»Truman Hanks’ cinematic debut with dad Tom emphasizes differences with brother Chet«
America’s legendary nice-guy actor, Tom Hanks, is placing his son Truman in the spotlight — handing off his treasured progeny to millions of loyal film fans. The same can’t be true about Truman’s brother, Chet, the self-styled black sheep of the clean-cut Hollywood household.
Truman, 27, makes his acting debut Friday in “A Man Called Otto,” a comedy starring his two-time Oscar-winning father in which the junior Hanks plays a younger version of Tom’s cantankerous eponymous character.
Truman’s big-screen baptism by Tom, 66, contrasts sharply with the introduction to the public enjoyed by his older brother Chet, 32, who first featured in 2007’s “Bratz,” a family comedy that raked in $26 million worldwide.
Small appearances for Chet would follow, including as an unknown student in 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and as Jimmy Grimm (the brother of Ben Grimm, nicknamed The Thing) in 2015’s “Fantastic Four.”
Just months before that superhero box-office failure hit theaters, the tatted-up aspiring rapper, called “Chet Haze,” entered rehab for cocaine addiction in November 2014. In an Instagram post, Chet thanked his father Tom, mother Rita Wilson and half-brother Colin Hanks for supporting him.
Video later surfaced in March 2021 showing a bloodied Chet following an incident with ex-girlfriend Kiana Parker earlier that year in Sugarland, Texas. Hanks’ former sweetheart secured a restraining order against him for alleged attacks in October 2020 and January 2021, TMZ said.
An attorney representing Chet — who has previously appeared on Showtime’s “Shameless” and TV’s “Empire” as a rapper — reportedly denied Parker’s claims as bogus.
Messages seeking response from spokesmen for Chet and Tom were not responded Thursday. Attempts to reach Truman Hanks, who resides in Pacific Palisades, Calif., were fruitless.
Chet Hanks, Truman’s older brother, is the self-styled black sheep of the family. He and ex Kiana Parker got into a bloody confrontation in 2021.
Chet has been public about his reportedly troubled connection with his father, revealing in February on YouTube that he lacked a “strong male role model” as a child.
It is unclear how the “White Boy Summer” rapper’s personal troubles have affected his connection with his father, but Tom stated that he did not suggest casting Truman in “A Man Called Otto.” The suggestion came from director Marc Forster, the actress told “Today” viewers on Tuesday.
What do you know? Tom recalls Forster stating, “It’s always so fake to have someone else come in and play you, because they never look right.” “‘Could Truman possibly do this?’”
Chet Hanks, despite being the son of Tom Hanks, has stated that he “lacked a strong male role model” as a child.
Sony Pictures/Everett Courtesy
Tom has two other children, son Colin, 45, and daughter Elizabeth, 40, with his 1978 wife, actress Samantha Lewes. In 1987, one year prior to Tom’s “Big” Hollywood debut, the couple split. In 2002, Lewes, age 49, died of bone cancer.
Colin, who was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the television series “Fargo,” has acted in other television episodes and films, such as “Orange County” and “King Kong.” Additionally, he has directed a number of feature films and is currently creating a documentary about baseball hero Willie Mays.
Elizabeth, who acted as a background actor in her father’s iconic film “Forrest Gump,” is a writer whose past work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian.
According to her Instagram profile, she will publish her debut novel under the name E.A. Hanks in 2024.
Tom’s children from his first marriage, Colin (second from left) and Elizabeth (in green) are members of the Hanks family.
The father of the quartet stated that he was worried about Truman’s turn in the spotlight, even as one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars, but he wanted his youngest kid to navigate the road independently.
Tom Hanks told NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, “There’s only one way to do it, and that’s to wrestle the beast.” The good thing about movies is that if anything isn’t good, it won’t be included.
Hanks noted that the “Mr. Nice Guy” persona may be somewhat exaggerated, particularly among his children.
While Hanks is known in Hollywood as “Mr. Nice Guy,” he quips that his children view him as a “grumpy old man.”
“My brat children will likely tell you, ‘When is Dad’s inner jerk not in charge?’” Hanks joked. “Well, I prefer to use the word ‘fascinating’ rather than ‘pleasant. However, we have all experienced traffic jams, right? Thus, when such occurrences occur, I go utterly insane.
But working with Truman was indisputably enjoyable and “special,” Hanks said People, ostensibly to stave off allegations of Hollywood nepotism.
Hanks stated, “Without a doubt, it’s special because, you know, I changed his diapers.” “However, you quickly get over that because you have to show up, hit your marks, complete the task on time, and be right there.”
Truman stated that mimicking his father was not as tough as one might believe.
Truman told People, “Whenever I imitate him, people are like, ‘That’s not what he sounds like.’” “However, I must explain to you how I perceive him. Everyone hears the phrase “Houston, we have a problem” I hear an elderly man who is angry with the DVD player.
»Truman Hanks’ cinematic debut with dad Tom emphasizes differences with brother Chet«