Tom Hanks has uploaded a video of himself jumping into turquoise waters, capturing a moment of carefree joy as the two-time Oscar winner marked his 69th birthday, held on July 9.
The clip, posted on his instagram account, honors his latest chapter before his big 70th birthday next year, and is likely filmed in what has become a decades-long love story between Hanks and the country he now calls a second home- Greece.
While most fans know Hanks for his iconic roles in Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Saving Private Ryan, fewer may realize just how deeply rooted his ties to Greece are. He and his wife Rita Wilson have spent summers on the island of Antiparos for over 20 years, drawn by the landscape, the lifestyle, and a sense of belonging they’ve both described as healing.
Actor Tom Hanks, seen in this file publicity photo from “Cast Away”, received an Oscar nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in the film on February 13, 2001. The Oscars will be held March 25. REUTERS/Handout
In 2020, the connection was made official when Hanks was granted honorary Greek citizenship by presidential decree. The honor recognized not only his longstanding affection for the country but also his quiet efforts to support it—most notably his advocacy and philanthropic response following the 2018 wildfires in Mati, which claimed more than 100 lives. The Greek state cited Hanks’ “exceptional services to Greece,” and the actor, ever gracious, has continued to describe the country as a spiritual sanctuary.
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The couple’s relationship with Greece also extends to cinema. Through their production company Playtone, Hanks and Wilson were instrumental in bringing My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) to global audiences. The film, based on the experiences of Greek-American writer and star Nia Vardalos, became one of the most successful independent romantic comedies in history. Its success spawned sequels, including My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (2023), which was filmed on location in Greece and brought the vibrant colors and chaotic charm of Greek family life to the big screen once again.
Actor Tom Hanks, one of the stars of the new film “Cloud Atlas,” poses with wife, actress Rita Wilson, as they arrive for the film’s premiere at Grauman’s Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California, October 24, 2012. REUTERS/Fred Prouser/File Photo
But for all their Hollywood clout, Hanks and Wilson are known on Antiparos not as celebrities, but as neighbors. The couple regularly participates in local events, attends Orthodox Easter celebrations, and has supported local infrastructure projects. Their villa on the island is a quiet retreat rather than a red-carpet spectacle.
Hanks has often described Greece as a place that feeds the soul. “The land, the sky, the water… it’s a healing place,” he once said. That healing seems to be ongoing. Judging by the birthday dive into the Aegean, the actor remains as spirited as ever—and as at home in Greece as anywhere else on earth.
As this Hollywood Philhellene marks another year, his bond with Greece continues to deepen.
