Tom Hanks has enjoyed many years in the entertainment industry – and so has his brother, you just might not have realised! From 1983’s Splash to Big (1988) and the beloved Forrest Gump (1994), Tom has taken on many iconic roles. The actor, who is celebrating his 66th Birthday today, is well-loved and has been a part in many successful films.
Toy Story is the first that comes to mind. First released in 1995, the animated film is one of Disney Pixar’s most popular creations. Toy Story has four main films. There are also multiple stories and short films available. But did you know, Tom isn’t the only person who has provided Woody’s voice?
Though the franchise is 27 years old, there are still things many fans don’t know about it, including how Tom isn’t responsible for voicing the Woody toy. Jim Hanks is the voice behind Disney merchandise.
On The Graham Norton Show, the secret was unveiled a decade ago. As if everyone knew the secret, the actor aged 66 laughed and confirmed it: “That’s my brother Jim”.
Jim Hanks’ involvement with Toy Story
Jim doesn’t only voice the toy Woody, he’s actually heavily involved in the franchise. Tom elaborated: “There are so many computer games and video things. And Jim just works on those all day long”.
Jim is, of course, credited with the roles he played on his website.IMDb page. He’s worked on a variety of Toy Story projects from the short film Lamp Life, released in 2020, dating all the way back to Tiny Toy Stories, released in 1996.
Graham, like many others, was shocked by the news and exclaimed: “I genuinely thought it was an urban myth”. It’s unsurprising as the two sound so similar. But his long involvement with the franchise suggests Jim’s happy to do it.
Despite Tom’s openness about Jim’s contribution to the character, the fact continues to resurface years later. There have been many TikTok videos about the topic, and many of them are still astonished.
No matter who the voice is behind the cowboy, it’s clear the Toy Story franchise is much-loved by audiences and has earned its place in history. Make sure to check out Tom’s interview below!
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