# 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. He has produced, directed, and filmed several short films. Hanks made his film debut in Buford's Beach Bunnies (1993).

## 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

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.
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

Hanks married actress Karen Praxel on May 25, 1986, 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.

## Filmography
### 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 | |
| 1995 | Xtro 3: Watch the Skies | Prvt. Friedman | |
| 1996 | Tiny Toy Stories | Woody (voice) | International release only |
| 1997 | Psycho Sushi | Yuriel | |
| 1999 | Blood Type | Stew | |
| 1999 | Baby Geniuses | Goon Ray | |
| 1999 | Inferno | Tour Bus Driver | |
| 2000 | Blood on the Backlot | Officer Holbrook | |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins | Woody (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2001 | Cahoots | Mr. Marsh | |
| 2001 | 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 | |
| 2010 | Acts of Violence | Detective Mike | |
| 2011 | Seymour Sally Rufus | Doctor | |
| 2012 | Stolen Breath | Actor | |
| 2013 | Automotive | Detective Fulton | |
| 2013 | Odd Brodsky | Actor playing God | |
| 2013 | A Leading Man | Darren Brandl | |
| 2013 | I Know That Voice | Himself | Documentary |
| 2017 | The Sex Trip | Matt Flannery | |
| 2018 | Blood Corral | Michael Arman | |
| 2019 | The Long Way | Professor Bob | |
| 2020 | Lamp Life | Woody (voice) | Short film |

### 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) | |
| 1996 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Les Barrish | Episode: "It's a Small World After All" |
| 1996 | 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 |
| 1998 | 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" |
| 1999 | 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 | TV movie |
| 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

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1996 | Toy Story: Activity Center | Woody |
| 1996 | Animated Storybook: Toy Story | Woody |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2: Activity Center | Woody |
| 1999 | Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue | Woody |
| 2001 | Toy Story Racer | Woody |
| 2003 | Extreme Skate Adventure | Woody |
| 2004 | The Polar Express | Conductor, Hobo, Scrooge |
| 2009 | Toy Story Mania! | Woody |
| 2010 | Toy Story 3: The Video Game | Woody |
| 2011 | Kinect Disneyland Adventures | Woody |
| 2012 | Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure | Woody |
| 2013 | Disney Infinity | Woody |
| 2014 | Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes | Woody |
| 2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | Woody |
| 2017 | Fortnite | In-game NPCs |
| 2018 | Lego The Incredibles | Woody |
| 2019 | Kingdom Hearts III | Woody |
| 2023 | Disney Dreamlight Valley | Woody |
| 2023 | Disney Speedstorm | Woody |

### Theme parks

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2008 | Toy Story Midway Mania! | Woody |

## Filmmaking credits

| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Cinematographer | Notes |
| 1995 | Back Field in Motion | No | No | No | Yes | Video short |
| 2008 | Wish | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Short film |
| 2008 | The Floor | Yes | No | No | Yes | Short film |
| 2010 | Deception | No | Yes | No | No | Short film Co-producer |
| 2010 | Collision | Yes | Yes | No | No | Short film |
| 2010 | Real Men Real Issues | No | No | No | Yes | TV series Episode: "Mine or Mime?" |
| 2010 | The Rise and Fall of John Tesoro | No | No | No | Yes | Short film |
| 2011 | Hazelnut | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Short film Co-producer |
| 2011 | The Comedy Blips | No | No | No | Yes | TV series |
| 2012 | Coveting Roses | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| 2013 | Dog Gone Missing | No | No | No | Yes | Short film |
| 2013–2014 | Bunny and Bee | No | No | No | Yes | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Dead Drop | Yes | No | No | No | Assistant director |
| 2014 | Breaking Curfew | No | No | No | Yes | TV series |
| 2018 | Two Minutes to Midnight | No | Yes | No | No | TV Mini-Series Episode: "AtomEx" |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
| 1999 | Angel Film Award | Best Supporting Actor | Blood Type | Won |