Even after 35 years of happy marriage, Tom Hanks is still head over heels for his wife, Rita Wilson. Hanks first felt the “ka-boing” of love when they met on the set of Bosom Buddies in 1981.
When some internet trolls recently called his wife “flabby,” Hanks didn’t hesitate to defend her. He publicly praised her, calling her “one of the most classically beautiful women who’s ever walked the planet Earth.”
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are one of Hollywood’s enduring couples. They first met in 1981 while working on the TV show Bosom Buddies. Wilson played a devil worshipper who dates Hanks’ friend on the show, which Hanks watched regularly.
At that time, Hanks was married to his high school sweetheart, Samantha Lewes, with whom he has a son, Colin Hanks. But fate had different plans, and Hanks and Wilson—who both later produced My Big Fat Greek Wedding—were meant to be together.
“Rita and I just looked at each other and – kaboing – that was that,” Hanks recalled. “I asked Rita if it was the real thing for her, and she couldn’t deny it.” Hanks divorced Lewes in 1988 and married Wilson, his co-star from the 1985 movie Volunteers.
Both now 67 years old, Hanks and Wilson celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in April 2023. They have two children, Chet and Truman, and have starred together in multiple films over the past thirty years, including Bonfire of the Vanities and Sleepless in Seattle. They’ve always been there for each other.
Wilson remembered a sweet moment early in their relationship. “We were standing on the corner of 57th and 5th in New York, holding hands, waiting for the traffic light. He looked at me and said, ‘You know, I just want you to know that you never have to change anything about who you are to be with me.’ A wave of love washed over me, and that’s who he is and always has been.”
In 2015, Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She was deeply grateful for Hanks’ support. “You never know how your spouse will react in a situation like this. I was in awe of the love and care Tom showed me. It brought us even closer.”
In 2020, the couple faced another challenge when they both tested positive for COVID-19. Wilson said, “Having the virus at the same time made it a bit easier. We were taking care of each other instead of one person having to bear the load alone.”
In 2022, while promoting the movie Elvis in New York City, Hanks made a bold move to protect Wilson. As they were leaving a building, a fan accidentally tripped Wilson. The normally calm Hanks shouted, “Guys, this is my wife. Back off! Knocking my wife over?”
Later that year, Wilson faced body shaming online. Photos of her went viral, and some trolls called her “flabby” and compared her to an “unmade bed.” One comment said, “Tom looks great, while Rita looks out of shape and flabby.” Another wrote, “Rita Wilson has really let herself go.”
Before Hanks could respond, fans jumped to Wilson’s defense. One commented, “Double post a picture of your perfect body, Mr. NoProfilePic, that gives you the right to judge others so harshly.” Another said, “OMG, really, as we age, our bodies undergo drastic changes. She looks fantastic to me.” A third added, “Beauty within ya twit.”
Hanks praised his wife, calling her “one of the most classically beautiful women who’s ever walked the planet Earth,” and also “extremely brave and beautiful.” He had previously said, “I’m a lucky man.”
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