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).
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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.
