Rita Wilson Rejected Mother’s Marriage Wisdom, Found Love With Tom Hanks Instead

During a recent podcast appearance with Michelle Obama, Rita Wilson discussed how her mother’s traditional perspective on marriage ultimately steered her away from the wrong partner and toward actor Tom Hanks. The 69-year-old actress recalled being engaged to another man before meeting Hanks, believing at the time that matrimony at a certain life stage was simply an expected milestone regardless of her emotional attachment to him.

Wilson explained that when she expressed doubts about the engagement to her mother, she received counsel rooted in her parents’ generation: focus on a partner’s character and financial stability rather than romantic passion. Her mother’s response—”Don’t worry, you grow to love him”—struck Wilson as fundamentally misaligned with her own values and generational perspective on marriage.

Recognizing the relationship would not endure, Wilson called off the engagement and later reconnected with Hanks on the set of “Volunteers” in 1984. The couple married in 1988 and both confirmed the connection felt profoundly different from her previous engagement, marked by genuine romantic love.

Regarding motherhood, Wilson said she was initially uncertain about having children but remained committed to the idea only with the right partner. Hanks’ demonstrated capacity as a father to his two adult children from a previous marriage—Colin and Elizabeth, born to ex-wife Samantha Lewes—gave Wilson confidence in their partnership.

The couple went on to have two sons together, Chet and Truman. Both of Hanks’ adult children have pursued entertainment careers: Colin has appeared in “Life In Pieces,” “Fargo,” and “American Crime Story,” while Chet recently starred in “Running Point” alongside Kate Hudson.