The Four Paths: Where Are Tom Hanks' Kids Now? (2025 Career Update)

Few families in Hollywood carry the weight of expectation quite like the Hanks clan. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the four children of Oscar-winner Tom Hanks—Colin, Elizabeth, Chet, and Truman—are navigating their own paths in the entertainment industry, each finding unique ways to either embrace or step out of their father's colossal shadow. From major blockbuster roles and behind-the-scenes cinematography to careers in writing and music, their diverse professional lives are a fascinating study in celebrity lineage and the modern "nepo baby" debate. The current date is December 12, 2025, and the latest updates show a family deeply entrenched in the 'family business,' as Tom Hanks himself has described it.

The conversation around celebrity children benefiting from their parents' fame—the so-called "nepo baby" discourse—has been unavoidable in recent years. However, the Hanks children are proving that while a famous last name opens doors, sustained success requires genuine talent and a willingness to diversify. Their individual journeys are marked by a blend of high-profile projects and a conscious effort to carve out distinct professional identities.

The Complete Wilson-Hanks Family: A Full Biography of the Four Children

Tom Hanks is a father of four, sharing his two eldest children with his late first wife, Samantha Lewes, and his two youngest sons with his current wife, actress and producer Rita Wilson. Their careers span acting, directing, producing, writing, music, and cinematography.

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• Colin Lewes Hanks
  • Date of Birth: November 24, 1977
  • Mother: Samantha Lewes (m. 1978; div. 1987)
  • Career: Actor, Director, Producer. Known for roles in Fargo, Life in Pieces, and Orange County.
• Elizabeth Ann Hanks (E.A. Hanks)
  • Date of Birth: May 17, 1982
  • Mother: Samantha Lewes (m. 1978; div. 1987)
  • Career: Writer, Journalist, and occasional Actress. She publishes under the name E.A. Hanks.
• Chester Marlon Hanks (Chet Hanks)
  • Date of Birth: August 4, 1990
  • Mother: Rita Wilson (m. 1988)
  • Career: Actor, Musician, and Internet Personality. He has appeared in Your Honor and Empire, and performs music under the name Chet Haze.
• Truman Theodore Hanks
  • Date of Birth: December 26, 1995
  • Mother: Rita Wilson (m. 1988)
  • Career: Cinematographer and Camera Department professional. He primarily works behind the scenes in film production.

Colin Hanks and the Rise of the Second-Generation Star

Colin Hanks, the eldest son, has arguably had the most conventional and successful acting career of the siblings, but he has also worked diligently to establish a reputation separate from his father. His career trajectory in 2024 and 2025 is marked by major, high-profile projects that showcase his versatility.

Most notably, Colin is set to play the villain in the highly anticipated action sequel, Nobody 2, a significant role that moves him into the blockbuster action genre. This follows his work in the 2024 romantic comedy film And Mrs, demonstrating his range from lighthearted comedy to intense action.

Beyond acting, Colin is also making a name for himself as a director and filmmaker. He is directing a new documentary about the legendary comedian John Candy, which is slated for release on Prime Video. This shift into directing high-profile non-fiction projects further solidifies his status as a multi-hyphenate talent, moving beyond the simple "actor" label and contributing to the family's legacy in filmmaking.

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The discussion of "nepo babies" often centers on Colin, given his early start in the business. However, his sustained work in critically acclaimed television series like Fargo and Dexter, combined with his current directorial pursuits, suggests a career built on merit and strategic choices rather than just an initial leg-up. He actively manages his own brand, proving that a famous surname is only a starting point.

Elizabeth Hanks: The Writer, Journalist, and Memoirist

Elizabeth Ann Hanks, Tom Hanks' only daughter, has chosen a career path that keeps her largely out of the on-screen spotlight, though still firmly within the world of storytelling. She is a respected writer and journalist, publishing under her professional name, E.A. Hanks.

Her work has appeared in major publications, including Vanity Fair and The Huffington Post. The most compelling and recent update for Elizabeth is the release of her new memoir, *The 10*, a deeply personal work that chronicles a journey across Interstate 10 while exploring themes of grief and identity, notably tracing her late mother Samantha Lewes's life. This project is a powerful example of her commitment to narrative and journalism, differentiating her from her acting siblings.

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Elizabeth’s choice to pursue writing full-time is perhaps the clearest attempt among the Hanks children to establish a distinct professional identity outside of acting. While she has had minor acting roles, her primary contribution to the arts is through the written word, a pursuit that demands a different kind of public engagement and creative authority than the one her father commands. Her work as a writer provides a unique perspective on the pressures and privileges of growing up in the Hanks family, offering a literary contrast to the cinematic careers of her brothers.

Chet and Truman: The Divergent Paths of Rita Wilson’s Sons

The two youngest sons, Chet and Truman, share a mother (Rita Wilson) but have taken the most divergent paths in the entertainment industry, both professionally and publicly.

Chet Hanks: Music, Acting, and Public Scrutiny

Chester Marlon Hanks, known professionally as Chet Haze (for his music) and Chet Hanks (for his acting), is perhaps the most scrutinized of the Hanks children due to his candid public persona and past struggles.

In 2024, Chet continues his dual career as an actor, appearing in TV series, and as a musician. He was seen attending the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, where he also shared details about the acting advice he received from his father. He has openly discussed his career, describing his decision to take up acting as joining "the family business."

Chet's public life has been marked by his "White Boy Summer" viral moment and his open discussions about sobriety and his personal challenges, which often intersect with the "nepo baby" conversation. Tom Hanks has previously defended his son's choices, emphasizing that the entertainment industry is a "family business" where children naturally follow their parents' passions.

Truman Hanks: The Quiet Force Behind the Camera

Truman Theodore Hanks, the youngest, has taken the most deliberate step away from the spotlight, choosing a career behind the scenes. After graduating from Stanford University in 2018, Truman has focused on becoming a cinematographer and working in the camera and production departments.

His work as a cinematographer and on the production team has earned him over ten film credits, establishing him as a "fresh face" in the technical side of Hollywood. While he has taken minor acting roles, his primary professional identity is that of a visual storyteller and crew member, a role that demands technical skill and a less public profile than his siblings' work. This choice is a clear indication of his desire to earn respect through craft rather than celebrity, making his path the quietest but perhaps the most technically challenging of the four.

The 'Nepo Baby' Discourse: Tom Hanks' Family Business Defense

The careers of Colin, Elizabeth, Chet, and Truman are often cited in the broader Hollywood "nepo baby" debate. Tom Hanks himself has addressed this topic directly, offering a measured defense of his children's professional lives.

Hanks has stated that the entertainment industry is a "family business," comparing it to other professions like plumbing or law where children often follow their parents. He acknowledged that while they may have an initial advantage, the ability to sustain a career depends entirely on their talent and work ethic. "The thing is, is that this is a family business. If we were a family of plumbers, or if we were a family of dentists, and the kids all said, ‘Yeah, I want to be a plumber,’ or ‘I want to be a dentist,’ we’d support them," Hanks explained.

This perspective reframes the discussion from one of unfair advantage to one of inherited passion and opportunity. The diversity in the Hanks children's careers—from Colin's acting/directing to Elizabeth's writing and Truman's cinematography—shows they are not simply replicating their father's career but are applying their inherited access to different, specialized areas of the creative industry. Their collective success in 2025 demonstrates that while the Hanks name opens the door, it's the individual talent and hustle that keeps the spotlight on them.