Tom Hanks Ex-Wife: Samantha Lewes, Their Marriage, Divorce, and Legacy
If you’re searching for Tom Hanks ex-wife, you’re likely curious about the chapter of his life that came before his long and well-known marriage to Rita Wilson. Long before Tom Hanks became one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors, he was a young man navigating early success, marriage, and fatherhood. His first wife was Samantha Lewes, a woman who shared his formative years and helped shape the life he would go on to build. Their story is quieter than most celebrity relationships, but it remains an important part of Tom Hanks’ personal history.
Who Is Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks is widely regarded as one of the most respected actors of his generation. With iconic roles in films like Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, and Philadelphia, he has earned both critical acclaim and enduring public affection.
But before the awards, box office success, and global recognition, Hanks was a struggling actor working his way through television roles and small films. Those early years were filled with uncertainty, ambition, and major life changes—including marriage and children—long before he became a household name.
Who Was Tom Hanks’ Ex Wife, Samantha Lewes
Tom Hanks’ ex wife, Samantha Lewes, was born Susan Dillingham. She adopted the stage name Samantha Lewes during her brief acting career. While she never achieved the level of fame that her former husband did, she worked as an actress and appeared in a handful of film and television projects.
Samantha Lewes is best known today not for her screen roles, but for being Tom Hanks’ first wife and the mother of his two oldest children. Unlike many people connected to rising celebrities, she did not pursue publicity or a high-profile lifestyle, even as Hanks’ career gained momentum.
How Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes Met
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes met while attending California State University, Sacramento, where both were involved in theater. Their relationship began at a time when neither had achieved professional success, and both were focused on learning their craft.
This shared background is important to understanding their bond. They were partners during the “before” years—before fame, financial stability, or public recognition. Like many college relationships, theirs grew out of shared goals and youthful optimism, not celebrity culture.
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes’ Marriage
The couple married in 1978, when Tom Hanks was still early in his acting career. Their marriage began during a transitional period, as Hanks worked steadily but had not yet reached stardom.
Their life together was far from glamorous. They balanced raising young children with the financial and emotional pressures of pursuing acting work. As Hanks’ opportunities increased, so did the strain that often comes with long hours, travel, and professional uncertainty.
While their marriage lasted nearly a decade, it unfolded mostly outside the public eye, which was typical for the era and for Hanks’ career stage at the time.
Children from the Marriage
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes had two children together:
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Colin Hanks, born in 1977, who later followed his father into acting and built a successful career of his own.
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Elizabeth Anne Hanks, often known as E.A. Hanks, born in 1982.
Both children grew up largely outside the Hollywood spotlight, particularly during their early years. Samantha played a significant role in their upbringing, especially after the marriage ended.
In recent years, E.A. Hanks has shared more publicly about her childhood experiences, which has brought renewed attention to the family’s early dynamics and the impact of her parents’ separation.
Why Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes Divorced
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes separated in 1985 and finalized their divorce in 1987. Neither party ever turned the split into a public controversy, and no dramatic or sensational explanation has been widely confirmed.
What is clear is that they married young and grew into different people under increasing pressure. Hanks’ career was accelerating, their responsibilities were growing, and they were navigating adulthood in a way many young couples do—just with slightly more visibility.
Rather than framing the divorce around blame or scandal, most accounts describe it as a difficult but quiet separation that reflected the realities of youth, ambition, and changing life paths.
Samantha Lewes’ Life After the Divorce
After the divorce, Samantha Lewes lived a largely private life. She continued to act briefly but did not pursue high-profile roles or public attention. Instead, her focus appeared to be on raising her children and maintaining stability away from Hollywood.
Unlike many celebrity ex-spouses, she did not give interviews or publicly comment on her former marriage. Her discretion contributed to the limited information available about her later life, but it also reflects a clear choice to remain out of the spotlight.
This privacy shaped how she is remembered—not as a celebrity figure, but as a private individual connected to a famous life she never tried to capitalize on.
Samantha Lewes’ Illness and Death
Samantha Lewes passed away on March 12, 2002, at the age of 49. Reports widely state that she died from lung cancer.
Her death was a quiet event in the public record, much like her life after divorce. While Tom Hanks had long since remarried by that point, the loss was significant for their children and marked the end of an important chapter in his early adulthood.
How the Divorce Shaped Tom Hanks’ Life
Over the years, Tom Hanks has spoken candidly about fatherhood, growth, and the mistakes people make when they are young. While he rarely discusses his first marriage in detail, his reflections on parenting and maturity suggest that the experience deeply influenced him.
He became a father in his early twenties, navigated divorce while building a career, and learned firsthand how personal choices ripple through family life. These experiences likely contributed to the grounded, reflective public persona he later developed.
His long-lasting marriage to Rita Wilson is often described as a contrast to his first marriage—formed later in life, with greater emotional clarity and stability.
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