Samantha Lewes was an American actress who became known to the public mainly because of her connection to Tom Hanks. However, her story was more than being the first wife of a famous actor. She had her own interest in acting, became a mother to two children, and lived much of her later life away from Hollywood attention. Her name is still remembered because of her family, her short acting career, and her connection to Tom Hanks before he became a global star.
Quick Bio of Samantha Lewes
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Susan Jane Dillingham |
| Professional Name | Samantha Lewes |
| Born | November 29, 1952 |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, USA |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known For | Bosom Buddies, Mr. Success |
| Spouse | Tom Hanks |
| Marriage | 1978–1987 |
| Children | Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks |
| Date of Death | March 12, 2002 |
| Place of Death | Sacramento, California, USA |
| Age at Death | 49 years |
Who Was Samantha Lewes?
Samantha Lewes, born Susan Jane Dillingham, was born on November 29, 1952, in San Diego, California. She later used the name Samantha Lewes professionally while working as an actress. Her known acting credits include the television series Bosom Buddies and the television movie Mr. Success.
Unlike many Hollywood personalities, she did not spend decades building a large public career. Instead, her name became closely linked with Tom Hanks, whom she married in 1978. The couple had two children, Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks, before ending their marriage years later.
Samantha Lewes’ Early Life
There is limited public information about Samantha’s childhood and teenage years. Much of the available information about her begins with her interest in acting and theater. She eventually became involved in the performing arts, where she met Tom Hanks during their younger years.
Their relationship started before Hanks became one of the biggest actors in Hollywood. At that time, he was still developing his career and working toward finding his place in the entertainment industry. Samantha was also interested in acting, making their early connection part of a shared creative world.
Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks
The relationship between Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks began during an important period in both of their lives. They knew each other before Hanks became famous and before his career reached the level that would later make him an international star.
The couple welcomed their first child, Colin Hanks, in 1977. They married in January 1978, and their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hanks, was born in 1982. Tom Hanks’ biography records the marriage as lasting from 1978 until 1987.
Samantha Lewes Wedding and Marriage
The Samantha Lewes wedding to Tom Hanks took place on January 24, 1978, according to IMDb’s biographical record. At the time, Hanks was still a young actor trying to establish himself professionally.
Their marriage continued through the early years of Hanks’ career. They became parents while he was still working toward greater opportunities in television and film. The marriage later became difficult, and the couple separated in 1985 before their divorce was finalized in 1987.
Why Did Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks Divorce?
The end of a marriage is usually more complicated than one simple explanation. Public records confirm that Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks divorced in 1987, but many private details of their relationship were never fully discussed in public.
Later accounts have added more information about the family. In her 2025 memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, E.A. Hanks wrote about difficult experiences from her childhood and her parents’ separation. Those descriptions are her personal memories and should be understood as her account of growing up rather than as a complete independent record of the marriage.
Samantha Lewes’ Children
Samantha Lewes had two children with Tom Hanks: Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks. Both later developed careers connected to creative work.
Colin Hanks became an actor and director. He appeared in projects such as Roswell, Orange County, and Fargo. Elizabeth, who is also known as E.A. Hanks, became a writer and has worked with several major publications.
Their careers helped keep interest in their mother alive. Even though Samantha stayed away from the spotlight for much of her later life, her place in the Hanks family history remained important.
Samantha Lewes’ Acting Career
The career of the actress Samantha Lewes was relatively short. She did not appear in a large number of productions, but her available credits show that she worked professionally in entertainment.
Her best-known credits include Bosom Buddies, the comedy series starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari, and Mr. Success, a television movie released in 1984. IMDb lists her as a customer in Mr. Success and as a waitress in one episode of Bosom Buddies.
Samantha Lewes in Bosom Buddies
One of the most interesting details about Samantha Lewes and Bosom Buddies is that she appeared in the same series connected to Tom Hanks’ early television career.
IMDb credits Samantha as a waitress in one episode. Her role was small, but the appearance is still notable because Bosom Buddies became an important part of Hanks’ early career.
The series ran from 1980 to 1982 and helped give Hanks greater exposure before his later success in major movies.
Samantha Lewes Movies and Television Work
People often search for Samantha Lewes movies, but her filmography was not extensive. Most reliable records point to a small number of television acting appearances rather than a long movie career.
Her limited screen work does not mean acting was unimportant to her. It simply shows that her professional path was different from Tom Hanks’ much larger career. After her marriage and family life changed, Samantha remained increasingly private.
Samantha Lewes and Forrest Gump
The phrase Samantha Lewes Forrest Gump is another common search connected to her family. However, Samantha herself was not a cast member of Forrest Gump.
The connection comes from her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hanks, who appeared briefly in the 1994 film. She played the school bus girl who refuses to let young Forrest sit beside her. Tom Hanks starred in the movie as the adult Forrest Gump.
This small family connection sometimes causes online articles to incorrectly suggest that Samantha appeared in the movie. The available cast information does not support that claim.
Samantha Lewes After Her Divorce
After her divorce from Tom Hanks, Samantha lived a much quieter life. Hanks later married Rita Wilson in 1988, while Samantha remained connected to him through their two children.
The public record contains fewer details about Samantha’s everyday life after the divorce. This is one reason some internet biographies contain incomplete or repeated information. Her private lifestyle means that many personal questions cannot be answered with certainty.
Samantha Lewes Death
On March 12, 2002, Samantha Lewes passed away in Sacramento, California, at the age of 49. She was 49 years old. Her death came many years after her divorce from Tom Hanks and while he was already a major Hollywood star.
By that stage, Hanks had built a highly successful career, while Samantha had remained much less visible. Her death therefore received far less media attention than the deaths of major Hollywood celebrities.
Samantha Lewes Cause of Death
The Samantha Lewes cause of death is generally reported as cancer. IMDb specifically lists bone cancer as the cause of death, and biographies of her children have repeated that information.
Some newer online reports have described her illness differently, which has created confusion around the exact medical details. For that reason, the safest wording is that Samantha died from cancer in 2002 at age 49, while established biographical records specifically identify bone cancer.
Samantha Lewes Family Legacy
Samantha’s greatest lasting connection to the entertainment world may be through her children. Colin Hanks followed his father into acting and developed a career of his own.
Her daughter E.A. Hanks took a different creative path through writing. In 2025, she published The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, which brought new public attention to her childhood and family history.
E.A. Hanks and Her Mother’s Story
E.A. Hanks’ memoir added a new chapter to public discussions about Samantha. In the book, E.A. described difficult experiences involving her childhood and her relationship with her mother.
These details are important to mention carefully because they come from E.A. Hanks’ personal account. They should not be presented as independently proven facts about every part of Samantha’s life. The memoir mainly provides insight into how E.A. remembers and understood her childhood.
Samantha Lewes Photos and Images
Searches for Samantha Lewes photos, Samantha Lewes images, and pictures of Samantha Lewes often lead to photographs from her years with Tom Hanks or images connected with her family.
There are fewer widely circulated photographs of Samantha than there are of Tom Hanks. This is largely because she chose to keep her personal life away from public attention and had a brief acting career. Readers should also check captions carefully because celebrity image websites sometimes identify people incorrectly.
Samantha Lewes’ Connection to Hollywood
What makes Samantha’s story interesting is the timing of her relationship with Tom Hanks. She was part of his life long before his acting career brought him widespread fame.
Their romance started when Tom Hanks was still working to build his career as a young actor. Years later, he would become one of the world’s most recognizable actors. Samantha’s life therefore gives readers a glimpse into the early personal chapter of Hanks’ journey.
A Life Outside the Spotlight
Samantha Lewes did not spend her later years trying to maintain celebrity status. Instead, she remained largely outside the entertainment news cycle.
Her decision to stay out of the public eye gives her story a different character from the lives of many people linked to Hollywood stars. There are no large collections of interviews or constant public appearances to explain every stage of her life. Much of what is known comes from official records, acting credits, family information, and later reporting.
Why People Still Search for Samantha Lewes
Interest in Samantha Lewes continues because her name connects several important parts of Hollywood history. She was Tom Hanks’ first wife, the mother of Colin and E.A. She was also an actress who worked in the entertainment industry while her former husband was still at the beginning of his career.
Her story also gained renewed attention after E.A. Hanks published her memoir in 2025. This brought new readers to the family’s history and encouraged people to look again at Samantha’s life.
Samantha Lewes and Her Connection to the Hanks Family
The Hanks family eventually became connected with several areas of entertainment. Tom Hanks became an internationally known actor, Colin built his own acting career, and E.A. became a writer.
Samantha played an important role during the family’s earliest years. She was the mother of Tom Hanks’ two oldest children and his first wife during the period when his career was still developing.
Final Thoughts
Samantha Lewes lived a life that crossed paths with Hollywood without becoming completely defined by Hollywood. She had her own acting work, including appearances in Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success, before becoming better known through her marriage to Tom Hanks.
Her marriage began in 1978, ended in divorce in 1987, and produced two children, Colin Hanks and E.A. Hanks. Samantha later remained mostly private until her death in 2002 at age 49.
Today, her story remains connected to the early life of Tom Hanks and the careers of her children. Although her time as an actress was brief, her role in the Hanks family story has kept her name familiar to new generations of readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Samantha Lewes?
Samantha Lewes was an American actress best known as Tom Hanks’ first wife and the mother of actors Colin Hanks and writer E.A. Hanks.
When did Samantha Lewes marry Tom Hanks?
The couple got married in 1978 and officially ended their marriage in 1987. They had two children together.
What was Samantha Lewes’ cause of death?
Reliable biographical records report that she died from cancer, with IMDb specifically listing bone cancer. Samantha Lewes passed away in 2002 when she was 49 years old.
Was Samantha Lewes in Forrest Gump?
No. Samantha was not in the movie. Her daughter E.A. Hanks had a small role in Forrest Gump.
What shows did Samantha Lewes appear in?
Her acting work included appearances in Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success. She played a waitress in one episode of Bosom Buddies.
Did Samantha Lewes remarry after Tom Hanks?
There is no strong, consistently documented evidence that she married again after her divorce from Tom Hanks.
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