Chet Hanks Details Dad Tom Hanks’ Music Video Cameo

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Chet Hanks’ musical endeavors are becoming a family affair.

Ever since the “You Better Run” singer, who’s the other half of the country duo Something Out West with Drew Arthur, showcased my dad, Tom Hanks, in their recent Forrest Gump-inspired music video, I’ve been bursting at the seams to share some behind-the-scenes stories from our set!

Chet jokingly remarked to Jenna Bush Hager and Niecy Nash-Betts during their show on June 24th, “Boy, he sure acts high and mighty,” but quickly added, “I was just teasing. He’s the most laid-back person I know. Love you, Dad.

In the music video, the 34-year-old actor reenacts several moments from the 1994 film until Tom (father of Colin Hanks aged 47, Elizabeth Hanks aged 43, and Truman Hanks aged 29) shows up beside him on a bench, mirroring the memorable opening scene of the movie.

For his part, Drew expressed how surreal it felt to be collaborating with a two-time Oscar winner.

He found it amusing as he had to perform a scene ahead of Tom, and Tom was simply standing there. Essentially, he said, “I could see that Tom was waiting for me.

Since Tom got involved with his son’s musical sphere, it seemed logical for Chet to give acting a shot too. In fact, he just appeared in the movie “Running Point” together with Kate Hudson recently.

The musician expressed that it was high time he got involved with the Netflix movie. It’s been quite a journey, he added, and he feels thankful for every step leading him to this point.

However, although he gratefully acknowledged these chances, it’s worth noting that Chet, being the son of renowned actress Rita Wilson, has earlier shared insights into his unique experience of growing up with famous parents.

In a YouTube video from 2022, he expressed, “There are numerous benefits, but at times it feels quite unusual,” he admitted. “I have had the chance to do some incredible things that many people don’t get to experience. I’ve been able to travel around the globe, stay in luxurious accommodations, fly on private aircraft, and I feel incredibly grateful for these opportunities. I wouldn’t trade my circumstances for anything.

Even so, the Empire actor admitted that fame can attract a lot of “jealousy” and “envy.”

He went on to explain that his situation was made all the more challenging because not only is fame often harmful, but he himself wasn’t renowned. Instead, he was merely the child of a famous person, which meant he hadn’t earned any fame or recognition. This, in turn, led to a great deal of resentment from others since they felt he didn’t deserve any acclaim despite his family connections.

He mentioned, “Others form opinions about me before they truly get to know me, which is challenging because it’s difficult to break through those preconceived ideas.

For more about the Hanks family, keep reading…

In the eyes of the world, Tom Hanks is a renowned, Oscar-winning actor; however, to his children – Colin Hanks, E.A. Hanks, Chet Hanks, and Truman Hanks – he is simply dad. In an interview with The New York Times in 2019, the Forrest Gump star expressed that as a parent, one can primarily express love, assure them they can’t go wrong, and ask for their needs. He added that he would do anything to keep them safe and offer his unconditional love.

For Tom Hanks, who married Rita Wilson in 1988, safeguarding his children’s privacy is part of keeping them secure. In a 2020 episode of In Depth with Graham Bensinger, he mentioned that they managed to separate their public and private responsibilities. When their kids were growing up, they protected their privacy particularly well.

Before Tom was married to Rita, he encountered Susan Dillingham (who portrayed Samantha Lewes in minor roles) while both were students at Sacramento State. They were already parents to their son Colin, born in 1977, when they got married in 1980 and later had a daughter named E.A., or Elizabeth Ann, in 1982. However, three years after their marriage, Tom and Susan parted ways. Looking back on that difficult period during an interview on In Depth With Graham Bensinger in 2020, the Big alum described it as a time filled with intense pain, negative emotions, and self-doubt, saying he felt like he was the worst father and person imaginable. He sought solace in therapy and leaned on trusted friends and religious figures during this challenging period. Susan passed away in 2002 after fighting cancer.

Tom and Rita initially crossed paths in 1981 when she guest-starred on his television show called “Bosom Buddies,” leading them to later work together in the 1985 film titled “Volunteers.” As Tom put it to GQ, as reported by People, their connection during “Volunteers” was immediate and strong. He asked Rita if their feelings were genuine, and she confirmed they were.

The couple tied the knot in 1988, and since then, they have not only shared a personal life but also professional endeavors. They appeared together in films such as “That Thing You Do!” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” and produced projects like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “A Man Called Otto.”

Through the highs and lows, including Rita’s 2015 battle with breast cancer, Tom has been by her side. Celebrating 10 years of being cancer-free in March 2025, she emphasized that they continue to invest time and effort into maintaining their love.

In a 2019 interview with Access Hollywood, Rita explained that any long-lasting relationship requires both partners to nurture the initial spark and keep the flame alive. She acknowledged that there would be ups and downs in any relationship, but the awareness of having that initial connection is crucial for its longevity.

Colin Hanks, the eldest son of Tom (from his previous marriage with Susan), discovered his love for acting at a young age, similar to his father. In an interview on ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend’ in 2022, he mentioned that he was drawn to acting because it was the most enjoyable thing for him. However, he had briefly stepped away from acting due to external pressures given his famous father. But it was Tom’s advice that inspired him to return to acting. He said, “If you don’t really want this, then come up with something else. Because you will be miserable if this is not something that you truly are passionate about.”

Following this advice, Colin went on to act in numerous movies and TV shows such as ‘Life in Pieces’, ‘Roswell’, ‘Orange County’, ‘King Kong’, ‘The House Bunny’, and ‘Untraceable’. He has also done voiceovers for animated projects like ‘Talking Tom and Friends’.

Currently, Colin is married to Samantha Bryant and is a father to daughters Olivia and Charlotte.

Tom’s child from his past marriage with Susan is E.A. Hanks, and unlike her siblings who delved into filmmaking, she chose a distinct professional path. Previously employed as a writer for Vanity Fair, E.A. has also contributed to various platforms such as TIME, The Guardian, and The New York Times. She is an accomplished author herself, with her book “The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road” scheduled for release on April 8, 2025.

This memoir, published by Simon & Schuster, chronicles E.A.’s voyage as she retraces a past road trip with her mother in an effort to comprehend the complex woman who shaped her life. An excerpt from People magazine reveals that after their parents’ separation, Susan had custody of E.A. and her brother while Tom visited them on weekends. However, one day, E.A recounted, Susan relocated them from L.A. to Sacramento without notifying their father.

In the book, E.A. describes her living conditions with her mother, stating that the backyard was filthy with dog feces, the house reeked of smoke, and the refrigerator often contained expired food. She also recounts an instance where her mother’s emotional turmoil escalated into physical violence, prompting E.A. to move to Los Angeles in the middle of seventh grade.

Born in August 1990, Chet Hanks is the eldest son of Tom and Rita, both well-known actors who have passed on their love for acting to him. Over the course of his career, he has showcased his talents in various TV series such as “Running Point”, “Your Honor”, “Empire” and “Shameless”, along with movies like “Dead Wrong”, “Fantastic Four”, and films starring his father, including “Larry Crowne” and “Greyhound”.

In an interview with Bustle in March 2025, he mentioned that being from a family of actors made acting a natural choice for him. He also shares his mother’s love for music and has ventured into rap music as well as forming the country music duo “Something Out West”. They released a music video for their song “You Better Run”, themed around “Forrest Gump” and featuring Tom, in March 2025.

Chet gained attention beyond his acting and music when he participated in the reality show “The Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets” in 2024. He also made headlines for a few controversial moments, including adopting a Jamaican Patois accent at the 2020 Golden Globes and coining the phrase “white boy summer” the following year.

More recently, Chet has been concentrating on his work, family (he has a daughter named Michaiah with ex Tiffany Miles), and maintaining his sobriety. He expressed his gratitude to his parents for their continuous support during an episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show” in March 2025, noting that he is three years sober and does not take their support for granted.

Truman Hanks, born in December 1995, is the youngest sibling in the Hanks family and is venturing into the movie industry like his well-known parents, Tom and Rita. Interestingly, however, Tom mentions that Truman prefers working behind the camera. On a recent episode of The Jess Cagle Show on SiriusXM, Tom shared, “He’s been handling cameras and lenses since high school and has even created his own films.” He further added, “My children are all multi-talented, but Truman is a member of Local 600, the camera union in New York. He’s already worked on films in the camera department and has shot his own projects. In fact, he’s acted as a cinematographer and director of photography.”

Truman has also tried his hand at acting, portraying a younger version of Tom’s character in the 2022 film A Man Called Otto. Speaking about their similarities, Tom said, “His unique trait is that he and I look remarkably alike at the age of 26.” Apart from his work in films, Truman majors in mathematics and has completed his degree from Stanford University.

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2025-06-25 16:47