candy: I Like Me (2025), further exemplifies his affinity for biographical documentaries on beloved cultural personalities. The film delves into the life and career of comedian John Candy, who rose to fame in the 1980s through roles in films like Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, featuring intimate interviews with collaborators such as Bill Murray, Steve Martin, and Hanks's father, Tom Hanks.[8] It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 and began streaming on Prime Video in October 2025, underscoring Hanks's preference for projects that celebrate music, comedy, and historical moments through personal narratives.[42][7] Across his work, Hanks has expressed a deliberate focus on non-fiction formats to honor untold stories of cultural impact, avoiding scripted drama in favor of archival material and firsthand accounts.[43]Personal life
Marriage and children
Colin Hanks met publicist Samantha Bryant through mutual friends in the late 2000s, with the pair beginning to date after previously knowing of each other in social circles.[44] They became engaged in June 2009 and married on May 8, 2010, in an evening ceremony on the rooftop of the London West Hollywood hotel in Los Angeles, attended by close family members including Hanks' father, Tom Hanks, as well as celebrity guests such as Steven Spielberg and Reese Witherspoon.[45][46] The couple welcomed their first daughter, Olivia Jane Hanks, on February 1, 2011.[21] Their second daughter, Charlotte Bryant Hanks, was born on July 2, 2013.[47] Hanks and Bryant reside in Los Angeles with their daughters, where Hanks has emphasized maintaining the family's privacy amid his acting and directing career while balancing parenting responsibilities.[3] In a 2025 interview, Hanks shared insights into raising his now-teenage daughters—Olivia, 14, and Charlotte, 12—describing the dynamic as a "détente" and stressing the importance of respecting their personal space by knocking before entering their rooms.[10]Interests
Hanks is an avid sports fan, rooting for several teams with ties to his California upbringing and personal interests. He supports the San Francisco Giants in baseball, often discussing their seasons in interviews and attending key games, including their 2010 World Series victory.[48] In soccer, he cheers for Liverpool F.C., publicly celebrating their 2019 Champions League win on social media.[49] His basketball allegiance lies with the Sacramento Kings, a nod to his Sacramento roots, where he has praised team updates and expressed concerns over potential relocation.[50][51] For American football, Hanks backs the San Francisco 49ers, highlighting their playoff matchups and Bay Area sports loyalty in various discussions.[52][53] A music enthusiast, Hanks maintains a collection of around 400 vinyl records, an interest deepened by his 2015 documentary All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records, which chronicles the iconic retailer's history and reignited his passion for physical media.[54] The film, funded partly through Kickstarter, reflects his appreciation for the tactile experience of records and the cultural role of independent stores.[55] In 2019, Hanks launched Hanks Kerchiefs, a sustainable brand of handkerchiefs aimed at reducing the use of single-use disposables.[11] Hanks engages in philanthropy through support for organizations addressing global and health-related causes, including the Entertainment Industry Foundation, War Child, and Stand Up to Cancer.[56] In recent years, he has advocated for mental health awareness, particularly for middle-aged men, emphasizing therapy as essential during 2025 promotions for his John Candy documentary, where he stated that "all white men in their 40s should be doing therapy" to address unprocessed emotions.[57] Beyond these pursuits, Hanks embraces a low-key lifestyle, prioritizing family time and avoiding Hollywood's excesses, as noted in profiles of his balanced approach to fame.[58] He occasionally shares insights on informal mentoring for aspiring filmmakers in interviews, drawing from his directing experiences.[8]Filmography
Films
Colin Hanks debuted in feature films with a supporting role as Chad in That Thing You Do! (1996), a comedy about a one-hit-wonder rock band directed by his father, Tom Hanks. He landed his first lead role as Shaun Brumder, a high school senior pursuing his dream of becoming a writer, in the teen comedy Orange County (2002), directed by Jake Kasdan.[59] Hanks portrayed Preston, a supporting character serving as an assistant to the film's protagonist, in Peter Jackson's adventure remake King Kong (2005).[60] In The Great Buck Howard (2008), Hanks starred in the lead role of Troy Gable, a young lawyer who becomes the assistant to a fading mentalist, in the comedy-drama directed by Sean McGinly.[61] He appeared in a supporting role as Alex Vreeke, a teen sucked into the Jumanji game, in the action-comedy Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), directed by Jake Kasdan. Hanks joined the cast of the action sequel Nobody 2 (2025) in a supporting role as Abel, a corrupt sheriff allied with the crime boss played by Sharon Stone, with the film directed by Timo Tjahjanto and released theatrically on August 15, 2025.[33][62] Hanks portrayed Dr. Gustav Gilbert, a psychologist at the Nuremberg trials, in the historical drama Nuremberg (2025), directed by James Vanderbilt.[63] In addition, Hanks directed the documentary John Candy: I Like Me (2025), a portrait of the late comedian John Candy produced by Ryan Reynolds, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and began streaming on Prime Video in October 2025.[64][42]Television
Hanks made his television debut as Alex Whitman, a series regular and the human love interest in the alien-themed sci-fi drama Roswell, appearing in 38 episodes across the first two seasons from 1999 to 2001. In 2010, he starred as Jack Bailey, the straight-laced detective partnering with a maverick cop, in the lead role of the action-comedy series The Good Guys, which ran for 20 episodes on Fox. Hanks portrayed Travis Marshall, the season's main antagonist known as the Doomsday Killer, in a recurring guest role across all 12 episodes of Dexter's sixth season in 2011, a crime drama centered on a forensic analyst moonlighting as a vigilante.[65] From 2014 to 2021, he provided the voice of the titular character Talking Tom, along with other roles like Gardener and Wesley, in the animated children's web series Talking Tom & Friends, a comedy about animal friends aspiring to fame that spanned 156 episodes. He played Officer Gus Grimly, a widowed Duluth police officer, as a main cast member in the first season of the crime anthology drama Fargo in 2014, appearing in all 10 episodes, and reprised the role in a supporting capacity for three episodes of the second season in 2015.[66] In the family sitcom Life in Pieces, Hanks starred as Greg Short, a mild-mannered husband and father, from 2015 to 2019, appearing as a main cast member in all 79 episodes across four seasons, with the show structured around interconnected family vignettes.[67] Hanks took on the role of Barry Lapidus, a fictional corporate executive serving as a corporate antagonist, in the 2022 biographical miniseries The Offer, a drama about the making of The Godfather, appearing in all 10 episodes on Paramount+. No major television directing projects are credited to Hanks as of 2025.Directing credits
Colin Hanks began his directing career with short documentaries for ESPN before transitioning to feature-length projects, focusing primarily on music, sports history, and biographical subjects.| Year | Title | Type | Runtime | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records | Documentary | 94 minutes | Theatrical release by Abramorama; streaming on Prime Video | Produced by Sean Stuart; executive produced by Glen Zipper; world premiered at SXSW Film Festival. |
| 2015 | The Anti-Mascot | Short documentary | 12 minutes | ESPN platforms | Produced as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 Shorts series.[68] |
| 2017 | Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends) | Documentary | 84 minutes | HBO | Produced by HBO Documentary Films; premiered at Tribeca Film Festival.[69] |
| 2017 | The Amazing Adventures of Wally and the Worm | Animated short documentary | 16 minutes | ESPN | Produced by Sean Stuart as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 Shorts series; features Dennis Rodman.[70] |
| 2025 | John Candy: I Like Me | Biographical documentary | 113 minutes | Prime Video | Produced by Ryan Reynolds, Sean Stuart, and Glen Zipper; premiered at Toronto International Film Festival.[71] |