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Tom Hanks’s first wife was Samantha Lewes, an actress whom he married in 1978. They had two children—Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Anne Hanks—and divorced in 1987. Lewes later lived largely outside the spotlight and had died by 2008.
Tom Hanks’s first wife was Samantha Lewes, an actress whom he married in 1978. They had two children—actor Colin Hanks and writer Elizabeth Anne Hanks—and divorced in 1987. Lewes later lived largely outside the spotlight and had died by 2008.
Who was Samantha Lewes?
Samantha Lewes was the professional name associated in later reference material with Susan Jane Dillingham. Because the available documentation does not establish every detail of that name history with equal certainty, it is safest to refer to her primarily as Samantha Lewes rather than present a detailed account of when or why the name changed.
She was an actress, although her documented screen career was relatively small. Reference records associate her with the early-1980s television series Bosom Buddies and the 1982 film Mr. Success. The American Film Institute catalogs Mr. Success under the alternate titles The American Success Company and The Ringer, with a release date of August 20, 1982.
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That limited résumé is worth keeping in perspective. Lewes is best described as an actress with a handful of documented credits—not as a major Hollywood star whose career rivaled Hanks’s.
When did Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes get married?
Hanks and Lewes married in 1978. Their relationship began before Hanks became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable leading actors. Their son, Colin Hanks, was born in 1977, before the marriage, and their daughter, Elizabeth Anne Hanks, was born in 1982.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1977 | Son Colin Hanks was born. |
| 1978 | Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes married. |
| 1982 | Daughter Elizabeth Anne Hanks was born; Mr. Success was released. |
| 1987 | Hanks and Lewes divorced. |
| Before 2008 | Lewes died; a 2008 Los Angeles Times profile referred to her as Colin Hanks’s late mother. |
Why did Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes divorce?
The marriage ended in divorce in 1987. A 1986 Los Angeles Times profile documented that the couple were already separated while Hanks’s film career was rapidly gaining momentum. In that account, Hanks rejected the idea that his work alone explained the breakup.
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That contemporaneous reporting provides useful context, but it does not establish a single definitive cause for the divorce. It would be misleading to infer the reason from the timing of Hanks’s later relationship with Rita Wilson, or to treat speculation about the marriage as documented fact.
What happened to Samantha Lewes after the divorce?
Lewes largely remained out of public view after her divorce from Hanks. The strongest source in the available research, a 2008 Los Angeles Times profile, refers to her as Colin Hanks’s late mother. That establishes that she had died by 2008, but the available primary-source material does not securely establish an exact date or medical cause of death.
Some secondary biographies commonly give 2002 and report bone cancer. Those details should be treated as commonly repeated secondary claims rather than fully verified facts unless supported by a stronger primary or authoritative source. Claims circulating online about Lewes’s finances, mental health, addiction, custody arrangements, or alleged conduct likewise should not be repeated as settled history without independent corroboration.
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Who are Samantha Lewes’s children?
Lewes and Hanks had two children:
- Colin Hanks became an actor. Later profiles of Colin identify Samantha Lewes as his late mother.
- Elizabeth Anne Hanks, who also writes under the name E.A. Hanks, became a writer.
Both children went on to public-facing creative careers, but neither development should be used to inflate the limited public record about Lewes’s own acting career.
Why did Samantha Lewes become a topic again in 2025?
Interest in Lewes increased after the publication of E.A. Hanks’s memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road. Simon & Schuster’s official book information lists Gallery Books as the publisher and April 8, 2025, as the publication date. The memoir follows a cross-country journey connected to the author’s investigation of family history and her relationship with her late mother.
The book is relevant to readers researching Samantha Lewes because it is a daughter’s account of their family relationship. It is not, however, a neutral biography of Lewes. Reviews and entertainment coverage describe the memoir as an intimate account of a difficult mother-daughter relationship and report serious allegations about the author’s childhood. Those are E.A. Hanks’s recollections and allegations as presented in her memoir and related reporting; they should not be converted into independently proven conclusions about Samantha Lewes.
For a firsthand family account, see E.A. Hanks’s memoir The 10. Readers should approach it as memoir rather than as a definitive reference work about Samantha Lewes.
What is verified—and what remains uncertain?
| Well-supported detail | How to understand it |
|---|---|
| Lewes was Tom Hanks’s first wife. | They married in 1978 and divorced in 1987. |
| They had two children. | Colin Hanks became an actor, and Elizabeth Anne Hanks became a writer. |
| Lewes acted. | Reference records associate her with Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success, but the documented résumé is small. |
| She was dead by 2008. | A 2008 Los Angeles Times profile describes her as Colin Hanks’s late mother. |
| Her exact death date and cause. | 2002 and bone cancer are widely repeated in secondary biographies, but are not fully confirmed by the strongest sources in this research. |
| Accounts in The 10. | They are E.A. Hanks’s memoir-based recollections and allegations, not independent findings. |
In short, Samantha Lewes was Tom Hanks’s first wife, the mother of his two oldest children, and an actress with a modest documented screen career. Her private life after the divorce—and many details repeated in online biographies—remains less firmly documented than the basic marriage, family, and divorce timeline.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Tom Hanks’s first wife?
Tom Hanks’s first wife was Samantha Lewes, an actress. They married in 1978 and divorced in 1987.
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Did Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes have children?
Yes. They had two children: Colin Hanks, who became an actor, and Elizabeth Anne Hanks, who became a writer.
When did Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes divorce?
They divorced in 1987. Contemporary reporting documented that they had separated by 1986, but the available evidence does not establish one definitive reason for the divorce.
When did Samantha Lewes die?
She had died by 2008, when the Los Angeles Times referred to her as Colin Hanks’s late mother. The often-repeated claims that she died in 2002 of bone cancer are not fully confirmed by the strongest sources in this research.
Why is Samantha Lewes being discussed again?
Interest increased after the April 8, 2025, publication of E.A. Hanks’s memoir The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, which discusses family history and the author’s relationship with her late mother.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe Bottom Line
Bottom line: Samantha Lewes was Tom Hanks’s first wife. They married in 1978, had Colin and Elizabeth, and divorced in 1987. She acted in a small number of productions, lived privately afterward, and was known to have died before 2008. Later claims about her death and allegations discussed in E.A. Hanks’s memoir should be presented with appropriate attribution and caution.
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