Tom Hanks has finally addressed the revelations in his daughter E.A. Hanks’ new memoir, 'The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road,' which dives deep into her difficult upbringing. Speaking on the red carpet at the premiere of his latest film, 'The Phoenician Scheme,' the 68-year-old actor expressed support and admiration for his daughter’s bravery in sharing her story.
"I'm not surprised that my daughter had the wherewithal as well as the curiosity to examine this thing that I think she was incredibly honest about," Hanks told Access Hollywood. "We all come from checkered, cracked lives, all of us."
© Patrick McMullanReleased in April, the memoir details E.A.’s childhood experiences growing up with her famous parents, Tom Hanks and the late actress Samantha Lewes. The book explores the complexities of her family life, including the emotional and physical hardships she endured.
© Bei/ShutterstockE.A., now 42, recounts how after her parents divorced in 1987, her mother moved her and her older brother Colin from Los Angeles to Sacramento without warning. She describes a challenging home environment where her mother’s “emotional and physical violence” eventually forced her to live with her father.
© Bertrand Rindoff Petroff"The fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not, and my mother spent more and more time in her big four-poster bed, poring over the Bible," she wrote. “One night, her emotional violence became physical violence, and in the aftermath I moved to Los Angeles, right smack in the middle of the seventh grade.”
The memoir also reveals Samantha Lewes’ struggles with mental health, including episodes that E.A. believes were linked to bipolar disorder. She shares a haunting passage from her mother’s journal where Samantha described seeing E.A.’s late grandfather commit horrifying acts.
© ARNALDespite the dark themes, E.A. portrays a nuanced picture of her mother, who passed away from bone cancer in 2002 at age 50. Following her mother’s death, E.A. embarked on a six-month road trip retracing a journey she once took with her mother.
Hanks also reflected on family life, recalling his early days with Samantha and their son Colin. The actor met Samantha at California State University in Sacramento, and they married in 1979. Their marriage deteriorated as Tom’s acting career took off, leading to their separation in 1985 and eventual divorce two years later.
© Jeff KravitzIn 1988, Tom married Rita Wilson, with whom he shares two sons, Chet and Truman. E.A. describes Rita as “my other mother,” highlighting the close bond they share.
Hanks praised his daughter’s openness and strength. “She’s a knockout, always has been,” he said. “If you’ve had kids, you realize that you see who they are when they’re about 6 weeks old.”
