If you close your eyes and listen to Colin Hanks speak, you might think you’re hearing a recording of his dad from the late eighties. Same cadence. Same dry, self-deprecating wit. Even the way he shrugs his shoulders feels like a glitch in the Hollywood Matrix. But if you think Colin Hanks just coasted into his career on a wave of "America’s Dad" goodwill, you’ve basically got the whole story backwards.
Honestly, being the son of Tom Hanks is a bit of a double-edged sword. Sure, the name gets you in the room. It gets you the meeting. But it also comes with this weird, invisible tax where everyone expects you to be a carbon copy of the most Likable Man in the World.
The "Family Business" Debate
People love to toss around the "nepo baby" label like it’s a modern invention. Tom Hanks himself doesn’t really shy away from it. He’s gone on record—notably during the press for A Man Called Otto—calling the film industry a "family business." He likens it to a family-owned florist or a plumbing supply shop.
The thing is, Tom’s kids didn't all grow up with the same version of him.
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Colin and his sister Elizabeth were born when Tom was still just a guy in Sacramento trying to figure out how to pay rent. We’re talking pre-Big, pre-Splash, pre-everything. Colin remembers the "struggle years." This wasn't a life of private jets and red carpets from day one. He saw his dad grinding in theater and bit parts long before the back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump happened.
By the time Chet and Truman came along, the "beachhead," as Tom puts it, was already established.
Why Colin Chose a Different Path
Colin didn't just jump into leading man roles. He started as a production assistant on Apollo 13. He was the guy getting coffee and keeping the set organized while his dad was stuck in a tiny capsule replica.
His real breakout wasn't a "Tom Hanks" style rom-com either. It was Roswell. He played Alex Whitman, a nerdy, lovable human caught up in alien drama. It was the quintessential turn-of-the-millennium teen show. Then came Orange County, which is still a cult classic for anyone who grew up in the early 2000s.
But check out his later work. He’s not playing the hero.
In Dexter, he played a literal serial killer (Travis Marshall). In the first season of Fargo, he played Gus Grimly, a police officer who is—to be blunt—kinda terrified. He specializes in these nuanced, slightly awkward, very human characters. It’s a far cry from the "unstoppable hero" archetype his dad mastered in the nineties.
When the Two Actually Shared the Screen
You'd think they'd be in everything together, right? Nope.
They’ve only really acted opposite each other in a couple of projects. There was a tiny cameo in That Thing You Do! (Tom’s directorial debut) where Colin played a studio page. But the big one was The Great Buck Howard in 2008.
In that movie, they played... a father and son.
Art imitating life? Sorta. In the film, Colin’s character wants to be a writer and work for a fading mentalist, while Tom’s character just wants him to go to law school. It’s a quiet, indie-style movie that didn't break the box office, but it showed a fascinating dynamic. You can see the real-life chemistry, but you also see Colin holding his own against a titan.
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Breaking Down the Resume
If you look at the sheer variety of Colin's career, it’s clear he’s trying to build a legacy that isn't just "Son of Tom."
- The Documentary Side: He directed All Things Must Pass, a really fantastic look at the rise and fall of Tower Records. It’s a passion project that proves he’s got a brain for history and storytelling behind the camera.
- The Voice Work: He spent years voicing "Talking Tom" in the Talking Tom & Friends series.
- The Drama: Roles in Band of Brothers (which Tom produced) and more recently The Offer, where he played Barry Lapidus.
He even played Mr. Rogers on Drunk History shortly before his dad played the icon in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. That’s just a hilarious coincidence that only a family like theirs could pull off.
The Reality of the "Hanks" Comparison
The biggest misconception is that Colin is trying to be Tom. He’s talked about this on podcasts like Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. He’s well aware that he looks like him and sounds like him. He knows that when he walks into a room, people are looking for "Tom lite."
But the industry is brutal. As Tom famously said, "The thing that doesn’t change... is whether it works or not. Doesn’t matter what our last names are. We have to do the work."
Colin has been working steadily for over 25 years. You don't last that long in Hollywood on a last name alone. You last because you're professional, you're talented, and you show up on time.
What’s Next for the Duo?
Colin is staying busy. He’s set to appear in the upcoming historical drama Nuremberg alongside stars like Rami Malek and Russell Crowe. He’s also joined the cast of Nobody 2, the sequel to Bob Odenkirk's action hit.
Meanwhile, Tom continues to be... well, Tom. He’s still producing, still acting, and still the unofficial mayor of Hollywood.
But the torch hasn't just been passed; it’s been duplicated. Colin has carved out a space as one of the most reliable character actors in the business. He’s a guy who can anchor a sitcom like Life in Pieces and then turn around and be the most unsettling person on a crime drama.
To really appreciate what Colin has done, stop looking for his father in his performances. Look at the specific choices he makes. Look at the way he plays vulnerability. He isn't "the next Tom Hanks." He’s the first Colin Hanks, and honestly, that’s more than enough.
To get a better sense of their separate but overlapping careers, you should check out The Great Buck Howard to see them play off each other, then immediately watch Colin in Fargo Season 1. The contrast is where you’ll find the real story.