It was the coronavirus diagnosis heard 'round the world when Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announced on social media that they'd contracted COVID-19. Hanks spoke to Spectrum News about his new movie, News of the World, and his diagnosis this past March, and how he has tried to help people amid it all, as the first high-profile person diagnosed with COVID-19.
“Don’t judge me by what I say, judge me by what I do,” Hanks said.
What he did was decide immediately to take America along for the ride with him and his wife Rita as they endured a new and relatively unknown virus, detailing their symptoms and journey to recovery. We we got to learn about COVID-19 from the two of them, as they put a human face on the virus.
"We realized there’s an important reality to put forward...Don’t get it because it’s dangerous and not pleasant, but more important, don’t pass this along to someone else. Do your part and do the common-sense thing. If us being public helped promote that, we'll take that as a good thing,” he said.
Doing good things and giving back has long been second-nature to Hanks, doing a lot of work particularly in the military space. He was inducted as an honorary member of the U.S. Army Rangers Hall of Fame for his portrayal of a captain in the Oscar-winning movie, Saving Private Ryan.
Off-screen, Hanks is a big supporter of Elizabeth Dole's charity, helping launch their Hidden Heroes campaign, which focuses on military caregivers. His respect for those who serve runs deep. He has a platform, and knows his purpose. That came alive this year more than ever before.
"You got to literally do things, posting is not enough. Sometimes you got to write checks. It's not enough to say 'support this idea.' The most important changes for good and for bad that have come across in the course of human history has been people taking actions," he said.
Though we love watching him talk the talk on screen, one can always count on Hanks to walk the walk.