9 Rare Photos of a Young Tom Hanks Getting His Start
Did you know he got his start in television?
Nowadays, it seems like Tom Hanks is everywhere—he’s acted in dozens of movies, has been nominated for hundreds of awards (we’re not kidding), and even starred in a Carly Rae Jepsen music video—remember that? It might be hard to imagine, but once upon a time, the beloved actor was just the new kid on the block trying his hand at the whole acting thing.
Although we’re used to seeing Hanks on the big screen today, the California native got his start in theater and television. His first big break came after he dropped out of college and headed out to New York City. After the move, he landed one of the main roles in a hit 1980s sitcom, and as they say, the rest is history. From his days spent on the set to stylish red carpet shots from decades ago, here are nine rare photos of Tom Hanks getting his start.
Appearing on P.I.P.’s
In 1980, Hanks and fellow Bosom Buddies actor Peter Scolari were interviewed by ABC for a television special. This was the same year that Bosom Buddies came on the air. (Scolari died in 2021 at age 56.)
Bosom Buddies
A then-25-year-old Hanks is pictured here in 1981, posing on the set of Bosom Buddies. The show also starred Holland Taylor and lasted two seasons. “I can say I absolutely knew Tom Hanks was going to be an enormous star in our first rehearsal,” Taylor told People in 2020.
Splash
A couple of years after Bosom Buddies ended, Hanks appeared on the big screen in the Ron Howard–directed movie Splash. In it, Hanks played a man named Allen Bauer who falls in love with a mermaid named Madison, played by Daryl Hannah. Hanks told Entertainment Weekly in early 2023 that he was cast in the film after Howard saw him as a guest star on Happy Days.
Fox Studios Backlot
Here, Hanks is pictured posing at the Fox Studios Backlot in 1984. The young actor would star in Big some years later.
Volunteers
In 1985, Hanks appeared in Volunteers, a movie directed by Nicholas Meyer that also boasted John Candy and Hanks’ future wife, Rita Wilson, as part of its cast. Interestingly enough, this was not the first time Wilson and Hanks crossed paths; the two met years earlier and became quick friends when Wilson guest starred on Bosom Buddies.
Saturday Night Live
In December 1985, Hanks appeared on Saturday Night Live alongside Jon Lovitz and Damon Wayans. The three were part of a skit titled “The Stand-Ups.”
Nothing in Common Screening
Hanks and Wilson walk the red carpet for a screening of Nothing in Common. The two had recently gone public with their relationship.
Big
Still considered a classic today, Hanks starred in 1988’s Big as Josh, a young boy who wishes to be “big” and wakes up the next morning as an adult. The movie also stars Elizabeth Perkins, Jon Lovitz, and John Heard and earned Hanks his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Deauville American Film Festival
In 1988, Hanks went to France to attend the Deauville American Film Festival with his wife, Wilson. The two had gotten married just a few months earlier.
Brittany is a freelance writer based in her hometown of New York City. She writes about everything from fashion and beauty to food and wellness. When she's not writing, she can often be found at her local library, playing with her cats, or exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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![a teenage boy holds golden trophy above his head with one hand](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/owen-cooper-accepts-the-outstanding-supporting-actor-in-a-news-photo-1757950768.pjpeg?crop=0.651xw:0.875xh;0.0561xw,0.0517xh&resize=360:* "Owen Cooper accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for "Adolescence" during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 14, 2025")
