Despite Tom Hanks’ warm public persona, daughter E.A. Hanks reveals shocking trauma from her early years with her late mother, Samantha Lewes, in her upcoming memoir.
April 5, 2025: Tom Hanks may be beloved as “America’s Dad,” but his daughter E.A. Hanks is shedding light on a deeply painful childhood experience that contrasts starkly with her father’s wholesome image.
E.A. — born Elizabeth Ann Hanks and the daughter of Tom Hanks and late actress Samantha Lewes — is preparing to release a memoir that dives into the chaotic, emotionally abusive years she endured as a child.
In a powerful excerpt published by Page Six, E.A. details how her early life with her mother was marked by instability, fear, and neglect. “She pushed me, shook me, pulled at my hair and locked me in a closet once or twice,” she writes. “She told me there were men hiding in her closet who were waiting for us to go to sleep to come out and do horrible things.”
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Lewes, who passed away from cancer in 2002, reportedly spoke often of “miscarried babies” and told young E.A. that she might one day join them “in eternal limbo.”
Though there were occasional bright moments — horse shows, late-night cookie dough, and colorful hair dye — Hanks says the erratic nature of her mother’s behavior was emotionally damaging.
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Everything began to shift when she moved in with her father and stepmother, Rita Wilson. Only then did she experience a more stable household. E.A. recalls realizing basic necessities had been missing from her life — like regular meals, structured routines, and dental check-ups.
Even as an adult, E.A. admits, the long-term effects of her childhood trauma linger. She writes that it wasn’t until her 30s that she started going to the dentist regularly and she still struggles with basic life management like grocery shopping and keeping food in the house.
Her story, though difficult, is one of survival — and a reminder that trauma can exist in even the most seemingly perfect families. For readers who’ve endured similar challenges, E.A.’s courage in speaking out offers both resonance and hope.
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