Are Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise friends?
The internet can be a strange place. For every thought-provoking article you read, fascinating video you watch, or funny cat meme you laugh at, there are a host of bizarre things in the darker corners of the web that you should probably avoid.
When it comes to Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars, though, the web can sometimes seem downright schizophrenic. An innocent internet search about whether or not two actors are buddies in real life can sometimes throw up all manner of weirdness. For example, if you want to know if “America’s Dad” Tom Hanks is friends with his Forrest Gump co-star Gary Sinise, you’ll find all sorts of results about how Sinise hates Hanks. Is this even remotely true? Let’s find out.
In 1994, Hanks and Sinise starred as the loveable Alabaman dolt Forrest Gump and his US Army Lieutenant Dan Taylor in Robert Zemeckis’ beloved trip through 20th-century American history. The film won six Academy Awards, with Hanks winning ‘Best Actor’ and Sinise receiving a nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actor’. The two actors subsequently worked together on two films: 1995’s Apollo 13 and 1999’s The Green Mile.
When Sinise spoke about working with Hanks during a 2002 American Film Institute ceremony awarding the star a Lifetime Achievement Award, he was positively glowing about the experience. Sinise said, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tom on three very different films. Forrest Gump was the first.”
Sinise revealed that he had doubts about whether the movie’s unique mix of tones would work, but as soon as Hanks got in front of the camera, he got it immediately. Sinise marvelled: “When we started shooting the scenes, and Tom’s extraordinary performance came to life, it was clear. It was also clear to me that I was working with an actor as gifted as they come.”
He added, “Every day on set, I was lucky to have a front-row seat. Thanks, buddy.”
Now, it goes without saying that these don’t sound like the words of someone harbouring any ill will toward Hanks. And yet, there is also a quote floating around the internet where Sinise supposedly said, “Working with Tom was, frankly, disturbing and weirdly creepy. It’s not something I want to experience again.”
So, what gives? Has Sinise secretly hated Hanks for years, biding his time until he could finally reveal to the world how he really feels?
So, did Gary Sinise say he didn’t like Tom Hanks?
The answer, of course, is no.
There is no evidence that Sinise actually said this disparaging quote about his old co-star or that he said, “He made my skin crawl. I couldn’t stand being around him. There’s just something off about him.” In truth, it appears both quotes were created out of thin air, with no reputable source to back them up.
It all begs an important question: why would anyone want to spread an internet rumour that Sinise hates Hanks? It could be politically motivated, given that Sinise is one of the higher-profile Conservatives in Hollywood, while Hanks is a Democrat.
However, there is nothing to suggest that their differing political views ever had any negative impact on their relationship. After all, in 2022, Hanks was part of a moving video tribute to Sinise for his humanitarian work with the Gary Sinise Foundation, which supports America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families. Nestled within a host of Sinise’s friends and co-workers from throughout his extensive career, Hanks swivels toward the camera and, in full Gump voice, says, “Thanks, Lieutenant Dan!”
So, there you have it. It seems extremely unlikely that Hanks and Sinise are anything other than friends who have enjoyed working together in the past. Perhaps this is an important lesson in not believing everything you read online.
