Jim Hanks
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James Mathew Hanks (born June 15, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has played numerous minor roles in film and guest appearances on television. Bearing both a face and a voice that resemble those of his older brother
Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon. Ha ...
, he often serves as a voice double for Woody in ''
Toy Story ''Toy Story'' is a 1995 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the first installment in the Toy Story (franchise), ''Toy Story'' franchise and the Firsts in animation, firs ...
'' media when the latter is unavailable. He has produced, directed, and filmed several short films. Hanks made his film debut in '' Buford's Beach Bunnies'' (1993).


Early life

James Mathew Hanks was born in
Shasta County, California Shasta County (), officially the County of Shasta, is a County (United States), county located in the Northern California, northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population is 182,155 as of the 2020 census, up from 177,223 from t ...
on June 15, 1961. He is the son of Janet Marylyn (''née'' Frager) and itinerant cook Amos Mefford Hanks.Stated on '' Inside the Actors Studio'', 1999 Hanks is also the youngest brother of fellow actor
Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon. Ha ...
and entomologist Larry Hanks, but they were not raised together. After their parents divorced, Jim went to
Red Bluff, California Red Bluff is a city in and the county seat of Tehama County, California, United States. Its population was 14,710 at the 2020 census, up from 14,076 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is located north of Sacramento, California ...
with his mother while older siblings Tom, Larry, and Sandra remained with their father. After college, he lived in
Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...
working as a waiter. The agent who employed his actress wife Karen Praxel as a receptionist encouraged him to get into acting. After he took acting lessons, he moved to Los Angeles in 1992 and began his career with roles in
B-movie A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second ...
s and commercial voice-overs.


Career

He got his first lead role as Jeeter Buford in '' Buford's Beach Bunnies'' (1993). Wishing to earn the role based on his own abilities, he auditioned as "Jim Matthews" (just his first and a modification of his middle name). While producers noted his "resemblance to
Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon. Ha ...
", he won the role based on his own comedic and acting skills and his relationship to his brother was not revealed until paperwork was completed. In 1995, '' A Current Affair'' revealed that Tom had created the mannerisms for the character of
Forrest Gump ''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis. An adaptation of the Forrest Gump (novel), 1986 novel by Winston Groom, the screenplay of the film is written by Eric Roth. It stars Tom Hanks in the title rol ...
based on the simpleton mannerisms earlier created by Jim for the role of Jeeter, including Forrest's "now-famous jerky run". His physical resemblance to his brother allowed him to act as
body double In filmmaking, a double is a person who substitutes for another actor such that the person's face is not shown. There are various terms associated with a double based on the specific body part or ability they serve as a double for, such as stunt ...
for him in scenes in ''Forrest Gump''. Due to his vocal similarity, and with his brother Tom's personal recommendation, he often substitutes for Tom in the role of
Sheriff Woody Sheriff Woody Pride (or simply Woody) is a Character (arts), fictional Pullstring, pull-string cowboy doll who appears in the Disney–Pixar Toy Story (franchise), ''Toy Story'' franchise. In the films, Woody is one of the main protagonist, pr ...
in various ''
Toy Story ''Toy Story'' is a 1995 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It is the first installment in the Toy Story (franchise), ''Toy Story'' franchise and the Firsts in animation, firs ...
'' video games and spin-offs. Hanks began to provide the voice of Geoffrey the Giraffe in the
Toys "R" Us Toys "R" Us is an American toy, clothing, and baby product retailer owned by Tru Kids (doing business as Tru Kids Brands) and various others. The company was founded in 1948 in Washington, D.C.; its first store was built in April 1948, with i ...
commercials in 2001 and is the voice of Rudy from the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers commercials. He guest-starred in an episode of '' Scrubs'', appearing as a "Dr. Turner" partnered with recurring character Dr. Hooch, in reference to his brother's film '' Turner & Hooch''. In the 1998 film adaptation of O. Henry's " The Ransom of Red Chief", Hanks played the role of the mailman who was the town gossip. He has appeared on stage, including playing "Lennie Small" in Theatrical Arts International's production of
John Steinbeck John Ernst Steinbeck ( ; February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social percep ...
's ''
Of Mice and Men ''Of Mice and Men'' is a 1937 novella written by American author John Steinbeck. It describes the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant worker, migrant ranch workers, as they move from place to place in California ...
''. In November 2016, Hanks guest-starred in a web series called ''Gary CK Needs Work'', a parody of the FX show '' Louie''.


Personal life

Hanks married actress Karen Praxel on May 25, 1986, together they have one son, Gage. The family resides in
Venice, California Venice is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles within the Westside region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Venice was founded by Abbot Kinney in 1905 as a seaside resort town. It was an independent city until 1926, whe ...
. He works with Los Angeles–based "Feet First Films", a production company that provides actor demos as well as production support for short films.


Filmography


Film


Television


Video games


Theme parks


Filmmaking credits


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hanks, Jim 1961 births Jim Hanks Living people Male actors from California American male film actors American male radio actors American male television actors American male voice actors American male video game actors People from Shasta County, California People from Venice, Los Angeles