James Mathew Hanks is an American actor, voice actor, director, producer, cinematographer and camera operator. He has played numerous minor roles in film and guest appearances on television, and often substitutes doing voice work for his older brother Tom Hanks. He has produced, directed, and filmed several short films. Hanks made his film debut in Buford's Beach Bunnies.
Hanks' first lead role was as Jeeter Buford in Buford's Beach Bunnies. Wishing to earn the role based on his own abilities, he auditioned as "Jim Matthews". While producers noted his "resemblance to Tom Hanks," he won the role based on his own comedic and acting skills and his relationship to Tom Hanks was not revealed until paperwork was completed. In 1995, A Current Affair revealed that Tom had created the mannerisms for the character of Forrest Gump in the film of the same name based on the simpleton mannerisms earlier created by Jim for the role of Jeeter, including Forrest's "now-famous jerky run". His physical resemblance to his brother allowed him to act as body double for him in scenes in Forrest Gump. Owing to his vocal similarity, he often substitutes for his brother in the role of Sheriff Woody in various Toy Story video games and spin-offs. Hanks began to provide the voice of Geoffrey the Giraffe in the Toys "R" Us commercials in 2001 and is the voice of Rudy from the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers commercials. He guest-starred in an episode of Scrubs, appearing as a "Dr. Turner" partnered with a doctor called "Hooch". In the 1998 film adaptation of O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief," Hanks played the role of the mailman who was the town gossip. He has appeared on stage, including playing "Lennie Small" in Theatrical Arts International's production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. In November 2016, Hanks guest-starred in a web series called Gary CK Needs Work, a parody of the FX show Louie.
Personal life
Hanks is the youngest brother of fellow actor Tom Hanks and entomologist Larry Hanks, but they were not raised together. After their parents Amos and Janet Hanks divorced in 1961, Jim went to Red Bluff, California with his mother while older siblings Tom, Larry, and Sandra remained with their father. After college, he lived in Sacramento working as a waiter, and in 1988, moved to Los Angeles. The agent who employed his actress wife Karen Praxel as a receptionist encouraged him to get into acting. He took acting lessons, and began his career with roles in B-movies and commercial voice-overs. He works with Los Angeles-based "Feet First Films," a production company that provides actor demos as well as production support for short films. Hanks and Praxel have one son and currently reside in Venice, California.
