Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
A Hollywood Marriage the World Envies

By Michael Ricketson

Two-time Best Actor Oscar Award winner Tom Hanks and award-winning actress, singer, producer Rita Wilson have been together since first meeting in 1981 on the set of Bosom Buddies, when Rita guest-starred on the show.

Tom is quoted as saying to GQ, “Rita and I just looked at each other and – kaboing – that was that.” Tom, still married to his wife Samantha Lewis, and with two children, Colin and Elizabeth would be divorced by 1987. He had tried to make it work, but it was already broken when he met Rita. In December of 1986, Tom and Rita made their relationship public and finally married on April 30th, 1988. Rita would later give birth to two sons, Chester “Chet” Hanks in 1990 and Truman Theodore Hanks in 1995.

It seems like there’s another sensational Hollywood breakup every week. Cheating, stalking, drugs, and many other scandalous stories get sent out for public consumption that appears to encourage bitter battles between lovers. Try and find some of that on this powerhouse Hollywood couple. It’s not there! You will find a mountain of articles celebrating their marriage that has included ups and downs like any other married couple. One of those downs came in 2015 when Rita was diagnosed with breast cancer.

A Health Scare Brings Closeness

Cancer affects the entire family and can and has destroyed marriages. Treatment for breast cancer is grueling, especially with a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, as in Rita’s case. But Tom stood by her through it all. In an interview with The New York Times, she said, “I was so amazed, so blown away by the care my husband gave me… who knew it would make you even closer?” Some have said that a cancer diagnosis is the true test of a marriage. In 2020 they both contracted Coronavirus and leaned on and cared for each other as they battled the virus. Health scares, however terrifying, can also bring people closer.

But what is their secret?

Laughter has to be some of it because Tom Hanks is hilarious even though his most famous works are serious pieces. Relationships take work, and Tom and Rita seem to have worked on it and pushed through the tough times to emerge stronger than before. Here at Hollywood Internation People, we salute this tour de force entertainment couple’s incredible 33 years of happy Hollywood marriage.

Tom and Rita’s marriage is a model not just for Hollywood couples, but couples around the world.

References

Fogle, A. (2021, May 1). Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson just celebrated THEIR 33rd anniversary. Good Housekeeping. Retrieved from https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g3131/tom-hanks-rita-wilson-marriage/.

IMDb.com. (n.d.). Rita Wilson. IMDb. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001854/awards.

IMDb.com. (n.d.). Tom Hanks. IMDb. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/awards.

Montemayor, C. (2021, April 2). Everything to know about Tom Hanks and Rita WILSON’S Relationship. Brides. Retrieved from https://www.brides.com/tom-hanks-rita-wilson-relationship-timeline-5119220.

O’Sullivan, K. (2021, February 18). Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s Real-Life love story is better than any rom-com. Country Living. Retrieved from https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a28118169/tom-hanks-wife-rita-wilson-marriage-kids/.

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Rita Wilson Image List

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