If you only know him as "Tom Hanks' son," you're honestly missing out on one of the most versatile careers in modern Hollywood. People love to talk about nepo babies. It’s a whole thing. But Colin Hanks has spent the last 25 years quietly building a resume that is as eclectic as it is impressive. He doesn't just do the "nice guy" thing. He’s been a serial killer, a clumsy cop, a documentary filmmaker, and even a talking cat.
The Colin Hanks filmography isn't just a list of movies; it's a blueprint for how to survive in the industry when everyone expects you to just be a carbon copy of your dad.
The Breakout: From Roswell to Orange County
It basically started with Roswell. Remember that? The 1999 sci-fi teen drama where aliens lived in New Mexico and tried to survive high school. Colin played Alex Whitman. He was the human best friend—the guy with the heart who eventually met a tragic end that genuinely upset a lot of fans. It was a solid start.
Then came 2002. Orange County.
This is the movie most people point to when they think of early Colin. He played Shaun Brumder, a kid desperate to get into Stanford after finding a manuscript in the sand. He was the "straight man" to Jack Black’s absolute chaos. It’s a cult classic now. Honestly, it’s one of those movies that feels like 2002 in a bottle. Short, punchy, and actually funny.
But he didn't stay in the teen comedy lane for long.
He took a small role in Band of Brothers (2001) as Lt. Henry Jones. It was a nod to his father’s work with Spielberg, sure, but he held his own in a cast of absolute heavyweights. He proved he could handle gravitas.
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Turning Points and the Darker Side
By the mid-2000s, things got weirder. In a good way.
He landed a role in Peter Jackson’s King Kong (2005). He played Preston, the assistant to Jack Black’s Carl Denham. It was a massive blockbuster. Most actors would have used that momentum to try and become a leading man in action flicks. Colin didn't. Instead, he started picking projects that felt... specific.
Take Alone with Her (2006).
If you haven't seen this, it’s creepy. Like, genuinely unsettling. He plays a guy who uses hidden cameras to stalk a woman. It was a total departure from the "boy next door" vibe. He leaned into the awkward, predatory stillness of the character. It showed that the Colin Hanks filmography had room for villains.
Then came the TV work.
- Dexter (Season 6): He played Travis Marshall, the Doomsday Killer. He was chilling.
- Mad Men: He had a brief but memorable stint as Father John Gill.
- The Good Guys: A short-lived but hilarious buddy-cop show with Bradley Whitford.
He was bouncing between prestige drama and goofy comedy like it was nothing.
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The Fargo Phenomenon
If there is one role that defines his modern career, it’s Gus Grimly in Fargo.
When FX announced they were making a show based on the Coen Brothers movie, everyone was skeptical. Then it came out, and it was brilliant. Colin played a Duluth police officer who isn't exactly a hero—at least not at first. He’s scared. He’s outmatched by Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton).
His performance was masterclass in "average joe" vulnerability. He earned an Emmy nomination for it. It solidified him as a top-tier character actor.
Why his directing matters
Lately, he’s been spending time behind the camera. And he’s good at it.
His 2015 documentary, All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records, is a must-watch for music nerds. It isn't just a corporate history; it’s a love letter to a bygone era of physical media. He followed that up with Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends), which dealt with the aftermath of the Bataclan terrorist attack.
And now, in 2025 and heading into 2026, he’s released John Candy: I Like Me.
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He actually knew John Candy growing up because of his dad’s friendship with the comedy legend. The documentary is deeply personal. It features interviews with everyone from Steve Martin to Catherine O’Hara. It’s currently winning awards on the festival circuit and proves he’s just as talented at telling other people's stories as he is at acting out his own.
Recent Work and What's Coming Next
Colin isn't slowing down. He recently starred in A Friend of the Family (2022) and The Offer, where he played Barry Lapidus.
His 2025 has been huge. He joined the cast of Nobody 2 as a character named Abel, jumping back into the high-octane action-thriller world. He also stars in the historical drama Nuremberg as Gustave Gilbert.
It’s a far cry from the kid trying to get into Stanford.
What to Watch First
If you’re looking to dive into the Colin Hanks filmography, don’t just watch the hits. Try these:
- The Great Buck Howard (2008): He plays a law school dropout who becomes an assistant to a fading mentalist. His real-life dad, Tom, plays his on-screen dad. The chemistry is fascinating to watch.
- Life in Pieces: It ran for four seasons. It’s a sitcom, but it’s actually funny and shows off his timing.
- 11:14 (2003): An indie crime film with a non-linear timeline. It’s messy, dark, and very early-2000s.
Colin Hanks has managed to do the impossible: he’s a famous actor who doesn't feel like a "celebrity." He feels like a guy you’d grab a beer with, who just happens to be really good at pretending to be other people.
To get the most out of his work, start with the Fargo series to see his dramatic range, then switch to Orange County for a nostalgia hit. If you’re a fan of music history, All Things Must Pass is the definitive documentary on the subject. Keep an eye out for Nobody 2 in theaters this year to see him take on a grittier, more intense role.