Tom Hanks has two Best Actor Oscars, and it turns out he’s a writer, too
And now for something maybe completely unexpected. Tom Hanks wrote a book. The prolific actor credits writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron with encouraging his writing years ago on the set of “Sleepless in Seattle.” He later wrote a piece about a friend in the film business and ran it by Ephron, asking “Is this a thing?” She said yes, with some qualifications, and Hanks took her advice to heart.
More recently, Hanks had some time on his hands. He wrote a couple of stories and sent them to his friend, actor/writer Steve Martin. He again asked “Is this a thing?” Martin responded in the affirmative, and Hanks kept writing.
The result is Tom Hanks’ first book, “Uncommon Type: Some Stories.” The "type" in the title could refer to Hanks himself, but mostly it involves his obsession with vintage typewriters: Each story includes one.
Seattle Arts & Lectures presented this conversation between Tom Hanks and Nancy Pearl on December 6 at McCaw Hall.
Please note: This recording contains unedited language of an adult nature.
Listen to the full version below:
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John O'Brien
Senior Producer, All Things Considered
John O’Brien is KUOW's All Things Considered Senior Producer. He spends his days setting up interviews with newsmakers on subjects from politics and public health to arts and culture. John learned to make radio starting in 2006 as an intern on KUOW’s The Conversation with Ross Reynolds.
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