From 'White Boy Summer' To Netflix Star: 7 Shocking Facts About Chet Hanks' Dramatic Career Pivot

Chet Hanks, the eldest son of Hollywood titans Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, has consistently commanded public attention, often for his controversial persona and unconventional career choices. However, as of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the narrative around the actor and musician has undergone a dramatic, and critically acclaimed, transformation.

The current buzz is no longer solely about his past antics, like the viral "White Boy Summer" phrase, but is now focused on his breakout acting performance in a major Netflix series and a surprising pivot in his music career. This deep dive explores the most recent, up-to-date facts about Chester Marlon Hanks’ professional and personal life, revealing how he is finally stepping out of his famous parents' shadow by embracing the very "media liability" persona he once courted.

Chet Hanks: A Comprehensive Biography and Profile

Chester Marlon Hanks, known professionally as Chet Hanks (and formerly as the rapper Chet Haze), is an American actor, musician, and model who has navigated a complex path through the entertainment industry. His journey is marked by a blend of privilege, public controversy, and a recent commitment to sobriety and professional reinvention.

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• Full Name: Chester Marlon Hanks
• Date of Birth: August 4, 1990
• Age: 35 (as of December 2025)
• Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Parents: Tom Hanks (Father) and Rita Wilson (Mother)
• Siblings: Colin Hanks, Elizabeth Hanks, Truman Hanks (from his father’s first marriage and his full sibling, respectively)
• Children: One daughter, Micaiah (born 2016)
• Stage Names: Chet Haze (former hip-hop persona), Chet Hanks (acting/current music)
• Music Group: Something Out West (current country music duo with Drew Arthur)
• Education: Attended Northwestern University, where he studied theater.
• Noteworthy Acting Roles:
  • Running Point (2024) as Travis Bugg (Netflix Series)
  • Your Honor (2020-2021) as Joey (Showtime Series)
  • Greyhound (2020) as Bushnell
  • Shameless (2018-2019) as Charlie
  • Fantastic Four (2015) as Jimmy Grimm
  • Larry Crowne (2011) as Pizza Team Member

1. The Breakout Role That Shocked Hollywood: Travis Bugg in 'Running Point'

The biggest story surrounding Chet Hanks in 2024 is his critically praised performance in the Netflix basketball sitcom, Running Point, created by Mindy Kaling.

Hanks plays the character of Travis Bugg, a talented but highly problematic point guard for the fictional L.A. Waves team.

The role is a perfect meta-commentary on his own public image. Bugg is portrayed as an eccentric, controversial, and media-magnet athlete—a "media liability"—a description Hanks himself has openly joked about, acknowledging the character's clear parallels to his real-life persona.

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Critics and viewers alike have called the role a breakout moment, recognizing his ability to channel his controversial past into a compelling, scene-stealing performance, suggesting a new, more mature phase in his acting career.

2. The Surprising Pivot to Country Music with 'Something Out West'

For years, Chet Hanks was known in the music world as "Chet Haze," a hip-hop artist with a controversial Jamaican Patois phase. In a major career pivot, he has now embraced country music.

He is half of the new country music duo called Something Out West, alongside singer-songwriter Drew Arthur.

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The duo released their debut EP, Leaving Hollywood, in late 2024, which includes tracks like "You Better Run" and "Bipolar Heart."

This move from rap to country is a significant rebrand, demonstrating a willingness to experiment and shed his previous musical identity.

3. Tom Hanks' Cameo in the Duo's Music Video

The launch of Something Out West gained massive media traction thanks to the music video for their single, "You Better Run."

The video features a surprising and humorous cameo by his father, Tom Hanks, who recreates iconic scenes from his Oscar-winning role in the 1994 film Forrest Gump.

This collaboration—a rare public blending of the father and son's professional lives—was a deliberate move to generate buzz, successfully linking Chet's new music to his family's legendary status while providing a lighthearted, self-referential moment.

The duo is currently signed with Big Machine Records and is developing their full debut project, which is slated for release in 2025, signaling a serious commitment to their new country sound.

4. Three Years of Sobriety and Personal Growth

While his professional life is reaching new heights, Chet Hanks has also achieved significant personal milestones. He has been open about his struggles with substance abuse, which often fueled his past public controversies.

As of 2024, he is celebrating over three years of sobriety, a foundational element that he credits for his current career focus and emotional stability.

His commitment to sobriety has allowed him to take on more complex roles, like Travis Bugg, with a clear perspective, and to focus on his new musical endeavors with Drew Arthur.

This personal journey from addiction to recovery is a key part of his current public identity, offering a narrative of redemption that contrasts sharply with his earlier, more chaotic image.

5. The Legacy of 'White Boy Summer' and Self-Awareness

One of the most enduring, and controversial, moments of Chet Hanks' public career was his 2021 coining of the phrase "White Boy Summer."

The phrase, delivered in a viral video, quickly became a meme and a flashpoint for cultural debate.

In his recent interviews promoting Running Point, Hanks has demonstrated a new level of self-awareness regarding his past. He has acknowledged that his public persona was often a reaction to the immense pressure of being Tom Hanks' son, and he now uses that experience to inform his acting.

His ability to play a character like Travis Bugg, who is essentially a caricature of a famous, troubled celebrity, shows that he is now willing to use his own history as creative fuel, turning past liabilities into professional assets.

6. Chet Haze is Officially Retired

The persona of "Chet Haze," his former hip-hop alter-ego, appears to be officially retired. This is a crucial distinction, as the Haze era was synonymous with his most controversial musical and public moments, including his attempts at a Jamaican Patois accent that drew widespread criticism.

The shift to "Chet Hanks" and the country duo "Something Out West" signifies a complete departure from the genre and image that defined his early music career.

This rebrand is a strategic move to align his professional identity with his current, more mature, and sober lifestyle, allowing him to leave behind the baggage of his more turbulent years.

7. The Future: A Focus on Acting and 2025 Music Release

With the success of Running Point and the development of a full-length album for Something Out West, Chet Hanks is poised for a significant 2025.

His performance as Travis Bugg has opened doors to more substantial and critically-interesting acting roles, moving him beyond the small cameos and supporting parts that characterized his earlier filmography, such as Bratz (2007), Fantastic Four (2015), and Greyhound (2020).

The debut project with Big Machine Records in 2025 will be a major test for his new country music career, determining if the buzz from the "You Better Run" video translates into long-term commercial success.

In essence, Chet Hanks is no longer just "Tom Hanks’ son" but an artist actively forging a new, multi-faceted career defined by self-awareness, sobriety, and a willingness to embrace the complexity of his own life story.