The title of "greatest actor alive" isn't one that should be thrown around or taken lightly, yet few film stars have ever had such a firm standing at the top of Tinseltown as the legendary Tom Hanks. From his steady rise to fame in the 1980s to his box office dominance of the '90s and beyond, Hanks has consistently proven himself one of the best to ever do it.

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There may be no modern movie star more well-liked nor one more well respected. Tom Hanks is an icon of cinema, and for any doubters, these moments of magnificence represent the times when Hanks cemented himself as the very best thespian on the planet.

10 Tom Hanks Won The Academy Award For Best Actor Two Years In A Row

Tom Hanks in philadelphia

One of Tom Hanks' earliest true powerhouse performances came in Jonathan Demme's Philadelphia. Just as Demme had done with Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs two years prior, the director helped bring out an Academy Award-winning performance from his leading man.

Hanks' showing as a gay lawyer suffering from HIV/AIDS is not just notable for the endearing quality of Hanks' performance, it also deserves commendation for it taking place in one of the first mainstream movies to address the epidemic. Hanks' Oscar win was well deserved, yet any of his critics were silenced once again a year later when Hanks won again for Forrest Gump.

9 His Nora Ephron Romcoms with Meg Ryan Stole The Hearts Of Fans Everywhere

Tom Hanks looks back at Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail

Nora Ephron is rightly regarded as one of the greats of the romantic comedy genre, though this arguably wouldn't be true without Tom Hanks popping up as a loveable everyman in her hit films You've Got Mail and the Academy Award-nominated Sleepless in Seattle.

Opposite another rom-com legend in Meg Ryan, Hanks brings tremendous warmth and reliability to each film. Despite his commanding presence on screen, Hanks' characters felt like real people. When those people laughed or cried, the audience often followed suit.

8 The Beloved Classic Big Signalled Big Things For Tom Hanks As A Hollywood Star

Tom Hanks in Big

Big was the moment that Tom Hanks proved himself as a bankable Hollywood star. He received his first Oscar nomination for his work in the film as a young boy trapped inside an adult's body. Hanks showed just how funny and adorable he could be on the big screen, and he did so whilst injecting a large helping of heart into the picture.

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Thanks to the huge commercial success of Big, coupled with the praise Hanks received for his performance, the American actor established himself as a permanent resident in Tinseltown.

7 Tom Hanks Jumped Into The Gangster Genre In Road To Perdition

wide shot from Road to Perdition

Tom Hanks' filmography is packed with wholesome feel-good flicks and deeply emotional dramas, and there are few actors as synonymous with heartwarming characters as Hanks. But in 2002, after years of endearing himself to millions, the American actor stepped into a genre few expected to ever see him in - the gangster movie.

As a mob man on the run and out for revenge, Hanks proved he could be as intimidating as he was lovable. Road to Perdition is a gangster great, and while Paul Newman received the majority of the praise thanks to his Oscar nod, Hanks was just as electric as a gun-toting mafioso.

6 He Managed To Bring The Legendary Figures Of Walt Disney And Mr. Rogers To Life On Screen

tom hanks saving mr banks

There are some real-life historical figures that simply seem too iconic to be accurately portrayed on the big screen. Walt Disney and Fred Rogers are perhaps two examples of these, and yet Tom Hanks brought both to life in biopics with incredible success.

In any other actor's hands, a revitalizing of these legendary figures would have seemed an impossible task. Hanks somehow made it look easy and despite the fundamental differences between Rogers and Disney, Hanks played them as if he was born to do so. As a result, Saving Mr. Banks and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood are must-watch movies.

5 From The Big Screen To Broadway, Hanks Proved He Could Do It All With His Performance In Lucky Guy

tom hanks in lucky guy

Tom Hanks isn't just a phenomenal talent exclusive to Hollywood, and while he did get his start on the stage in the late 1970s, Hanks' Broadway debut didn't come until 2013.

And what a first time out it was, as Hanks won a World Theatre Award and a Tony Award for his performances in Lucky Guy. This would also be Hanks' final collaboration with the great Nora Ephron as the immensely talented writer and director sadly passed away shortly after the play finished its run.

4 Hanks Spent The Majority Of Cast Away Alone On Screen And Still Wowed Audiences

Tom Hanks' Chuck Noland leans against a tree while stranded on an island in Cast Away

If proof were ever needed of Tom Hanks' ability to command the screen for two hours, 2000's Cast Away contains all the required evidence. As a FedEx employee stranded on a desert island, Hanks delivered what is now accepted as one of his trademark top-quality performances.

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The American actor grabbed a Best Actor Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination for Cast Away. Robert Zemeckis' drama is an excellent, poignant picture, but it also works as a showcase of just how great Tom Hanks can be when he's sharing the screen with no one but himself.

3 He Teamed Up With Steven Spielberg To Create A World War II Masterpiece

Saving Private Ryan

One of Hollywood's most accomplished filmmakers teaming up with an actor as skilled as Tom Hanks has repeatedly produced exceptional results. Hanks and Steven Spielberg have collaborated five times, and arguably the highlight of this dream duo is 1998's Saving Private Ryan.

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War films don't get much more harrowing, heartbreaking, or thrilling, and both men deserve credit for the success of the movie. Saving Private Ryan is one of many masterpieces to feature Tom Hanks, but his filmography doesn't feature any films that are as powerful.

2 His Role As Woody In Toy Story Is A Highlight Of One Of The World's Most Adored Franchises

Woody with his back against the wall, nervous

While Tom Hanks has one of the most recognizable faces in cinema, his voice is perhaps even more iconic. With his beloved performance as Woody in Disney's Toy Story, Tom Hanks forever etched himself into the history books as one of the most talented voice actors to ever make the jump from live-action to animation.

Toy Story became a media monster, with three sequels and multiple spin-offs and adaptations following. Hanks' Woody became a cool cowboy hero to children everywhere and stands as one of Disney's most popular characters.

1 His Cecil B. DeMille Award Honor Is A Defining Achievement

tom hanks golden globes

In 2020, Tom Hanks received the Cecil B. DeMille Golden Globe Award for outstanding contributions to entertainment. A humble Hanks accepted his trophy, thanked his fans and peers, and took his place among the Hollywood greats. He is one of just 68 people to receive the honor.

A fitting accolade for one of the very best to ever appear on screen, the Cecil B. DeMille Award is a crowning achievement for Hanks' legendary tenure at the top. Hanks has also earned the Kennedy Center Honors Medallion and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work.

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