Why 2.5 Million People Voted Tom Hanks As The Ultimate Celebrity

What makes a great actor

Is it their method? Their charm? Their raw, untethered emotion? On today's episode of Top Spot, we're

pulling back the curtain on our favorite actor to find out why they landed at the top of the list

Rankin went through over 2 million votes for actors ranging from Christian Bale to Charlie Chaplin

and Denzel Washington to Marlon Brando. But it was none other than Tom Hanks

who landed at the top spot. Good job, guys. That's fabulous. That's good

That's good. There's no doubt that Tom Hanks is America's favorite father

figure, and it's an indisputable fact that he's a national treasure. I mean, just check out this list from Ranker

this list from Ranker, or even this list from Ranker. But how did this 80s TV star

become the GOAT of American cinema? Let's take a step back and look at how Hanks started

Up until 1984, Tom Hanks was finding steady work on broadcast television, popping up in sitcoms

from Family Ties to Taxi. And for two years, his largest starring role was Kip Wilson on the ABC comedy, Bosom Buddies

You talking to me? You talking to me? I don't see anybody else here

You must be talking to me. Hanks could have easily just ended up as that funny guy from TV

but his career took a turn after working on the set of Happy Days. It was there that he made friends of screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babalu Mandel

who had a movie in the works with Walt Disney Productions called Splash. Hanks was nowhere near the top of the list for the casting of Splash

Director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer wanted a big name for the film and went after Jeff Bridges, Chevy Chase, Richard Gere, Michael Keaton, Dudley Moore

Kevin Kline, John Travolta, and Bill Murray. All these actors passed on the project for varying reasons

from scheduling conflicts to general disinterest. Meanwhile, pressure was mounting from the studios when it was announced that another

mermaid film from Warner Brothers was in the works. Director Ron Howard made his promise to Disney that he could make the film quick and cheap

and that's when Tom was suggested for the role. Because of all this, Tom has always joked that he was the 11th choice for the lead role in Splash

Hank's performance as a lonely bachelor chasing down a mysterious mermaid felt familiar and grounded

despite it being a fantasy film. In this role, Tom Hanks was able to connect with audiences through his ability to portray the everyman

and step into that role with ease that could not be taught. His natural charm and charisma was on full display and audiences immediately connected with his ability to deliver dialogue and show his shifting emotions of happiness absurdity stress and heartbreak in a matter of milliseconds Tom Hanks was incredible at being a human being Splash gave Hanks the recognition he needed to establish himself as a movie star But the movies that followed were mediocre hits that relied on big co like Dan

Aykroyd in Dragnet, Shelley Long in The Money Pit, and John Candy in Volunteers

While these comedy juggernauts of the early 80s were definitely a driving force in the

comedies, it's actually Hanks' performance that made these films work. Despite being casted as supporting characters, Tom Hanks shines through as the everyman

It's through these supporting roles that you can truly see how good Tom Hanks is at driving a film

Hanks would wind up in these supporting roles in buddy comedies for four years. That is, until Big

That's what I'm trying to tell you is that I changed into a grown-up, but I'm really just a kid

Find Josh your kid. Steven Spielberg was originally attached to direct Big with Harrison Ford as the leading role of Josh Baskin

But Spielberg dropped out after the birth of his son Max, and leaving with him was also Harrison Ford

Penny Marshall came on board, and the lead role was offered to Kevin Costner, then Warren Beatty

then Steve Guttenberg, Dennis Quaid, and even Albert Brooks, all of them turning down the role

Finally, Robert De Niro was locked in as the lead with Elizabeth Perkins, and the picture was all

green lights. But at the last minute, De Niro had scheduling conflicts. Hanks only came into the mix

as a replacement because when big stars say no, Tom Hanks says yes. In a way, Tom Hanks was

Forrest Gumping his way into movie roles long before he would end up playing Forrest Gump. If you've seen Big, you might argue that Hanks is irreplaceable in the role. He delivers childlike

wonder and joy through the film's more intense themes about love, relationships, and the struggles

of adulthood. Tom Hanks turned what could have been a gimmicky character or a terrifying madman

into a real person. A lost boy trying to make sense of a complicated world just wanting to get

back home to his mom. Hanks found truth in an absurd and sometimes inappropriate premise

He grounded the fantasy and delivered a message about growing up and learning to be happy

exactly where you are. This is what sets Tom Hanks apart from other comedy actors in the 80s

His honesty, his spirit for life, and his ability to remind us what matters

Big would become Tom Hanks' vehicle to serious recognition. The film earned Tom Hanks' first

Academy Award nomination and took him from co-star to headliner. If the 80s made Hanks a leading man, the 90s made Hanks a star

With Oscar nominations under his belt, Hanks was now afforded the luxury of being able

to pick and choose his roles He began pivoting away from zany comedies and began moving towards more emotionally rich dramas In 1993 Hanks exceeded expectations when he starred in the legal drama Philadelphia The film was a groundbreaking story and the first of its kind to portray AIDS and homophobia

Hanks transformed himself into the role of a gay lawyer suing for discrimination and he sunk

deeply into the severity of this role. He lost 35 pounds and thinned his hair to appear sickly

completely immersing himself into the role both internally and externally. He worked with over 50 real AIDS victims and became an extremely active advocate for the cause

At the end of filming, which happened to be in December, he provided an AIDS-stricken family

with a Christmas tree and gifts, bringing a small amount of levity to a family during an otherwise

difficult time. Philadelphia was an enormous success, and at 37 years old, Tom Hanks accepted

his first Academy Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture. God bless you all. God have mercy on us

all, and God bless America. The very next year, Hanks starred in Robert Zemeckis' Forrest Gump

The story of an American folk hero was a revelation for its time, and probably one of the first

roles that really pops into your head when you think of the name Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks didn't just embody the character of Forrest Gump, he actually became him

This role would be an incredibly difficult one to tackle in the hands of the lesser performer

but Hanks walks the fine line of playing to the height of Forrest Gump's intelligence, rather than playing to the limits of it

There's never a moment in Forrest Gump in which we feel like Forrest is a victim. Instead, we see him as a hero, tackling every obstacle in front of him

This is all possible due to the delicate touch that Hanks approaches the role with

Forrest Gump brought Hanks' second consecutive win for Best Actor in the Academy Awards

and positioned him to capitalize on his popularity as a beacon of hope. Thank you

God bless you in this room, and God bless you all around the world

In the late 90s and early 2000s, Hanks became cinema's all-American hero

He played a NASA commander in Apollo 13, a cowboy sheriff in Toy Story, a prison guard in The Green Mile

a lone survivor in Castaway, and an army captain in Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan would mark another turning point in Hank's career. The epic drama directed by Steven Spielberg is known as one of the greatest war films of all time

and will rely on Hank's to act as an anchor for the ensemble cast. The film is known for its realistic depictions of war

Hank has even said that during the filming of the 23 minute Omaha Beach scene he was truly terrified He said he knew in his head it was fake but still wasn prepared for how tactile it was Tom said the air literally went pink and the noise was deafening and there were bits and pieces of stuff falling all on top of you It not hard to imagine you know what it must have looked like

What it must have felt like, however, is something that guys like myself will never know

The fear on Hank's face is real. Hank's depiction of an English teacher turned leader in command would not only earn him

another Oscar nomination, but would impact real veterans in the story of Mirrored

The Army eventually even inducted Tom into the Ranger Hall of Fame for his authentic portrayal

Hank's work as an actor not only influences the entertainment industry, but influences

real people his art reflects. This is another aspect of his work that sets him apart from other actors

His abilities shine light on stories and people that matter. We find this to be especially true with the roles Tom Hanks has selected more recently

His roles as Captain Phillips, Sully, Walt Disney, and Fred Rogers have all seen the actor

bring important people to the forefront of modern cinema, and have earned him a handful

of awards and nominations. Yes, he approaches these roles with the truth and honesty that you would expect from a Tom

Hanks performance, but more importantly, his performances give a powerful degree of reverence

for the individuals he's choosing to portray. Tom Hanks gets to play these roles because he has earned our trust through decades of

stellar performances that have made us laugh, cry, and feel. Tom Hanks is one of the most celebrated performers of all time

His status as a cultural icon is driven largely by his talent and ability to select roles

But you could say that about any top-tier actor. Christian Bale, Denzel Washington, and Leonardo DiCaprio are all performers that know how to select a role and deliver a performance

What catapults Tom Hanks into an echelon beyond that of his peers is his ability to connect with how we, as human beings, truly feel at any given moment in time

His performances feel genuine and often convey a kindness and warmth that instantly tethers us to his choices as an actor

On and off screen, Hanks delivers gripping and eclectic performances to the silver screen in a way that feels honest

The level of honesty Hanks brings to his work instills in us a trust in his overall body of work

We know that when Tom Hanks is involved in a project, it will be approached with sincerity and respect

not only for the director's vision, but with respect for us as an audience. Tom Hanks is more than a talented actor

He's an idea, a pursuit of greatness, and a reminder that good guys do finish first

And that's why he's earned our viewers' top spot for best actor of all time. Thank you