Tom Hanks Ex Wife Samantha Lewes: Marriage Timeline, Kids And Life Story
If you searched Tom Hanks ex wife, you’re looking for the woman he was married to before Rita Wilson. Tom Hanks’ ex-wife was Samantha Lewes, an actress whose real name was Susan Jane Dillingham. Their marriage lasted through Hanks’ early career years and ended in divorce.
Here’s what’s actually known about Samantha Lewes, their relationship timeline, their children, and how her story fits into Tom Hanks’ life today.
Quick Facts About Tom Hanks And Samantha Lewes
- Tom Hanks: Actor, producer, director; one of Hollywood’s most successful stars
- Ex Wife: Samantha Lewes (born Susan Jane Dillingham)
- Married: 1978
- Divorced: 1987
- Children Together: Two (Colin Hanks and Elizabeth “E.A.” Hanks)
- Samantha Lewes Died: 2002
- Tom Hanks’ Current Wife: Rita Wilson (married 1988–present)
Who Was Tom Hanks’ Ex Wife?
Tom Hanks’ ex-wife was Samantha Lewes, a stage and screen actress who also worked in television. Her birth name was Susan Jane Dillingham, but she used Samantha Lewes professionally.
While Tom Hanks became a global superstar, Samantha’s life stayed far more private. She wasn’t a constant tabloid presence, and she didn’t build a celebrity brand around being connected to him. That’s one reason you’ll see fewer detailed public profiles about her compared to modern “celebrity spouse” coverage.
How Tom Hanks And Samantha Lewes Met
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes met in the late 1970s while they were both connected to the theater/TV world. Their relationship began before Tom was “Tom Hanks, the icon.” At the time, he was a young actor building momentum, not a household name.
This matters because early-career relationships often look different than celebrity marriages formed at peak fame. They’re typically built in a more normal environment—less pressure, less public surveillance, and fewer people trying to insert themselves into the relationship.
When Did Tom Hanks Marry Samantha Lewes?
Tom Hanks married Samantha Lewes in 1978. It was a young marriage, happening at the point where both were still shaping adult life and career identity. In a lot of ways, their relationship belongs to a “before the spotlight” era of Hanks’ biography.
That timing explains why many fans don’t know much about it. His later fame became so enormous that the early years can get overshadowed—even though they were foundational.
Tom Hanks And Samantha Lewes’ Children
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes had two children together:
- Colin Hanks (born 1977) – actor, producer, and director
- Elizabeth “E.A.” Hanks (born 1982) – writer and creative professional
Colin Hanks is the more widely recognized name because he followed his father into acting and built a steady career of his own. Elizabeth (often known as E.A. Hanks) has generally kept a lower profile, with more focus on creative work outside celebrity culture.
The key point is that Samantha Lewes isn’t just “Tom Hanks’ ex.” She’s the mother of two of his children, and her role in his life remains meaningful through family.
When Did Tom Hanks And Samantha Lewes Divorce?
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes divorced in 1987. By then, Tom’s career was already growing fast, and their marriage was moving into a stage where fame can put stress on everything: time, travel, attention, pressure, and the way a couple handles change.
Their divorce is often described as a painful personal chapter for Hanks. Over the years, he has spoken generally about how difficult those years were, especially as he was balancing a demanding career while trying to navigate family life and personal growth.
Why Their Marriage Ended (And Why Details Are Limited)
People naturally want a dramatic, single-sentence explanation for a divorce. Real life usually doesn’t work that way. With Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes, the details are not exhaustively public, and many summaries describe it as a relationship that changed as they grew older and as career pressure intensified.
What’s important is that:
- their marriage ended in divorce in 1987,
- they continued sharing responsibility as parents,
- and Tom later remarried and built a second long-term marriage.
If you see overly specific “one reason” explanations online, it’s smart to treat them cautiously, because many are speculation dressed up as certainty.
Samantha Lewes’ Career And Public Life
Samantha Lewes had acting credits, including television appearances, but she did not pursue the kind of high-profile Hollywood trajectory that Tom did. It’s also worth noting that the entertainment industry in the late 70s and 80s did not function like it does today—there wasn’t social media, constant paparazzi video, or an expectation that the spouse of a celebrity would also be a public brand.
So her lower visibility doesn’t mean she “did nothing.” It often means she lived more privately, possibly prioritizing family and personal life while Tom’s career demanded more and more of his time.
What Happened To Samantha Lewes After The Divorce?
After the divorce, Samantha Lewes largely stayed out of the spotlight. Over time, she became known mainly through the fact that her son Colin began appearing in film and television, which naturally revived interest in Tom Hanks’ early family timeline.
Samantha Lewes passed away in 2002. Reports commonly state she died after a battle with cancer. Her death is an important part of the story because it explains why “Tom Hanks ex wife” searches often include curiosity about where she is now: she is no longer living.
Tom Hanks’ Marriage To Rita Wilson And The Comparison People Make
Tom Hanks married Rita Wilson in 1988, one year after his divorce from Samantha. They’ve been together for decades, which naturally invites comparisons between the two chapters of his life: the early marriage with Samantha and the long-lasting marriage with Rita.
But it’s worth looking at the context. Tom’s marriage to Samantha happened when he was very young and still figuring out adulthood. His marriage to Rita happened after he had already experienced:
- the pressure of rising fame,
- the emotional cost of divorce,
- and the reality of parenting through major life change.
Those experiences can reshape how a person approaches commitment and partnership. So the “why did one marriage end and the other last” conversation often comes down to timing, maturity, and circumstances—not just personality.
How Samantha Lewes Is Remembered Today
Samantha Lewes is most often remembered in connection with three things:
- Her place in Tom Hanks’ early life before global stardom
- Her role as the mother of Colin and Elizabeth
- The privacy she maintained even while connected to a major celebrity
That last point matters more than it seems. Many celebrity ex-spouses become headline characters, either by choice or because the public demands it. Samantha didn’t. Her story stayed quieter, which is why it still feels “unknown” to many people searching today.
Common Confusions About Tom Hanks’ Ex Wife
- Confusion: “Was Rita Wilson his first wife?”
Reality: No. Samantha Lewes was his first wife. - Confusion: “Was Samantha Lewes her real name?”
Reality: Samantha Lewes was a professional name; she was born Susan Jane Dillingham. - Confusion: “Did Tom Hanks have kids only with Rita?”
Reality: No. He has two children with Samantha (Colin and Elizabeth) and two with Rita (Chet and Truman).
Why “Tom Hanks Ex Wife” Is Still A Popular Search
This keyword stays popular because Tom Hanks is a rare kind of star—beloved, long-running, and constantly rediscovered by new audiences. Every time a new generation watches his films, people search the basics: family, marriage, kids, early life.
And because Samantha Lewes isn’t a celebrity who stayed in the spotlight, curiosity remains high. The less the public knows, the more the public searches.
The Bottom Line
If you searched Tom Hanks ex wife, the answer is Samantha Lewes (born Susan Jane Dillingham). They married in 1978, divorced in 1987, and had two children together: Colin Hanks and Elizabeth “E.A.” Hanks. Samantha lived a largely private life after the divorce and passed away in 2002. Tom Hanks later married Rita Wilson in 1988, and they remain together today.
Featured image source: https://www.biography.com/actors/tom-hanks
