Tom Hanks has publicly addressed the allegations made by his daughter, E.A. Hanks, in her memoir The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, which details her traumatic childhood experiences with her late mother, Susan Dillingham (also known as Samantha Lewes).
Speaking at the premiere of his new film The Phoenician Scheme, Hanks expressed pride in his daughter’s courage to confront and share her painful past. He stated, “I’m not surprised that my daughter had the wherewithal… to examine this thing that I think she was incredibly honest about.” He further remarked, “We all come from checkered, cracked lives, all of us,” acknowledging the complexities of family histories .
In her memoir, E.A. Hanks describes a childhood marked by emotional and physical abuse, neglect, and instability following her parents’ divorce in 1987. She recounts incidents of being locked in closets, exposure to frightening stories, and living in a deteriorating home environment in Sacramento. At age 14, she moved to Los Angeles to live with her father, Tom Hanks, and his wife, Rita Wilson
Despite the painful subject matter, Hanks commended his daughter’s literary bravery and introspection. He described her as a “bold, journalistic, literate mind” and expressed his admiration for her ability to examine her past with honesty and depth
E.A. Hanks’ memoir offers a candid and poignant look into her experiences, providing insight into the challenges she faced and the resilience she developed in the face of adversity.
