01of 22FAST FRIENDSEverettThe start of something new! Tom Hanks, who was previously married to college sweetheart Samantha Lewes — with whom he has two kids, Colin and Elizabeth — has said he felt an immediate spark when he and Wilson worked together on the set of 1985’sVolunteers. “Rita and I just looked at each other and — kaboing — that was that,” Hanks toldGQ.“I asked Rita if it was the real thing for her, and it just couldn’t be denied.”
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FAST FRIENDS
Everett
The start of something new! Tom Hanks, who was previously married to college sweetheart Samantha Lewes — with whom he has two kids, Colin and Elizabeth — has said he felt an immediate spark when he and Wilson worked together on the set of 1985’sVolunteers. “Rita and I just looked at each other and — kaboing — that was that,” Hanks toldGQ.“I asked Rita if it was the real thing for her, and it just couldn’t be denied.”
02of 22FALLING IN LOVEBEI/REX/ShutterstockAfter he and Lewes split and subsequently divorced, Hanks began dating Wilson, whom he’s been with for more than years. “I was 23 and my son Colin was already 2 when I married for the first time,” Hanks said in 2013,recalling the demise of his first marriage. “I was not really ready to take on those responsibilities.”
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FALLING IN LOVE
BEI/REX/Shutterstock
After he and Lewes split and subsequently divorced, Hanks began dating Wilson, whom he’s been with for more than years. “I was 23 and my son Colin was already 2 when I married for the first time,” Hanks said in 2013,recalling the demise of his first marriage. “I was not really ready to take on those responsibilities.”
03of 22HOLDING ONTO YOURon Galella, Ltd./WireImageThe couple, who looks just as in love now as they did 30 years ago, are seen here holding onto each other at the Hollywood premiere ofDragnetin 1987.
03of 22
HOLDING ONTO YOU
Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
The couple, who looks just as in love now as they did 30 years ago, are seen here holding onto each other at the Hollywood premiere ofDragnetin 1987.
04of 22WEDDED BLISSJim Smeal/WireImageIn April 1988, Hanks and Wilson tied the knot. “The success of our relationship was a matter of timing, maturity and our willingness to have an intimate connection,” he toldOprah Winfrey. “When I married Rita, I thought, ‘This is going to require some change on my part.’ I won’t deny that providence was part of us finding each other, but our relationship isn’t magic — the way it’s shown in movies. In real life, our connection is as concrete as me sitting here. Not that marriage doesn’t come close to being hell in a handbasket sometimes. But we both know that no matter what, we’ll be with each other — and we’ll get through it.”
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WEDDED BLISS
Jim Smeal/WireImage
In April 1988, Hanks and Wilson tied the knot. “The success of our relationship was a matter of timing, maturity and our willingness to have an intimate connection,” he toldOprah Winfrey. “When I married Rita, I thought, ‘This is going to require some change on my part.’ I won’t deny that providence was part of us finding each other, but our relationship isn’t magic — the way it’s shown in movies. In real life, our connection is as concrete as me sitting here. Not that marriage doesn’t come close to being hell in a handbasket sometimes. But we both know that no matter what, we’ll be with each other — and we’ll get through it.”
05of 22TAKING IT EASYBEI/REX/Shutterstock"They say it must be hard work. No it’s not,“Hanks said of being married to Wilson. “Every now and again you know, you gotta get over some stuff but life is one damn thing after another and it’s actually more pleasant to be able to go home with someone you like to spend time with in order to get with it.”
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TAKING IT EASY
“They say it must be hard work. No it’s not,“Hanks said of being married to Wilson. “Every now and again you know, you gotta get over some stuff but life is one damn thing after another and it’s actually more pleasant to be able to go home with someone you like to spend time with in order to get with it.”
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A STAR IS BORN
Time Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty
![Rita Wilson;Tom Hanks [Misc.]](https://i2.wp.com/people.com/thmb/bomDeraqv75I4sOeN3X4Ra49SDM=/4000x0/filters:no_upscale%28%29:max_bytes%28150000%29:strip_icc%28%29:focal%28720x0:722x2%29:format%28webp%29/tom-hanks-20-2000-83f427860f5943c5ad421c14b9ee4f96.jpg)
07of 22SCREEN TEAMEverett1993’sSleepless in Seattlemarked the second time the pair shared the big screen — though in this movie, they played onscreen best friends rather than lovers.
07of 22
SCREEN TEAM
1993’sSleepless in Seattlemarked the second time the pair shared the big screen — though in this movie, they played onscreen best friends rather than lovers.
08of 22WINNING BIGLois Bernstein/AP/REX/Shutterstock"I view my wife as my lover, and we have a bond that goes beyond words like wife or girlfriend or mother … Without my connection with Rita, I don’t know how I would’ve been able to connect with what Forrest [Gump] was going through,” Hanks toldOprah Winfreyof Wilson, following his second consecutive Oscar win in 1995 for his performance in 1994’sForrest Gump.
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WINNING BIG
Lois Bernstein/AP/REX/Shutterstock
“I view my wife as my lover, and we have a bond that goes beyond words like wife or girlfriend or mother … Without my connection with Rita, I don’t know how I would’ve been able to connect with what Forrest [Gump] was going through,” Hanks toldOprah Winfreyof Wilson, following his second consecutive Oscar win in 1995 for his performance in 1994’sForrest Gump.
09of 22A TIGHT BONDBEI/REX/ShutterstockIt’s no secret Wilson is Hanks' “best friend,” as he’s regularlysaidthrough the years. “In addition to being my lover. And it has been that way from the very beginning,” he added. “We laugh just as much now at two in the morning as we always have. And we fight less and less.”
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A TIGHT BOND
It’s no secret Wilson is Hanks' “best friend,” as he’s regularlysaidthrough the years. “In addition to being my lover. And it has been that way from the very beginning,” he added. “We laugh just as much now at two in the morning as we always have. And we fight less and less.”
10of 22HAND IT TO MENick Ut/AP/REX/ShutterstockWilson and Hanks came together for the actor’s hand imprint ceremony in front of the Mann’s Chinese Theater in 1998.
10of 22
HAND IT TO ME
Nick Ut/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Wilson and Hanks came together for the actor’s hand imprint ceremony in front of the Mann’s Chinese Theater in 1998.
11of 22TAKE YOUR PICMICHEL EULER/AP/REX/ShutterstockSay cheese! Wilson documented every moment of the pair’s time at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, where Hanks' movie,The Ladykillers, was premiering. “He’s amazing. It’s fantastic and it’s celebratory and I have to say I think his films all over the years have meant a lot to a lot of people,“Wilson said in 2016.
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TAKE YOUR PIC
MICHEL EULER/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Say cheese! Wilson documented every moment of the pair’s time at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival, where Hanks' movie,The Ladykillers, was premiering. “He’s amazing. It’s fantastic and it’s celebratory and I have to say I think his films all over the years have meant a lot to a lot of people,“Wilson said in 2016.
12of 22HAVING A BALLChris Polk/FilmMagicIn a rare public appearance in 2004, Hanks and Wilson took their kids — sons Chet and Truman — out to a baseball game between the L.A. Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
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HAVING A BALL
Chris Polk/FilmMagic
In a rare public appearance in 2004, Hanks and Wilson took their kids — sons Chet and Truman — out to a baseball game between the L.A. Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
13of 22TWINNING MOMENTCarlo Allegri/GettyThe couple who matches together, sticks together! That saying rang true for the longstanding pair, who sported complementary ensembles at the Hollywood premiere ofThe Ladykillersin 2004.
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TWINNING MOMENT
Carlo Allegri/Getty
The couple who matches together, sticks together! That saying rang true for the longstanding pair, who sported complementary ensembles at the Hollywood premiere ofThe Ladykillersin 2004.
14of 22THE KEY TO HAPPINESSE Charbonneau/BEI/REX/Shutterstock"I wish there was a secret, you know. We just like each other. You start there,” Hanks previously said aboutwhat it takes for a successful marriage. Also? “No one should get married before they’re 30,” he declared.
14of 22
THE KEY TO HAPPINESS
E Charbonneau/BEI/REX/Shutterstock
“I wish there was a secret, you know. We just like each other. You start there,” Hanks previously said aboutwhat it takes for a successful marriage. Also? “No one should get married before they’re 30,” he declared.
15of 22FULL SUPPORTBruce Glikas/FilmMagicIn 2006, Hanks came out to support his leading lady as she made her Broadway debut inChicago.
15of 22
FULL SUPPORT
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
In 2006, Hanks came out to support his leading lady as she made her Broadway debut inChicago.
16of 22THE LOOK OF LOVEREX/Shutterstock"I’ll never forget, we were standing on the corner of 57th and 5th in New York, or 58th and 5th,” Wilsontold Piers Morganof her husband. “We were holding hands, and we were waiting for the traffic light to change. And he looked at me and he said, ‘You know, I just want you to know, that you never have to change anything about who you are in order to be with me.’ Literally, a wave of — if love is a feeling, or a cellular thing that happens to your body — it went through me, and that’s pretty much who he is, and how he’s been.”
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THE LOOK OF LOVE
REX/Shutterstock
“I’ll never forget, we were standing on the corner of 57th and 5th in New York, or 58th and 5th,” Wilsontold Piers Morganof her husband. “We were holding hands, and we were waiting for the traffic light to change. And he looked at me and he said, ‘You know, I just want you to know, that you never have to change anything about who you are in order to be with me.’ Literally, a wave of — if love is a feeling, or a cellular thing that happens to your body — it went through me, and that’s pretty much who he is, and how he’s been.”
17of 22IN HARMONYKevin Mazur/WireImageThe longtime couple made beautiful music together while performing onstage at the Children’s Health Fund’s 25th Anniversary Concert in 2012.
17of 22
IN HARMONY
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
The longtime couple made beautiful music together while performing onstage at the Children’s Health Fund’s 25th Anniversary Concert in 2012.
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GREAT CARE
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.FilmMagic
19of 22NEVER STOP LAUGHINGNoel Vasquez/Getty"I’m a lucky man,” Hanks said of his wife in 2016. “She could’ve done better.”
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NEVER STOP LAUGHING
Noel Vasquez/Getty
“I’m a lucky man,” Hanks said of his wife in 2016. “She could’ve done better.”
20of 22STILL STRONGRita Wilson and Tom Hanks.David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock"I still can’t believe my wife goes out with me,” Hankstold PEOPLEof his wife of 30-plus years. “If we were in high school, and I was just funny, I’d never have the courage to talk to her.” Excuse us while we swoon.
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STILL STRONG
Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks.David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock
“I still can’t believe my wife goes out with me,” Hankstold PEOPLEof his wife of 30-plus years. “If we were in high school, and I was just funny, I’d never have the courage to talk to her.” Excuse us while we swoon.
21of 22IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTHtom hanks/instagramIn 2020, the couplebattled COVID-19 togetherand supported each otherthrough the worst of the symptoms.“I think that having the virus at the same time made it that little bit easier,“Wilson toldThe Guardian. “We were taking care of each other instead of having the pressure of taking care of one person and no one taking care of you or understanding that the person at home needs a break.”
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IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
tom hanks/instagram
In 2020, the couplebattled COVID-19 togetherand supported each otherthrough the worst of the symptoms.
“I think that having the virus at the same time made it that little bit easier,“Wilson toldThe Guardian. “We were taking care of each other instead of having the pressure of taking care of one person and no one taking care of you or understanding that the person at home needs a break.”
22of 22SWEET SUCCESSRita Wilson and Tom Hanks.Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock"Tom and I have always been supportive of each other and what we do,“Wilson told PEOPLE in December 2022.“If you have someone who is happy for your success, and you’re happy for their success, that’s not even an issue that comes up. You know about schadenfreude, when you’re happy for someone’s failure? Well, there’s another concept called freudenfreude, which is when you’re happy for someone’s success. I live in the freudenfreude. Somebody else’s success does not diminish my own.”
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SWEET SUCCESS
Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks.Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
“Tom and I have always been supportive of each other and what we do,“Wilson told PEOPLE in December 2022.“If you have someone who is happy for your success, and you’re happy for their success, that’s not even an issue that comes up. You know about schadenfreude, when you’re happy for someone’s failure? Well, there’s another concept called freudenfreude, which is when you’re happy for someone’s success. I live in the freudenfreude. Somebody else’s success does not diminish my own.”
source: people.com
