Two-time Oscar-winner Tom Hanks was officially bestowed the moniker “America’s Dad” by “The Americas” executive producer Mike Gunton, according to a Variety interview with the pair. It’s a title that the movie star takes to naturally, and his work in the 21st century has often required him to play roles that have a paternal feel, from playing Walt Disney in “Saving Mr. Banks” to the heroic captain in “Sully.” Not to mention that his turns hosting “Saturday Night Live” have gifted the world the greatest of dad jokes.
In “The Americas,” which aired in 11-parts earlier this year, Hanks lent his voice to narrating the wildlife tales of two continents, adding a decidedly fatherlike gravitas to the series. While the “Forrest Gump” actor feels the “America’s Dad” title “might say more about the induced trauma of family of origin issues for most of America,” he does wear it with pride.
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“Look, I have enthusiasms that are particular to me,” Hanks told Variety. “I have a willingness to dominate every dinner table that I sit at. It’s one of [my] character defects that I’m working on. But I’m going to treat that seriously when someone comes in and says, ‘We look upon you as a dad.’ Because the best dads are going to offer up wisdom, patience, and just the right amount of discipline when the time comes.”
That said, Hanks said there was a different title he’d rather have, one that he would likely bestow on a state park’s park ranger whom he once watched speak for 50 minutes at a campfire event. “I would love to be called something specific: The best park ranger they’ve ever heard,” he said.
No matter how impressive his filmography might be (we haven’t even mentioned “Philadelphia,” “Big,” “Cast Away,” “The Green Mile”), Hanks is modest when talking his output.
“I’ve made a ton of movies (and four of them are pretty good, I think) and I’m still amazed at how films come together,” he told People in 2022. “From a flicker of an idea to the flickering image onscreen, the whole process is a miracle.”
