Jim Hanks
James Mathew Hanks (born June 15, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has played numerous minor roles in film and guest appearances on television. Bearing both a face and a voice that resemble those of his older brother Tom Hanks, he often serves as a voice double for Woody in Toy Story media when the latter is unavailable.
Also recorded as Jim Mathew Hanks · James Matthew Hanks · Jim Matthew Hanks · James Hanks
Jim Hanks
- Name
- Jim Hanks
- Birth Name
- James Mathew Hanks
- Born
- 15 June 1961
- Birthplace
- Shasta County, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- * Actor
- Full name
- James Mathew Hanks.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Languages
- English.
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James Mathew Hanks (born June 15, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has played numerous minor roles in film and guest appearances on television. Bearing both a face and a voice that resemble those of his older brother Tom Hanks, he often serves as a voice double for Woody in Toy Story media when the latter is unavailable.
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wikidata · Q725250 · wikipedia · Jim Hanks
In this article
Biography
Biography
He has produced, directed, and filmed several short films. Hanks made his film debut in Buford's Beach Bunnies (1993).
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jim Hanks • Birth Name — James Mathew Hanks • Born — 15 June 1961 • Birthplace — Shasta County, California, U.S. • Occupation — * Actor • filmmaker • Years Active — 1992–present • Children — 1 • Relatives — * Tom Hanks (brother) • Larry Hanks (brother) • Colin Hanks (nephew) • E. A. Hanks (niece) • Chet Hanks (nephew) • Rita Wilson (sister-in-law)
Early life
Early life
James Mathew Hanks was born in Shasta County, California on June 15, 1961. He is the son of Janet Marylyn (née Frager) and itinerant cook Amos Mefford Hanks. Hanks is also the youngest brother of fellow actor Tom Hanks and entomologist Larry Hanks, but they were not raised together. After their parents divorced, Jim went to Red Bluff, California with his mother while older siblings Tom, Larry, and Sandra remained with their father. After college, he lived in Sacramento working as a waiter. The agent who employed his actress wife Karen Praxel as a receptionist encouraged him to get into acting. After he took acting lessons, he moved to Los Angeles in 1992 and began his career with roles in B-movies and commercial voice-overs.
Career
Career
He got his first lead role as Jeeter Buford in Buford's Beach Bunnies (1993). Wishing to earn the role based on his own abilities, he auditioned as "Jim Matthews" (just his first and a modification of his middle name). While producers noted his "resemblance to Tom Hanks", he won the role based on his own comedic and acting skills and his relationship to his brother was not revealed until paperwork was completed. In 1995, A Current Affair revealed that Tom had created the mannerisms for the character of Forrest Gump based on the simpleton mannerisms earlier created by Jim for the role of Jeeter, including Forrest's "now-famous jerky run". His physical resemblance to his brother allowed him to act as body double for him in scenes in Forrest Gump. Due to his vocal similarity, and with his brother Tom's personal recommendation, he often substitutes for Tom in the role of Sheriff Woody in various Toy Story video games and spin-offs while also voicing Woody in almost all real life sold merchandise. Hanks began to provide the voice of Geoffrey the Giraffe in the Toys "R" Us commercials in 2001 and is the voice of Rudy from the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers commercials. He guest-starred in an episode of Scrubs, appearing as a "Dr. Turner" partnered with recurring character Dr. Hooch, in reference to his brother's film Turner & Hooch. In the 1998 film adaptation of O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief", Hanks played the role of the mailman who was the town gossip. He has appeared on stage, including playing "Lennie Small" in Theatrical Arts International's production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. In November 2016, Hanks guest-starred in a web series called Gary CK Needs Work, a parody of the FX show Louie.
Personal life
Personal life
Hanks married actress Karen Praxel on May 25, 1986 and together they have one son, Gage. The family resides in Venice, California. He works with Los Angeles–based "Feet First Films", a production company that provides actor demos as well as production support for short films.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1992 — Homefront — Ball Player #4 — Episode: "First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage" • 1995 — The Clinic • 1996 — Toy Story Treats — Woody (voice) • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman — Les Barrish — Episode: "It's a Small World After All" • Sabrina the Teenage Witch — Jerry — Episode: "The True Adventures of Rudy Kazootie" • 1997 — Night Man — Episode: "Face to Face" • 1998 — The Ransom of Red Chief — Mailman — TV movie • Sunset Beach — Spike the dog (voice) — 2 episodes • 1998–1999 — JAG — CPO Kyle Anderson Chief Kyle Anderson — Episodes: "Jaggle Bells" "Yeah, Baby" • 1999 — Smart Guy — Episode: "From A to Double D" • Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot — Dwayne Hunter • 2000 — Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane — Duane the Salesman — Episode: "Kiss of Death" • 2005 — Scrubs — Dr. Turner — Episode: "My Faith in Humanity" • 2007 — Dexter — Annoyed Man — Episode: "The Dark Defender" • 2008 — Shark Swarm — Nick Atkins — TV movie • 2012 — I Married Who? — Director • 2012–2018 — Robot Chicken — Various Voices — 8 episodes • 2014 — Rake — Fred Luntz - Director — Episode: "50 Shades of Gay" • 2017 — Milo Murphy's Law — Captain Wilson (voice) — Episode: "The Note" • 2018 — Goldie and Bear — Red's Father (voice) — Episode: "Tess the Giantess/Red Moves Away"
Video games
Video games
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1996 — Toy Story: Activity Center — Woody • Animated Storybook: Toy Story • 1999 — Toy Story 2: Activity Center • Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue • 2001 — Toy Story Racer • 2003 — Extreme Skate Adventure • 2004 — The Polar Express — Conductor, Hobo, Scrooge • 2009 — Toy Story Mania! — Woody • 2010 — Toy Story 3: The Video Game • 2011 — Kinect Disneyland Adventures • 2012 — Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure • 2013 — Disney Infinity • 2014 — Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes • 2015 — Disney Infinity 3.0 • 2017 — Fortnite — In-game NPCs • 2018 — Lego The Incredibles — Woody • 2019 — Kingdom Hearts III • 2023 — Disney Dreamlight Valley • Disney Speedstorm
Theme parks
Theme parks
• Year — Title — Role • 2008 — Toy Story Midway Mania! — Woody
Shows
Shows
• Year — Title — Role • 1996 — Disney on Ice — Woody (voice)
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Jim Hanks was recorded at birth as James Mathew Hanks. The authorities additionally record the headings Jim Mathew Hanks, James Matthew Hanks, Jim Matthew Hanks, James Hanks and Jimmy Hanks. His recorded language was English.
Identity
Identity
Jim Hanks is recorded as film director, film producer, cinematographer, camera operator and actor.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1961
Jim Hanks born at Shasta.
Filmmaking credits
• Year — Title — Director — Producer — Writer — Cinematographer — Notes • 1995 — Back Field in Motion — Video short • 2008 — Wish — Short film • The Floor • 2010 — Deception — Short film Co-producer • Collision — Short film • Real Men Real Issues — TV series Episode: "Mine or Mime?" • The Rise and Fall of John Tesoro — Short film • 2011 — Hazelnut — Short film Co-producer • The Comedy Blips — TV series • 2012 — Coveting Roses — Short film • 2013 — Dog Gone Missing • 2013–2014 — Bunny and Bee — 4 episodes • 2014 — Dead Drop — Assistant director • Breaking Curfew — TV series • 2018 — Two Minutes to Midnight — TV Mini-Series Episode: "AtomEx"
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1993 — Buford's Beach Bunnies — Jeeter Buford • 1994 — Forrest Gump — Forrest Gump — Tom Hanks's body double • 1995 — Portrait in Red — Detective Wilder • Xtro 3: Watch the Skies — Prvt. Friedman • 1996 — Tiny Toy Stories — Woody (voice) — International release only • 1997 — Psycho Sushi — Yuriel • 1999 — Blood Type — Stew • Baby Geniuses — Goon Ray • Inferno — Tour Bus Driver • 2000 — Blood on the Backlot — Officer Holbrook • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins — Woody (voice) — Direct-to-video • 2001 — Cahoots — Mr. Marsh • Spirit Rising — Marv Chalsky • 2003 — Swing — Club Jimbo Maitre D' • 2004 — Purgatory House — Saint James • 2008 — Deadwater — Ensign Buford • 2009 — Road to the Altar — Dick • 2010 — Goofyfoot — Dad • Acts of Violence — Detective Mike • 2011 — Seymour Sally Rufus — Doctor • 2012 — Stolen Breath — Actor • 2013 — Automotive — Detective Fulton • Odd Brodsky — Actor playing God • A Leading Man — Darren Brandl • I Know That Voice — Himself — Documentary • 2017 — The Sex Trip — Matt Flannery • 2018 — Blood Corral — Michael Arman • 2018 — Abnormal Attraction — Frank Stein • 2019 — The Long Way — Professor Bob • 2020 — Lamp Life — Woody (voice) — Short film
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Jim Hanks”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q725250: Jim Hanks
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
authority file
Awards and nominations
• Year — Award — Category — Film — Result • 1999 — Angel Film Award — Best Supporting Actor — Blood Type
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Hanks, Jim 1961-. Encyclopedia.com.
- 2.Tom Hanks' Mother Janet Marylyn Frager Dies: 'She Was the Difference in Many Lives'. 12 July 2016.
- 3.Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 1999
- 4.Gardner, David. Tom Hanks. Blake. January 1, 1999. 978-1-85782-327-1.
- 5.Warwick, Kevin. Tom Hanks is important. Celebrate him. Chicago Reader. 30 March 2012.
- 6.Piantadosi, Roger. Tom Hanks, in The Hot Seat. The Washington Post. 28 August 1984.
- 7.CBS. Tom Hanks interview. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. April 29, 2017 cbignore.
- 8.Pecchia, David. Tom Hanks' younger brother finds acting is an adventure. Reading Eagle. January 17, 1995.
- 9.Viner, Michael. Tales from the Casting Couch. Phoenix Books, Inc. 174. 1-59777-642-4.
- 10.Filmmaker Mark Pirro on A Current Affair (1995). A Current Affair (U.S. TV series).
- 11.Yourse, Robyn-Denise. Taking Names. Washington Times. September 22, 2006.
- 12.Sibling Revelry. People. March 13, 1995.
- 13.Denham, Jess. Toy Story: Tom Hanks gets his brother Jim to voice Woody for him when he has better things to do. The Independent. October 15, 2015.
- 14.Lane, Lexi. Tom Hanks’ Younger Brother Jim Hanks Fills in as the Voice of Toy Story’s Woody When the Oscar Winner Can’t. People. May 24, 2026.
- 15.Strauss, Bob. Disney's Animated Storybook: Toy Story. Entertainment Weekly. May 17, 1996.
- 16.Hartl, John. Sequels to 'Toy Story', 'Tail' go straight to video. Seattle Times. August 4, 2000.
- 17.Howard, Theresa. Toys R Us ads hit target: Moms. USA Today. February 10, 2002.
- 18.Rotten Tomatoes. Jim Hanks bio at Rotten Tomatoes.
- 19.The Untold Truth of Tom Hanks' Brother - Looper. 27 February 2019.
- 20.This little guy and his wife are fixing Hanksgiving dinner this year. I'm speaking about the one on the left, by the way. instagram.com.
- 21.A little about Jimmy.
- 22.Blood Type (1999). The New York Times. 2010.
- 23.Jim Hanks Video Game Credits and Biography. MobyGames.
- 24.Disney Infinity 3.0. 2015.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedauthority file
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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