Jim Hanks

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Jim Hanks
Born James Mefford Hanks
(1961-06-15) June 15, 1961 (age 63)
Shasta County, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
Years active 1989–present
Spouse(s) Karen Praxel (m. 1986)
Children 1
Relatives <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>

James Mefford Hanks (born June 15, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has played numerous minor roles in film and guest appearances on television, and often does voice substitution work for his older brother Tom Hanks (most notably Sheriff Woody for Toy Story-related talking toys and video games). He has produced, directed, and filmed several short films. Hanks made his film debut in Buford's Beach Bunnies (1993).

Early life

James Mefford Hanks was born in Shasta County, California on June 15, 1961.[1] He is the son of Janet Marylyn (née Frager)[2] and itinerant cook Amos Mefford Hanks.[3][4] Hanks is also the youngest brother of fellow actor Tom Hanks and entomologist Larry Hanks, but they were not raised together.[5][6][7] After their parents divorced, Jim went to Red Bluff, California with his mother while older siblings Tom, Larry, and Sandra remained with their father. After college, he lived in Sacramento working as a waiter.[8] The agent who employed his actress wife Karen Praxel as a receptionist encouraged him to get into acting.[8] After he took acting lessons, he moved to Los Angeles in 1992 and began his career with roles in B-movies and commercial voice-overs.

Career

He got his first lead role as Jeeter Buford in Buford's Beach Bunnies (1993). Wishing to earn the role based on his own abilities, he auditioned as "Jim Matthews" (just his first and a modification of his middle name). While producers noted his "resemblance to Tom Hanks", he won the role based on his own comedic and acting skills and his relationship to his brother was not revealed until paperwork was completed.[9]

In 1995, A Current Affair revealed that Tom had created the mannerisms for the character of Forrest Gump based on the simpleton mannerisms earlier created by Jim for the role of Jeeter,[10] including Forrest's "now-famous jerky run".[11] His physical resemblance to his brother allowed him to act as body double for him in scenes in Forrest Gump.[12] Due to his vocal similarity, and with his brother Tom's personal recommendation,[13] he often substitutes for Tom in the role of Sheriff Woody in various Toy Story video games and spin-offs.[14][15]

Hanks began to provide the voice of Geoffrey the Giraffe in the Toys "R" Us commercials in 2001[16] and is the voice of Rudy from the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers commercials.

He guest-starred in an episode of Scrubs, appearing as a "Dr. Turner" partnered with recurring character Dr. Hooch, in reference to his brother's film Turner & Hooch.[17]

In the 1998 film adaptation of O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief", Hanks played the role of the mailman who was the town gossip.

He has appeared on stage, including playing "Lennie Small" in Theatrical Arts International's production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.

In November 2016, Hanks guest-starred in a web series called Gary CK Needs Work, a parody of the FX show Louie.

Personal life

Hanks married actress Karen Praxel on May 25, 1986, together they have one son.[18] The family resides in Venice, California.[citation needed]

He works with Los Angeles-based "Feet First Films", a production company that provides actor demos as well as production support for short films.[19]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Buford's Beach Bunnies Jeeter Buford
1994 Forrest Gump Forrest Gump Tom Hanks's body double
1995 Portrait in Red Detective Wilder
Xtro 3: Watch the Skies Prvt. Friedman
1996 Tiny Toy Stories Woody (voice) International release only
1997 Psycho Sushi Yuriel
1999 Blood Type Stew [20]
Baby Geniuses Goon Ray
Inferno Tour Bus Driver
2000 Blood on the Backlot Officer Holbrook
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins Woody (voice) Direct-to-video
2001 Cahoots Mr. Marsh
Spirit Rising Marv Chalsky
2003 Swing Club Jimbo Maitre D'
2004 Purgatory House Saint James
2008 Deadwater Ensign Buford
2009 Road to the Altar Dick
2010 Goofyfoot Dad
Acts of Violence Detective Mike
2011 Seymour Sally Rufus Doctor
2012 Stolen Breath Actor
2013 Automotive Detective Fulton
Odd Brodsky Actor playing God
A Leading Man Darren Brandl
I Know That Voice Himself Documentary
2017 The Sex Trip Matt Flannery
2018 Blood Corral Michael Arman
2019 The Long Way Professor Bob
2020 Lamp Life Woody (voice) Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Homefront Ball Player #4 Episode: "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage"
1995 The Clinic
1996 Toy Story Treats Woody (voice)
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Les Barrish Episode: "It's a Small World After All"
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Jerry Episode: "The True Adventures of Rudy Kazootie"
1997 Night Man Episode: "Face to Face"
1998 The Ransom of Red Chief Mailman TV movie
1998–1999 JAG CPO Kyle Anderson
Chief Kyle Anderson		 Episodes: "Jaggle Bells"
"Yeah, Baby"
1999 Smart Guy Episode: "From A to Double D"
Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot Dwayne Hunter
2000 Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane Duane the Salesman Episode: "Kiss of Death"
2005 Scrubs Dr. Turner Episode: "My Faith in Humanity"
2007 Dexter Annoyed Man Episode: "The Dark Defender"
2008 Shark Swarm Nick Atkins TV movie
2012 I Married Who? Director
2012–2018 Robot Chicken Various Voices 8 episodes
2014 Rake Fred Luntz - Director Episode: "50 Shades of Gay"
2017 Milo Murphy's Law Captain Wilson (voice) Episode: "The Note"
2018 Goldie and Bear Red's Father Episode: "Tess the Giantess/Red Moves Away"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Toy Story: Activity Center Woody
Animated Storybook: Toy Story
1999 Toy Story 2: Activity Center
Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
2001 Toy Story Racer
2003 Extreme Skate Adventure [21]
2004 The Polar Express Conductor, Hobo, Scrooge
2009 Toy Story Mania! Woody
2010 Toy Story 3: The Video Game
2011 Kinect Disneyland Adventures
2012 Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure
2013 Disney Infinity
2014 Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 [22]
2018 Lego The Incredibles
2019 Kingdom Hearts III
2023 Disney Dreamlight Valley
2023 Disney Speedstorm

Theme parks

Year Title Role
2008 Toy Story Midway Mania! Woody

Filmmaking credits

Year Title Director Producer Writer Cinematographer Notes
1995 Back Field in Motion No No No Yes Video short
2008 Wish Yes Yes No Yes Short film
The Floor Yes No No Yes
2010 Deception No Yes No No Short film
Co-producer
Collision Yes Yes No No Short film
Real Men Real Issues No No No Yes TV series
Episode: "Mine or Mime?"
The Rise and Fall of John Tesoro No No No Yes Short film
2011 Hazelnut Yes Yes No Yes Short film
Co-producer
The Comedy Blips No No No Yes TV series
2012 Coveting Roses Yes Yes Yes Yes Short film
2013 Dog Gone Missing No No No Yes
2013–2014 Bunny and Bee No No No Yes 4 episodes
2014 Dead Drop Yes No No No Assistant director
Breaking Curfew No No No Yes TV series
2018 Two Minutes to Midnight No Yes No No TV Mini-Series
Episode: "AtomEx"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film Result
1999 Angel Film Award Best Supporting Actor Blood Type Won

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  3. ↑ Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 1999
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  7. ↑ He discusses his brother beginning at 3:00 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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