Q.1.
Like many other actors, Tom Hanks ventured into making movies. In 1996, he made his directorial debut in which movie?

Aside from directing That Thing You Do, Tom also wrote it and acted in it as well. Three of his family members were also in the movie.

Q.2.
Before casting Tom Hanks in his first lead movie role, Director Ron Howard took notice of him in what TV show?

Even though Tom was only in one episode of Happy Days (1982), he impressed Director Ron Howard (who also starred in the show). Tom was asked to audition, eventually landing the part of a man in love with a mermaid in Splash (1984).

Q.3.
In his movie Castaway (2000), Tom Hanks played a stranded man who creates an inanimate friend named Wilson. What is Wilson?

His "friend" on the island was a volleyball with which the character had many conversations. For the movie, Tom Hanks had to both gain and lose weight to make the character more believable.

Q.4.
Tom Hanks was the second actor (after Spencer Tracy) to win back-to-back Best Actor Oscars. When did this occur?

Tom Hanks won this prestigious award for movies Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). In Philadelphia, he played a lawyer with AIDS. In Forrest Gump, he was an intellectually-challenged man who achieved success in sports, war, and business.

Q.5.
The role of a captain seems to suit Tom Hanks well. From 1995 to 2016, how many times has he portrayed a captain in the movies?

During the period mentioned, Tom played a captain four times. He was an astronaut in Apollo 13 (1995), a soldier in Saving Private Ryan (1998), a sailor in Captain Phillips (2013), and an airline pilot in Sully (2016).

Q.6.
Aside from numerous TV and movie-related awards, Tom Hanks has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Which US President bestowed it to him?

In 2016, Barack Obama recognized Tom Hanks as a big contributor to cinema and TV. The medal is the highest civilian honor in the US, which is given to those who have made big contributions (culture, entertainment, peace, science) to the country or the world.

Q.7.
In the 1990s, Tom Hanks was paired with Meg Ryan in some romantic films. How many films did they make together in the '90s?

Tom and Meg partnered together in 3 movies during the 1990s: 1990's Joe Versus the Volcano, 1993's Sleepless in Seattle, and 1998's You've Got Mail. Like Tom, there is also an asteroid named after Meg called "8353 megryan.

Q.8.
What celestial body is named after Tom Hanks?

Because of his 1995 movie role in Apollo 13, NASA named an asteroid "12818 tom hanks" in 1996. It's part of the solar system's asteroid belt.

Q.9.
In 2002, Tom Hanks received the American Film Institute (AFI) Life Achievement Award. How old was he when he received it?

Tom Hanks was just 46 when he was given the award for multiple portrayals of diverse yet relatable characters. The award is given to artists whose TV or movie accomplishments have greatly contributed to American culture.

Q.10.
Tom Hanks owns a massive collection of which item?

Tom is a collector of typewriters. Since the 1970s, he has been accumulating vintage typewriters. Aside from marveling at how they work, the collection keeps him grounded. He has, however, begun giving some away.