Tom Hanks Breaks Silence on Daughter’s Bombshell Memoir
Renowned actor Tom Hanks has finally spoken out about his daughter E.A. Hanks’ explosive memoir, "The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road," which details her troubled childhood. According to a report by the New York Post, Hanks, 68, opened up about the book during the red carpet premiere of his film "The Phoenician Scheme," per the New York Post.
In an interview with "Access Hollywood" on May 26, Hanks shared his thoughts on his daughter’s book, saying, "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," as quoted by the New York Post. "We all come from checkered, cracked lives, all of us." He added, "She’s a knockout, always has been. If you’ve had kids, you realise that you see who they are when they’re about 6 weeks old."
The New York Post reported that E.A. Hanks, 43, published her memoir in April, which revealed a rocky early life marked by "violence" and "deprivation" as the daughter of a Hollywood icon. In the book, E.A. wrote about her experiences growing up as the only daughter of Tom Hanks and his late ex-wife Samantha Lewes. According to the New York Post, E.A. described her childhood as tumultuous, with her mother allegedly physically abusing her when she was a teenager.
The New York Post reported that E.A. and her brother Colin initially lived with their mother in Sacramento, but the "custody arrangement basically switched" after Dillingham’s alleged abuse. E.A. wrote, "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," as cited by the New York Post. She also claimed that her mother’s emotional violence became physical one night, leading her to move to Los Angeles in the middle of seventh grade.
The title of E.A.’s memoir, "The 10," was inspired by a six-month transcontinental journey she took in 2019, which echoed a similar trip she took with her mother years before. In an interview with People, E.A. explained, "When I was 14, my mother and I drove across America along Interstate 10 to Florida, in a Winnebago that lumbered along the asphalt with a rolling gait that felt nautical," according to the New York Post.
The New York Post also reported that E.A.’s book touches on her relationship with her stepmother, Rita Wilson, and her half-brothers, Chet and Truman. Tom Hanks married Rita Wilson in 1988, and the couple welcomed Chet in 1990 and Truman in 1995. E.A. has described her relationship with Wilson as close, saying, "Rita’s not really a stepmother, she’s my other mother," as quoted by the New York Post.
According to the New York Post, Tom Hanks’ comments on his daughter’s memoir mark a rare public statement on the matter. The actor has previously kept a relatively low profile regarding his personal life, but his words of support for E.A. demonstrate a sense of pride and understanding. As reported by the New York Post, Hanks said, "Their personality is on display right there, their temper, the way they see the world is demonstrated in their body language and on their face."
The New York Post’s coverage of E.A. Hanks’ memoir and Tom Hanks’ comments provides a unique insight into the complexities of celebrity family life. As reported by the New York Post, E.A.’s book offers a candid look at her experiences growing up as the daughter of a Hollywood legend, and her father’s response underscores the importance of family and understanding.
The article was originally published by the New York Post, and this reporting is based on their coverage of the story. Further reading: New York Post.
