It’s just this simple. Any discussion about “who are the greatest actors working today” absolutely must include the name Tom Hanks, and it should probably come in around the top of that list. Hanks’ career has been one that defied the odds in several ways. First of all he’s not your standard “hunk” for a movie star. Secondly he is one of the only full fledged comedic actors who successfully made the transition to dramatic actor (Jim Carrey is still trying to figure that one out) and his awards list is staggering.
Hanks is one of the only actors ever to win back to back Best Actor Oscars (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump), he was nominated 3 other time (Big, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away) and arguably should have been nominated at least 5 other times (Road To Perdition, Catch Me If You Can, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Green Mile, Apollo 13). The man is an icon already and he’s only 52 years old.
His accomplishments are going to be honored this coming year by the Lincoln Center. The good folks over at Yahoo give us this:
The two-time Academy Award winner will be feted April 27 at Alice Tully Hall, which is being renovated but scheduled to reopen Feb. 22. It will be the society’s 36th annual gala, following last year’s celebration of Meryl Streep.
“There are so few actors who have been able to make the struggle and drama of being a good man compelling,” Kent Jones, the society’s associate director of programming, said Monday. “With his talent, his presence, his versatility, his sense of humor, he has set a very high standard for his fellow actors.”
It would be an understatement to say Tom Hanks deserves this. There really isn’t any honor you could give him in the entertainment business that he doesn’t deserve (except perhaps “Best Rap Album” or something like that). He is one of the best the business has ever, or will ever see.
