Tom Hanksis a renowned Hollywood actor and proud father of four adult children today, but it wasn’t easy to juggle it all at the beginning of his career.In an in-depth profile forThe New York Timessurrounding his upcomingFred RogersfilmA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Hanks, 63, opens up about becoming a dad for the first time at age 21, and how his older and younger children were raised differently as a result of his differing success levels.“I start thinking about mistakes I made with my own kids and not explaining things or not being there for them. Or being so preoccupied with other things that are going on in our adult world,” the star says of his early days of fatherhood.“My son [Colin Hanks] was born when I was very young. As well as my daughter [Elizabeth Hanks],” he adds.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty ImagesTom Hanks and family.ShutterstockHanks is dad to Colin, 41, and Elizabeth, 37, from his first marriage to Samantha Lewes. He married actressRita Wilsonin 1988, and they went on to have two sons:Chet, 29, and Truman, 23.“We have this gestalt understanding because [Colin and Elizabeth] remember when their dad wasjust a guy trying to, you know, make the rent,” Hanks continues. “My other kids, they were born after I had established a beachhead in every way. And so their lives were just different.”With 40-plus years of fatherhood under his belt, Hanks admits that there is no secret to being the perfect parent. The only true constant is being supportive of his kids.Tom Hanks.Steve Granitz/WireImageRELATED VIDEO: Tom Hanks’ Son Chet Hanks Is Two Years Sober and “Wouldn’t Trade It for Anything”“Somewhere along the line, I figured out, the only thing really, I think,eventually a parent can do issay, ‘I love you, there’s nothing you can do wrong, you cannot hurt my feelings, I hope you will forgive me on occasion, and what do you need me to do?’ ” Hanks tells theNYT.“You offer up that to them,” continues theForrest Gumpactor. ” ‘I will do anything I can possibly do in order to keep you safe.’ That’s it. Offer that up and then just love them.”A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhoodopens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22.
Tom Hanksis a renowned Hollywood actor and proud father of four adult children today, but it wasn’t easy to juggle it all at the beginning of his career.
In an in-depth profile forThe New York Timessurrounding his upcomingFred RogersfilmA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Hanks, 63, opens up about becoming a dad for the first time at age 21, and how his older and younger children were raised differently as a result of his differing success levels.
“I start thinking about mistakes I made with my own kids and not explaining things or not being there for them. Or being so preoccupied with other things that are going on in our adult world,” the star says of his early days of fatherhood.
“My son [Colin Hanks] was born when I was very young. As well as my daughter [Elizabeth Hanks],” he adds.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images
Tom Hanks and family.Shutterstock
Hanks is dad to Colin, 41, and Elizabeth, 37, from his first marriage to Samantha Lewes. He married actressRita Wilsonin 1988, and they went on to have two sons:Chet, 29, and Truman, 23.
“We have this gestalt understanding because [Colin and Elizabeth] remember when their dad wasjust a guy trying to, you know, make the rent,” Hanks continues. “My other kids, they were born after I had established a beachhead in every way. And so their lives were just different.”
With 40-plus years of fatherhood under his belt, Hanks admits that there is no secret to being the perfect parent. The only true constant is being supportive of his kids.
Tom Hanks.Steve Granitz/WireImage
RELATED VIDEO: Tom Hanks’ Son Chet Hanks Is Two Years Sober and “Wouldn’t Trade It for Anything”
“Somewhere along the line, I figured out, the only thing really, I think,eventually a parent can do issay, ‘I love you, there’s nothing you can do wrong, you cannot hurt my feelings, I hope you will forgive me on occasion, and what do you need me to do?’ ” Hanks tells theNYT.
“You offer up that to them,” continues theForrest Gumpactor. ” ‘I will do anything I can possibly do in order to keep you safe.’ That’s it. Offer that up and then just love them.”
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhoodopens in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22.
source: people.com
