The actor—and now novelist—reflects on how he got here, and the other lives he might have lived instead. Story by Chris Heath.Read more from our <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2023/06/">June 2023 issue</a>.Give the gift of The Atlantic <a href="https://accounts.theatlantic.com/products/gift/">today</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

The actor—and now novelist—reflects on how he got here, and the other lives he might have lived instead. Story by Chris Heath. Read more from our June 2023 issue. Give the gift of The Atlantic today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The actor—and now novelist—reflects on how he got here, and the other lives he might have lived instead. Story by Chris Heath.Read more from our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/toc/2023/06/" rel="noopener noreferrer">June 2023&nbsp;issue</a>.Give the gift of The Atlantic&nbsp;<a href="https://accounts.theatlantic.com/products/gift/" rel="noopener noreferrer">today</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

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How Tom Hanks Became Tom Hanks by Chris Heath

How Tom Hanks Became Tom Hanks by Chris Heath