Latest news with #E.A.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Hanks Responds to Daughter's Allegations of Abuse in Memoir
Tom Hanks has broken his silence after his daughter, E.A. Hanks, alleged that her mother, Samantha Lewes, was physically and emotionally abusive. In her memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, which was published in April, E.A. claimed that her mother struggled with mental health issues after her divorce from Tom was finalized in 1987. In the book, E.A. details being hit, shaken, and at times locked in closets. She claimed that Lewes let their home spiral into messiness, with the fridge often empty or filled with spoiled food, as she sat in bed reading the to Access Hollywood at the premiere of his new movie, The Phoenician Scheme, the veteran actor broke his silence regarding E.A.'s allegations. "It's a pride because she's been very open about what the process is," Tom said. 'I'm not surprised that my daughter had the wherewithal, as well as the curiosity, as well as, I'm going to say, perhaps, the 'shoot herself in the foot' kind of wherewithal in order to examine this thing that I think she was incredibly honest about."We all come from checked or cracked lives. She knows that, and she leans into absolutely everything of it,' he added, calling E.A. a "bold journalistic literary mind." E.A., whose real name is Elizabeth Anne, eventually moved in with her father full-time at the age of 12, shortly after Tom married his second wife, Rita Wilson. Lewes, who was born Susan Dillingham, passed away in 2002. Hanks and Lewes share a son, Colin, in addition to Hanks Responds to Daughter's Allegations of Abuse in Memoir first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2025
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Hanks Is 'Not Surprised' About His Daughter's Memoir That Alleges Her Mom Samantha Lewes Was Emotionally and Physically Abusive
Tom Hanks is speaking out for the first time following the release of his daughter E.A. Hanks' memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, which alleges that her mom was emotionally and physically abusive "I'm not surprised that my daughter had the wherewithal as well as the curiosity to examine this thing," he explained to Access Hollywood recently E.A. Hanks' memoir was released on April 8 and examines her childhoodTom Hanks is sharing how he really feels about his daughter E.A. Hanks' memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road — and the claims it brings forth that her mom, actress Samantha Lewes, was emotionally and physically abusive. The Forrest Gump star, 68, addressed the abuse allegations E.A.'s book — which was published April 8 — during a conversation with Access Hollywood on Wednesday, May 26, at the red carpet premiere of his new film, The Phoenician Scheme. 'I'm not surprised that my daughter had the wherewithal as well as the curiosity to examine this thing that I think she was incredibly honest about,' Hanks told the outlet. 'We all come from checkered, cracked lives, all of us.' 'She's a knockout, always has been,' he continued. 'If you've had kids, you realize that you see who they are when they're about 6 weeks old.' In the memoir, E.A., whose real name is Elizabeth Anne, details experiencing "emotional violence" and "physical violence" from her mother, whose real name Susan Dillingham, after her parents' divorce. Hanks and Dillingham tied the knot in January 1978, and their divorce was finalized in 1987. Dillingham got primary custody, and the kids had designated weekend and summer visits with Hanks. "I would visit my dad and stepmother (and soon enough my younger half brothers) on the weekends and during summers, but from 5 to 14, years filled with confusion, violence, deprivation, and love," E.A., 43, wrote in an excerpt previously obtained by PEOPLE. She added, "As the years went on, the backyard became so full of dog s--- that you couldn't walk around it, the house stank of smoke. The fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not, and my mother spent more and more time in her big four-poster bed, poring over the Bible." E.A. said she moved to Los Angeles after her mother's alleged abuse took a turn for the worse. "One night, her emotional violence became physical violence, and in the aftermath I moved to Los Angeles, right smack in the middle of the seventh grade. My custody arrangement basically switched — now I lived in L.A. and visited Sacramento on the weekends and in the summer." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. She said during her senior year of high school, her mother called to tell her she was dying. Though her mother was never diagnosed, E.A. believes Dillingham was bipolar with episodes of extreme paranoia and delusion. Hanks' latest film, The Phoenician Scheme, centers around a wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda (played by Benicio Del Toro), who "appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists and determined assassins,' per IMDb. Hanks plays Korda's business associate, Leland. The film also stars Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson and more. It was released in limited theaters on May 30 and will see a wide release June 6. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Hanks Gets Candid After Daughter's Tell-All Memoir Exposes Painful Past
Tom Hanks is finally speaking out about his daughter Elizabeth Anne (E.A.) Hanks' explosive memoir, "The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road." In the book, she offers a deeply personal look at her difficult childhood, providing insight into her emotionally complex relationship with her late mother, Susan Dillingham, whose stage name was Samantha Lewes. Appearing at the premiere of his latest film, "The Phoenician Scheme," Hanks addressed the book's revelations and expressed admiration for his daughter's courage. Tom reflected on his daughter's honesty and resilience in telling her story. He shared his thoughts during a red carpet interview with Access Hollywood. The "Forrest Gump" star expressed pride in E.A.'s openness and literary approach, noting, "It's a pride because, I think, she shares it with me, she's been very open about what the process is." He also said, "I'm not surprised that my daughter had the where with all, as well as the curiosity, as well as, I'm going to say, perhaps, the shoot herself in the foot, where with all, in order to examine this thing that she was incredibly honest about." The iconic actor continued, "We all come from checkered, cracked lives, all of us, despite the fact that part of it would seem as though, she would work for some international well-known firm with a copyrighted last name." Tom concluded, "She knows that and she leads into absolutely everything of it and I think anyone who does that is a bold journalistic literary mind and I'm thrilled I can say the same thing about my daughter." In her memoir, E.A. reflected on a difficult and turbulent childhood shaped by her relationship with her late mother, Susan Dillingham, known professionally as Samantha Lewes, who died in March 2002. "Saying that my mother was mentally ill, that she was possibly 'bipolar with episodes of extreme paranoia and delusion,' makes sense of the nights sitting with her on a blanket in the driveway," she wrote per E! News. "My mother sobbing and convinced there were men inside the house, bugging the walls, waiting for us in our bedrooms." E.A. shared that by the time she was 14, she had begun to realize the instability of her childhood. "There often wasn't enough food, schoolwork went unsupported, and I shouldn't have been woken up at three in the morning to hear an impromptu lecture on why yoga was the devil's work." While she clarified that her mother never physically beat her, she described a number of unsettling and emotionally abusive incidents. "She pushed me, shook me, pulled at my hair, and locked me in a closet once or twice … she told me there were men hiding in her closet who were waiting for us to go to sleep to come out and do horrible things," E.A. shared. She also recalled bizarre and haunting conversations that stayed with her. "She talked to me about dozens of miscarried babies and how I might join my siblings in eternal limbo one day," she revealed. Despite the pain and instability she experienced growing up, E.A. acknowledged that her mother also provided moments of care and effort that she continues to remember fondly. She wrote that her mother "drove me all over California to horse shows at ungodly hours," a gesture that showed deep commitment and support for her interests. E.A. also recalled more lighthearted and tender moments, sharing that her mother would "cut up cookie dough for my friends sleeping over and let me dye my hair every color I wanted." Eventually, E.A. moved out of her mother's home and went to live with her father, Tom Hanks, his wife Rita Wilson, and her two half-brothers, Chet and Truman Hanks. Despite the tensions between her and her mom, E.A. shares a strong, affirming bond with her father. In her memoir, she reflected on the profound emotional significance Disneyland held in her life, not merely as a theme park, but as a constant presence that grounded her throughout her journey. "Disneyland has been more of a constant in my life than any house I have ever lived in," she wrote. "I have spent Thanksgiving there. I have spent Christmas there. I have spent more birthdays than I can count there." What truly solidifies Disneyland's meaning for her, however, is the time she shared there with her father, Tom. Their visits created cherished memories that continue to shape her emotional connection to the park. "I cannot separate my emotional connection to Disneyland from my emotional connection to my father," she explained, "because like many other California daughters, I have spent a lot of time at Disneyland with my dad, and because one day he'll die." Beyond nostalgia, E.A. sees Disneyland as a place where her father's legacy lives on, both literally and symbolically. In her memoir, she wrote about how his iconic role as Woody in "Toy Story" echoes throughout the park, from attractions to merchandise. "I was thinking about that first time I will come back to Disneyland after my father dies and how I will hear him when I hear Woody," she shared. "In that moment, it was as if it had already happened, that I was somehow touching on what future me would feel, and I cracked open with emotion." Despite the sadness that such thoughts bring, they also offer solace. "Disneyland ensures that a part of my dad will live forever," she wrote. To E.A., the park represents more than fun or family tradition. It stands as a defiance of mortality itself. "Disneyland has become a monument for art, against death," she reflected. "Walt's vision survives, and some part of my father will too. Art survives."
Sky News AU
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'I'm not surprised': Tom Hanks breaks silence on daughter E.A. Hank's 'abusive' childhood claims made in her bombshell memoir
Tom Hanks has broken his silence on his daughter E.A. Hanks' claims she endured an 'abusive' childhood. The two-time Oscar winner, 68, praised E.A., 43, for the deeply personal memories of her difficult childhood she shared in her 2025 autobiography, The 10: A Memoir of Family And The Open Road. In it, she detailed the "violence and deprivation" she suffered at the hands of her late mother, Samantha Lewes. "It's a pride because, I think, she shares it with me, she's been very open about what the process is," Hanks told Access Hollywood of his feelings about the book at "The Phoenician Scheme" premiere last week. "I'm not surprised that my daughter had the wherewithal, as well as the curiosity, as well as, I'm going to say, perhaps, the 'shoot herself in the foot' kind of wherewithal in order to examine this thing that I think she was incredibly honest about." 'We all come from checked or cracked lives, all of us, despite the fact that part of it would seem as though she worked for some international well-known firm with a copyrighted last name,' the 'Forrest Gump' actor, 68, continued. 'She knows that, and she leans into absolutely everything of it, and I think anyone who does that is a bold journalistic literary mind, and I'm thrilled I can say the same thing about my daughter.' Hanks also explained that as a father, he realized who his daughter was when she was 6 weeks old, as he examined her 'personality,' 'temperament,' and the way she viewed the world through her 'body language.' The 'Cast Away' star shares E.A. and son Colin Hanks, 47, with Lewes, to whom he was married from 1978 to 1987. Lewes, born Susan Dillingham, passed away in 2002 from lung cancer. She was 49. In her tell-all book, E.A. recalled moving to Sacramento with her mum after her famous parents got a divorce. The author claimed that Lewes struggled with mental health issues and was often abusive toward her. 'She pushed me, shook me, pulled at my hair and locked me in a closet once or twice … she told me there were men hiding in her closet who were waiting for us to go to sleep to come out and do horrible things,' E.A., whose full name is Elizabeth Ann, wrote. She detailed her lifestyle at Lewes' home, explaining she was never told to brush her teeth, and there was either loads of food or nothing at all. She also alleged that Lewes would discuss her 'miscarried babies' and suggested E.A. would 'join them in eternal limbo.' When E.A. was in seventh grade, she moved to Los Angeles with her famous father after her mom's 'emotional violence became physical violence.' At the time, Tom had remarried his current wife, Rita Wilson, whom he wed in 1988. 'Rita's not really a stepmother, she's my other mother,' she told People in April. 'When I say my parents, I really mean my dad and Rita, because they've been together since before I can really remember.' Tom and Wilson, 68, share sons Chet, 34, and Truman, 29.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Hanks's daughter says her mother ‘never recovered' from his fame: ‘His stature in the world obliterated her'
Tom Hanks's daughter, E.A. Hanks, opened up about how her mother struggled to process the Forrest Gump actor's growing fame. E.A. — which stands for Elizabeth Anne — was the daughter of Hanks's first wife, Susan Dillingham. The former couple also shared son Colin Hanks. Dillingham and Hanks met as theater students at Sacramento State University and were married from 1978 to 1987. In her new memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family And The Open Road, E.A. embarks on a six-month-long road trip from Los Angeles to Palatka, Florida, where her mother's family is from, to learn more about her before she died from lung cancer in 2002. Part of the book discusses Dillingham adjusting to Hanks's rise after he shot to fame in the late Eighties with roles in films like Splash (1984), The Money Pit (1986), and Big (1988). E.A. specifically writes that her mother was a 'would-be actress who never recovered from her ex-husband's catastrophic fame.' In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, E.A. said that she thought the word 'catastrophic' was the best way to describe how Dillingham felt about her ex-husband's success. 'She felt that his stature in the world obliterated her and any chance she had at continuing her stage career,' she said. 'The uncomfortable truth, and there's a lot of them in this book, is she didn't really have a career, and her ex-husband becoming the Tom Hanks was more insult to injury than significant impediment.' She continued: ''Catastrophic' also because that brand of megawatt fame erases what actually matters in an artist and what set my dad apart in the first place: humanity and talent. But I chose that word, catastrophic, not her.' Hanks went on to re-marry Rita Wilson in 1988, and they welcomed two sons: Chet in 1990 and Truman in 1995. Despite her mother never receiving a formal diagnosis, E.A. assumed that her mother was bipolar with episodes of extreme paranoia and delusion. During a portion of her memoir, E.A. said her mother slowly started to become more neglectful, leading to a switch in the custody arrangement meaning she and Colin would only see their mother on weekends and during the summer. 'As the years went on, the backyard became so full of dog s*** that you couldn't walk around it, the house stank of smoke. The fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not, and my mother spent more and more time in her big four-poster bed, poring over the Bible,' her book read. 'One night, her emotional violence became physical violence, and in the aftermath I moved to Los Angeles, right smack in the middle of the seventh grade.'
