Tom Hanks’ Cousin Is None Other Than Us President Abraham Lincoln? Family Relation Revealed

Tom Hanks, one of the most well-known and accomplished actors in the business, not only starred in some of the most well-known films but also had an asteroid named after him. According to reports, Tom Hanks is the fourth highest-earning actor in North America. He was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2002.

The actor was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 2014, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, the French Legion of Honor in 2017, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2020 Golden Globes. But did you know that the actor is connected to a past US president? Let’s learn more.

Also read: “I was just tickled pink”: NASA Named Asteroids After Tom Hanks and His $355M Movie Director After Inspiring the Spacewatch Member

Tom Hanks related to former US President Abraham Lincoln

According to reports by Finding Dulcinea, actor Tom Hanks, popular for his portrayal as Forrest Gump in 1994’s Forrest Gump, is related to former US President Abraham Lincoln. He is the third cousin, four times removed, of the 16th President of the United States through his mother’s side of the family.

The publication reports that Hanks’ mother’s maiden name was Frager and her ancestors belonged to Virginia, which is the state where Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks, belonged. The actor’s family has traced back their lineage to the former president’s mother and it was confirmed that they are related to each other.

Tom Hanks, who narrated the 2011 TV movie Killing Lincoln, which depicts the assassination of the former US President, said that he had an idea that he was related to the president and would often write essays about the president while he was growing up.

According to the website, the discovery of the connection between the two was brought to light in 2012 when the actor revealed that he is related to the former US President through his mother. He said in an interview with Daily Mail at the time,

“His mother was called Nancy Hanks, and the members of my branch of the family are either cousins or in-laws or poor relations.”

Also read: “You’re too much of a supernova”: Tom Hanks Helped Charlize Theron to Get Successful? Marvel Star Almost Ended Up Playing a Different Role in $34M Movie

Tom Hanks would do anything to go to space

The actor who portrayed the character of an astronaut, Jim Lovell in Apollo 13, expressed his desire to go to space. He spoke to the Telegraph ahead of his immersive exhibition The Moonwalkers and said,

“I would like to be the guy in charge of serving food and making jokes to and from the Moon. If there were room, I would be the guy that cleans up, makes jokes, tells stories and keeps everybody entertained. I’m your man. I will probably sign up right now! I’ll clean the toilet. I’ll serve the food. I’ll fold clothes. I’ll stow the gear. That way, the others could be free to do other stuff.”

The celebrated actor had previously mentioned that he was fascinated by the Apollo program which sent about 12 NASA astronauts to the moon’s surface back in 1969 to 1972 when he was playing Jim Lovell on Apollo 13. The movie received critical acclaim and positive feedback from the audience and the critics, and Hanks was highly praised.

Also read: “You guys can’t shoot”: Before Making Profit From $679M Movie, Tom Hanks Had to Pay From His Own Pocket for Production as Paramount Refused To

What is Tom Hanks’ The Moonwalkers about?

The Moonwalkers is an epic immersive experience that will combine original NASA footage of the Apollo landing and pictures from a photobook titled Apollo Remastered. The actor is going to narrate the script written by him and Christopher Rile, which tells the story of a man’s expedition to the moon, and looking into the future.

The Moonwalkers is going to include Tom Hanks’ interviews with astronauts of the upcoming Artemis expedition, a group he has praised for being balanced between an equal number of men and women. Tom Hanks said of the team via People,

“Four people on Artemis are going to see the Earth rise over the moon and some of them are going to be a gender other than male. I think that says everything about the progress of humankind right there.”

He shared with the Telegraph about The Moonwalkers being the truly most immersive medium he has ever witnessed, adding that he was inspired by David Hockeny’s exhibitions.

The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks is at Lightroom, located in King’s Cross, London, England, from Dec 6-Apr 21, 2024. Tickets are on sale now.

Source: Finding Dulcinea