Tom Hanks is one of the few superstars who has remained untainted at the top of Hollywood over the years and has withstood the test of time.
Nobody can say anything negative about Hollywood’s favorite “Mr Nice Guy.” On the big screen, he’s a legend. Off-screen, he appears to be the nicest man in Hollywood; a true gentleman.
But did you know Tom has been suffering from a “silent” sickness for quite some time?
Tom Hank, who played Forrest Gump, is only 66 years old, although it’s impossible to believe given how long he seems to have been alive.
The two-time Academy Award winner has a reputation for being a terrific performer as well as an all-around nice guy who has never let fame or fortune get to him.
In addition to being a cultural icon, Hanks is known as “America’s Dad” and is frequently photographed displaying compassion to his fans and anyone he meets outside of Hollywood.
When we look at Tom Hanks’ childhood and upbringing, it becomes clear why he has maintained both feet on the ground despite his amazing profession and the millions of cash in his bank account.
Tom Hanks, who was born in Concord, California, did not have a joyful childhood. He was a split child who had to move about a lot as a kid; Tom himself described his life as nomadic.
Apparently, no one taught him how to brush his teeth, and Tom was routinely ignored.
“Maybe there was a degree of loneliness because really no one — I kind of like went between the gaps and didn’t really have folks who were taking care of me,” Tom said in an interview with Graham Bensinger.
By the age of eleven, Tom had lived in ten different houses. Because both of his parents had many relationships and had been remarried “three or four times,” Tom was surrounded by stepbrothers and sisters who came and went. He stated that if he saw some of them now, he would not recognize them.
“After our parents divorced, our younger brother and three older siblings moved in with our mother and father. Following that, we were herded back and forth.”
“I remember times when we all shared a bedroom at one point and a vast, dispersed home at another. At times, we went years without speaking to each other,” Tom explained.
Tom discovered that comedy was the key to surviving his turbulent upbringing. He used it to earn acceptance every time he enrolled in a new school.
When Tom first moved to New York in 1979, he was cast in He Knows You’re Alone, a low-budget “hack and slash” movie shot entirely on Staten Island. Although the film received mainly negative reviews, it was a financial success and provided Tom, then 24, with numerous chances.
Tom originally caught the attention of Hollywood and critics when he appeared in the 1980 sitcom Bossom Buddies, but many believe his big break came with the Ron Howard-directed fantasy romantic comedy Splash.
He went on to star in Turner and Hooch and Sleepless in Seattle before winning back-to-back Oscars and Golden Globes for his main performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump in 1994 and 1995.
When he first began acting, Tom was married to American actress Samantha Lewes. When Tom Hanks and Samantha married at the age of 21, their family expanded swiftly.
At first, Tom and Samantha were deeply in love and shared many interests because Samantha had recently divorced. “She had stories of having parents with plenty of marriages and divorce and stuff that can even beat mine,” Tom remarked.
After nine years of marriage, Tom and Samantha decided to divorce. Because of the couple’s difficult childhoods, the choice to file for divorce was especially tough.
Tom was going through a very difficult period and sought counseling three times each week to combat his bad thoughts. In retrospect, he describes his divorce as “a profoundly difficult event full of emotion and negative thoughts.”
Tom thought he’d failed as a parent, but after meeting Rita Wilson, who would later become his wife, he changed his mind.
“We married, made a promise to one another, adore one another, and work hard on our relationship… We not only love each other, but we also like each other, like spending time together, supporting one other, and keeping open lines of communication. This is always critical.”
When Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, it was one of the most difficult times in their relationship. Fortunately, the doctors identified it early enough for her to obtain treatment. Tom Hanks was without a doubt on her side at all times.
Unfortunately, this was not Tom’s first cancer diagnosis. Samantha, his ex-wife, died at the young age of 50 after a battle with bone cancer.
Although Tom has never had cancer, he does suffer from another condition that has afflicted him for a long time.
Furthermore, because the illness isn’t visible, it’s tough to discover.
The “silent” illness has affected Tom’s job and forced him to forgo some chances that would have required considerable physical changes or the consumption of specific foods.
The Hollywood star first displayed symptoms of the condition in the early 1990s, although he was unaware of its severity at the time.
Following inspections and testing, the doctors eventually supplied Tom with a response. In 2013, Tom stepped forward to openly discuss his type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
During an interview on The Late Show with David Letterman, the 66-year-old actor announced that he had diabetes mellitus, a condition in which the body does not produce or react to insulin as it should, resulting in excessively high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes 2 can have devastating and even fatal consequences if your lifestyle and habits are not modified to accommodate it.
One out of every ten Americans, or around 37 million people, has diabetes, with 90 to 95 percent of them having type 2 diabetes. Tom, on the other hand, claims that he was taken aback when he was diagnosed.
The Toy Star actor maintains that his lifestyle and a family history of diabetes are the primary causes of his ailment. Because of his DNA, it wasn’t exactly ideal for him to eat whatever he wanted.
“I’m a member of the American generation that was naively dancing through the party and now finds itself with an illness,” Tom continued.
“I was somewhat heavy. You’ve seen me in films, so you’re familiar with my appearance. I was an absolute imbecile.”
Doctors advised the beloved actor to retain his adolescent weight and thin down in order to put the illness in remission. Medical professionals were optimistic, but Tom remained skeptical.
“I’m going to develop type 2 diabetes because I can’t weigh what I weighed in high school,” he laughed.
Many of Tom’s fans remarked on how good he looked and how skinny he was. I believe he has shed some weight!
The 66-year-old appears to work very hard to maintain his weight; he also works out to help regulate his blood sugar levels.
“I try to do one hour of physical activity every day.”
“It might be anything from a treadmill to a stroll or hike with my dog, but it has to be one hour every day.”
If type 2 diabetes is not treated, it can lead to major health problems such as heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke. So we’re hopeful Tom Hanks can make the necessary lifestyle changes.
Please share this essay to celebrate a true Hollywood celebrity who has retained his modesty despite his immense success.
Mr. Tom Hanks, best wishes!
