Hollywood icon Tom Hanks has stepped into the spotlight with heartfelt comments about a deeply personal family matter that’s capturing public attention. His words, shared on a red carpet, offer a glimpse into a story of resilience and raw honesty that’s resonating with many.
Hanks recently addressed his daughter E.A. Hanks’ memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, which sheds light on her challenging childhood. As reported by Daily Mail, the actor expressed admiration for her bravery in sharing such intimate struggles during a premiere of his new film, The Phoenician Scheme, on Thursday.
Beyond the headlines, this memoir, released in April, unpacks the life of 42-year-old E.A. as the child of two Hollywood figures—Hanks and his late first wife, Samantha Lewes, who passed away in 2002 from bone cancer. Growing up, E.A. faced a turbulent family dynamic, marked by her parents’ divorce in 1987 when she was just five. Her story, filled with both pain and reflection, provides a window into the complexities of fame and personal hardship that often remain hidden behind the glitz of celebrity life.
Navigating her early years, E.A. recounts a jarring move from Los Angeles to Sacramento, orchestrated by her mother without prior notice. This abrupt change, alongside her brother Colin, now 47, set the stage for a childhood rife with instability. Her memoir paints a vivid picture of a home environment that deteriorated over time, reflecting both emotional and material neglect.
Delving deeper, E.A. describes a stark contrast between her early memories and later struggles in Sacramento. She writes of a once-idyllic white house with a pool that eventually became overrun with filth and decay, mirroring the unraveling of her mother’s mental state. The memoir doesn’t shy away from detailing Samantha’s struggles, which E.A. believes may have stemmed from undiagnosed bipolar disorder, marked by paranoia and delusions.
One particularly harrowing account stands out as a turning point in her young life. At a critical moment, E.A. faced physical violence from her mother, prompting a custody shift back to her father in Los Angeles during seventh grade. This transition, while offering a reprieve, underscored the deep scars left by years of turmoil, shaping her journey into adulthood.
Samantha Lewes, known for her role in the 1984 film Mr. Success, emerges as a complex figure in E.A.’s narrative. Passing away at 50, her life and challenges are pieced together by her daughter through memories and journal entries. E.A.’s quest to understand her mother’s pain led her on a six-month road trip after Samantha’s death, seeking answers to lingering questions.
Among the most disturbing revelations are Samantha’s writings, which allege witnessing a horrific crime by her own father, E.A.’s grandfather. These accounts, described as stream-of-consciousness rather than dated entries, suggest a profound trauma that may have haunted Samantha until her final days. E.A. reflects that if these claims hold any truth, her mother “never stood a chance” against the mental anguish that followed.
Heart-wrenching in its honesty, the memoir captures a daughter grappling with a mother’s unseen battles. E.A. shares the poignant memory of Samantha’s call during her senior year of high school, revealing she was dying. This moment, layered with unresolved emotions, underscores the depth of loss and the search for closure that permeates the book.
Reflecting on his own past, Tom Hanks met Samantha Lewes while studying theater at California State University in Sacramento. Their relationship blossomed quickly, leading to the birth of their son Colin in 1977 before marriage. Struggling as young parents, they moved to a modest, cockroach-infested apartment in Manhattan in 1978, a testament to their early financial and career challenges.
Their union, formalized in 1979, welcomed E.A. in 1982, but cracks soon appeared as Hanks’ acting career gained traction. Extended absences due to filming strained the marriage, culminating in a legal separation in 1985 and divorce in 1987. This period marked a significant shift for the family, with custody arrangements reshaping E.A.’s formative years.
Later, Hanks found love again with actress Rita Wilson, whom he married in 1988 after meeting on the set of Bosom Buddies and reconnecting during Volunteers.
Together, they raised two sons, Chet and Truman, building a new chapter. Yet, his reflections on E.A.’s memoir show a lingering connection to the past, acknowledging the strength it took for his daughter to confront these shared histories.
Tom Hanks, a beloved figure in Hollywood, has openly supported his daughter E.A. Hanks as she unveils her memoir detailing a childhood marked by upheaval and loss. The book, centered on her experiences with Hanks and her late mother, Samantha Lewes, explores a deeply personal narrative of family struggles in the shadow of fame.
Focused on Sacramento and Los Angeles, E.A.’s story reveals the impact of her mother’s mental health challenges and a pivotal move that altered her life’s trajectory. The memoir’s raw honesty, praised by Hanks, aims to foster understanding, while future discussions may continue as readers and family alike process these revelations.
