Colin Hanks, born November 24, 1977, is an American actor and filmmaker recognized for his work in both film and television, as well as his contributions to documentary filmmaking. The son of Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks, Colin has built a career that stands on its own, with a strong mix of dramatic, comedic, and genre-spanning roles.
He rose to prominence with his role in the sci-fi teen series Roswell (1999–2001), and further solidified his status with the lead role in the coming-of-age comedy Orange County (2002). He later appeared in high-profile projects such as Peter Jackson’s King Kong (2005), The House Bunny (2008), and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and its sequel.
Hanks earned critical acclaim for his role as police officer Gus Grimly in Fargo (2014–2015), which garnered nominations for a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and a Critics’ Choice Award. Other notable TV roles include Dexter (2011), Life in Pieces (2015–2019), The Offer (2022), and A Friend of the Family (2022). He also voiced Talking Tom in the popular animated series Talking Tom & Friends (2014–2021).
As a filmmaker, Hanks directed All Things Must Pass (2015), a documentary on Tower Records, and Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (2017), which documented the aftermath of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.
