The actor so good that Ron Howard called him a “game-changer”
In the world of acting, there are many different types of performers. Some leave audiences swooning, entirely incapable of thinking of anything but the figure adorning their screens. Others are enticingly impenetrable, their ability to deflect the gazes of the watching public making them an alluring beast. However, according to Ron Howard, there are some who surreptitiously enter the screen, deliver their work, and leave without a fuss.
Howard would know such an actor. In his childhood star days, learning a host of skills from his elders, including an insatiable work ethic, Howard was noted for delivering well-rounded and fully formed performances without ever attempting to steal the limelight. Even as he took the lead as Richie Cunnigham in Happy Days, he spotlighted his co-star Henry Winkler as the indomitable Fonz.
A similar collaborator for Howard was Tom Hanks. The noted actor is acclaimed for his ability to bring warmth and charm to almost every role he has ever taken on, from Woody in Toy Story to embodying Mr Rogers, Hanks is one of the rarest actors who is able to both deliver commanding performances but never feel overbearing. He is merely the motor of the vehicle, not the driver hanging out of the window and waving.
In his own words, Hanks enjoys being a part of a team. “I like being part of an ensemble,” he told People. “Anybody can make it a miserable day by being cranky or self-centred, by thinking it’s all about them instead of all about the whole.”
Howard first worked with Hanks in the 1984 movie Splash. The film, not often considered among Hanks’ best, was merely a gateway to their working relationship. Soon, the duo would work alongside one another on the 1995 blockbuster Apollo 13, one of Hanks’ most beloved performances. This close partnership has meant that Howard has the best view of how Hanks has operated over the years.
In the director’s view, Hanks is one of the most underrated actors around. In a 2019 feature for People, Howard claimed that he is so talented that he is quietly forgotten: “He’s that good. He’s like one of those athletes who is so effortless that you don’t realise that he’s the game-changer.”
It’s hard to disagree with Howard’s assessment. The actor has delivered some incredible performances with the utmost skill and within the often constricting confines of blockbuster material. While it might be perceived as an easy way for an actor to make a living, Hanks’ talent should not be understated in making those sometimes saccharine productions feel all the more palatable.
