Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are one of the few Hollywood couples who have managed to stay together for an impressive 38 years.
The couple first met in 1981 on the set of the sitcom Bosom Buddies. However, at that time Tom was married to his college sweetheart Samantha Lewes.
Tom and Rita crossed paths again in 1985 when they starred in the film Volunteers but, again, Tom was still married to Samantha.
But, as fate would have it, Tom ended up separating from Samantha shortly after Volunteers, and Tom and Rita made their red carpet debut in 1986 at the premiere of Three Amigos.
They tied the knot just two years later in April 1988 – with Rita wearing a still-talked about short-length wedding dress – and the rest is history.
Tom and Rita now share two children, Chester and Truman, have starred in 6 films together, the most recent being Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, and celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in 2023.
Read on to see Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s sweetest moments.
01
Rita penned an incredibly sweet message for Tom in honour of his 67th birthday. “Happy Birthday to this man who is my lover, my best friend, my family, the father of my children,” she wrote on Instagram along with this picture.
“He loves a typewriter just slightly less than me, 😂 (why is there no typewriter emoji?) invents cocktails like Diet Cokecaine (Diet Coke mixed with Champagne) or a Cokearita (Diet Coke mixed with margarita), DJs regularly on @bossradio66 , is happiest being surround by his family and friends, and has committed to telling the stories of veterans and has created his own coffee brand supporting veterans, @givehanx Hanx for our Troops.”
“He is one of the smartest people I know, has made me laugh everyday for 38 years, can nap anywhere at any time. Happy happy birthday my love! 🎂💕🌸💐💕🎂🌸💐💕🎂🌸🎂💕🌸.”
02
Tom and Rita celebrated their milestone wedding anniversary with cake. “35 years of marriage. April 30 1988. Love is everything,” Rita shared on Instagram in early May 2023.
03
Tom and Rita were filming in Australia in early 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic. The couple were forced to isolate when they both contracted COVID-19, but seemed to be in good spirits throughout.
“Hello folks. @ritawilson and I want to thank everyone here Down Under who are taking such good care of us. We have Covid-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else. There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness. We are taking it one-day-at-a-time. There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no? Remember, despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball,” Tom wrote on Instagram.
04
Tom and Rita celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in April 2018 with cardboard cutouts of themselves. How creatively sweet!
05
In honour of Mother’s Day 2017, Tom publicly thanked Rita on Instagram. “Hey, Baby @ritawilson, it’s me. Happy Mothers Day! I love you everyday and so much. Hanx,” he wrote along with this cute picture.
06
Tom and Rita got married on April 30, 1988.
07
Tom and Rita took their relationship public in 1986 and made their red carpet debut at the premiere for Three Amigos.
08
Tom and Rita first became friends when they played a couple in the 1985 comedy film Volunteers.
