A successful marriage often involves compromises where both partners contribute parts of themselves to forge a stronger union. This holds true even for prominent Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, who has been married to actress and producer Rita Wilson for nearly 40 years. Their relationship began when Hanks relinquished a significant part of his identity.
Hanks and Wilson first crossed paths when she appeared on his 1981 sitcom, *Bosom Buddies*. They later starred together as a romantic duo in the 1985 movie *Volunteers*, which is where their relationship began to flourish.
Three years passed, and following Hanks’ divorce and Wilson breaking off an engagement, the couple wed. However, before their marriage, Hanks, who later became famous for roles like that in *Forrest Gump*, had to convert from his Catholic faith.
Hanks shared with Parade: “My parents divorced so often that I’ve seen a lot of different sort of religions down the line. My wife is Greek Orthodox and I’ve been converted.”
This change was not merely superficial for Hanks. The actor, known for roles in movies like *The Da Vinci Code*, is an active participant in the Greek Orthodox faith. He regularly attends Saint Sophia’s, his local Greek Orthodox church in Los Angeles, and has donated to the church, demonstrating his commitment.
He also told the publication that all their children have been baptized in the same church where Wilson was baptized, immersing the entire family in the Orthodox tradition. This tradition shares similarities with Catholicism, except for the absence of the Pope and a few scriptural differences.
While such a transformation in personal beliefs could be challenging for some, Hanks has expressed in various interviews that his tumultuous upbringing made this transition smoother.
After witnessing his parents’ divorce at a very young age, Hanks moved frequently, living in 10 different homes before turning 10. This upbringing exposed him to various faiths through the different people in his life.
In an interview with *George* magazine back in 1988, Hanks mentioned: “The major religion I was exposed to in the first 10 years of my life was Catholicism. My stepmother became a Mormon.”
He continued: “My aunt, whom I lived with for a long time, was a Nazarene, which is kind of ultra-super Methodist, and in high school, all my friends were Jews.”
Hanks described his understanding of Christianity as ‘peripatetic,’ or that of an outsider, which made embracing his wife’s faith and community less daunting.
He views faith as a personal matter, explaining to Parade: “I still believe in being able to leave the heavens to those who want to interpret the heavens as they see fit.”
Now, with nearly four decades of a successful marriage, Hanks likely sees his conversion as a positive choice. His love and appreciation for Wilson were evident when he accepted his first Oscar in 1994, declaring: “I’m here simply and only because the woman I live with shows me every day what love is!”