Jim Hanks: The Truth About the Brother of Tom Hanks

You’ve probably heard his voice a thousand times without even realizing it. You might have even seen him running across the screen in one of the most famous movies of the 1990s, thinking he was someone else entirely. When we talk about the brother of Tom Hanks, most people assume there’s just one guy living in a shadow.

Honestly? It’s way more interesting than that.

The "main" brother people search for is Jim Hanks. But the family tree actually has a few more branches that Google often glosses over. There is Larry Hanks, a distinguished entomology professor, and Sandra Hanks Benoiton, a writer who ditched the Hollywood chaos for a quieter life in the Seychelles.

But Jim is the one who effectively "doubles" as Tom. He’s the guy who steps in when the A-lister is too busy to record lines for a talking toy or run across a cornfield.

Why Jim Hanks is the Brother of Tom Hanks You Actually Know

If you own a Woody doll from Toy Story, or if you’ve played any of the Toy Story video games, you haven't been listening to Tom Hanks. You've been listening to Jim.

Tom is one of the busiest humans on the planet. He doesn't have time to sit in a recording booth for three weeks to record "There's a snake in my boot!" for a plastic action figure. So, he basically handed the job to his younger brother. On The Graham Norton Show, Tom even joked about it, saying, "There are so many computer games and video things, and Jim, he just works on those all year long."

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It’s not just a voice thing, either.

The Forrest Gump Connection

Remember the "running" scenes in Forrest Gump? The ones where Forrest is sprinting across America with that specific, slightly awkward, high-kneed gait?

A lot of that wasn't Tom.

The producers needed someone who could mimic Tom’s very specific physical mannerisms perfectly. Jim was the obvious choice. He served as Tom’s body double for many of those long-distance running sequences. He literally ran miles so his brother didn't have to. It's kind of a metaphor for their relationship—Jim handles the heavy lifting behind the scenes while Tom gets the Oscar.

Jim didn't just get the job because of his DNA, though. He’s a trained actor who moved to Los Angeles in 1992 to make it on his own. In fact, when he auditioned for his first lead role in Buford's Beach Bunnies, he used the name "Jim Matthews" because he didn't want to ride his brother's coattails. He got the part before the producers even realized who his brother was.

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The "Other" Brother: Dr. Lawrence Hanks

While Jim is in the entertainment trenches, Larry Hanks (or Professor Lawrence Hanks, if you’re being formal) is busy being a legend in the world of bugs.

He’s a tenured professor of entomology at the University of Illinois. We’re talking about a guy who is a world-class expert on invasive beetle species. Tom has actually joked that when he visits the university, people don't care that he's a movie star; they only care that he’s "the brother of Dr. Hanks."

It’s a wild dynamic. One brother is winning Academy Awards, and the other is winning the National Recognition Award in Urban Entomology.

Growing Up in a Fractured Home

The reason the siblings have such different lives might stem from how they were raised. After their parents, Amos and Janet, divorced in 1961, the family was split right down the middle.

• Tom, Larry, and Sandra stayed with their father, Amos. They moved around constantly—Amos was an itinerant cook, and the kids lived in something like ten different houses in five years.
• Jim, the youngest, went to live with their mother in Red Bluff, California.

Because of this split, Jim grew up largely apart from the other three. This might be why he has such a grounded perspective on his brother's fame. He’s close enough to benefit from the opportunities, but he wasn't "raised" in the glow of the spotlight in the same way.

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What Most People Get Wrong

People think being the brother of Tom Hanks must be a bit of a burden. You know, the "forever in the shadow" thing.

But Jim has been pretty vocal about the fact that he loves his life. He gets to work on massive franchises like Toy Story, JAG, and even guest-starred on Scrubs (playing a character named Dr. Turner, a nod to his brother’s movie Turner & Hooch), but he can still go to the grocery store without being mobbed.

He’s the "Discount Hank" in the best way possible. He has the talent, the voice, and the face, but none of the paparazzi.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators

If you’re looking to understand the "Hanks Brand," there are a few things to take away from Jim’s career:

1. Niche Down: Jim didn't try to be a leading man in blockbusters. He found a niche in voice doubling and character work where his natural "Hanks-ness" was an asset, not a comparison point.
2. The "Hey" Trick: Jim revealed that the secret to sounding like Tom is all in the "explosive" start. He uses a loud "Hey!" to reset his vocal cords into Tom's higher, more nasal register.
3. Family Support: Unlike many celebrity families that fall apart over money or fame, the Hanks siblings seem remarkably supportive. Tom openly recommends Jim for jobs, and Jim is clearly proud of his brother's legacy.

Next time you hear Woody talk in a Pixar short or a Disney park ride, listen closely. You aren't hearing a Hollywood legend; you're hearing a guy who’s made a very successful career out of being the world's most talented younger brother.

To dive deeper into the Hanks family legacy, you can check out Jim’s directorial work in short films or look up Larry’s research papers on Phoracantha semipunctata—depending on whether you like movies or beetles more.