Tom Hanks: The Americas Narrator & His Connection to Abraham Lincoln

Did you know that acclaimed actor Tom Hanks’ connection to history runs deeper than his acting roles, tracing back to one of America's most iconic figures, Abraham Lincoln?

When Tom Hanks took on the role of narrator for National Geographic’s "Killing Lincoln," it turns out he was more than just telling a story; he was recounting family history. Hanks revealed that he is related to Abraham Lincoln through Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks. This connection adds a unique personal touch to his involvement with historical projects.

Abraham Lincoln’s Family Ties

Nancy Hanks, Lincoln's mother, had a challenging upbringing. Orphaned by the age of nine, she lived at various times with an aunt and uncle and then with the Richard Berry family in Kentucky, where she met and married Thomas Lincoln on June 12, 1806. Their second child, Abraham, was born on February 12, 1809. Tragically, Nancy died at age 34, possibly due to milk sickness, a disease from drinking contaminated milk. Abraham Lincoln, only nine years old at the time, helped his father build her coffin, an event poignantly captured in Carl Sandburg’s literary biography, highlighting the young Lincoln's resilience.

Almost 25 years later, Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd, but the tragedies continued; only one of their four children survived to adulthood, and Lincoln's last direct descendant died in 1985. Despite this, his legacy — and familial ties — live on through distant relatives like Tom Hanks.