‘The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels. We know their names. They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight’ — List of Tom Hanks Oscar nominations
Posted: February 2026
List of Oscar nominations and wins for Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards and won 2. Year indicates year/period for which films were eligible for awards consideration, not year of ceremony. Sources: Oscars.org, Internet Movie Database, Wikipedia
2019: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Best Supporting Actor) — lost to Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood). Other nominees: Al Pacino (The Irishman), Joe Pesci (The Irishman), Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes)
2000: Cast Away (Best Actor) — lost to Russell Crowe (Gladiator). Other nominees: Ed Harris (Pollock), Geoffrey Rush (Quills), Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls)
1998: Saving Private Ryan (Best Actor) — lost to Roberto Benigni (Life Is Beautiful). Other nominees: Ian McKellen (Gods and Monsters), Nick Nolte (Affliction), Edward Norton (American History X)
‘The woman I share my life with has taught me and demonstrates for me every day just what love is’
WON: 1994: Forrest Gump (Best Actor) — Other nominees: John Travolta (Pulp Fiction), Morgan Freeman (The Shawshank Redemption), Nigel Hawthorne (The Madness of King George), Paul Newman (Nobody’s Fool)
WON: 1993: Philadelphia (Best Actor) — Other nominees: Daniel Day-Lewis (In the Name of the Father), Laurence Fishburne (What’s Love Got to Do with It), Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List), Anthony Hopkins (The Remains of the Day)
1988: Big (Best Actor) — lost to Dustin Hoffman (Rain Man). Other nominees: Max von Sydow (Pelle the Conqueror), Edward James Olmos (Stand and Deliver), Gene Hackman (Mississippi Burning)
‘The power and the pleasure and the emotion of this moment is a constant, the speed of light’
Text of Tom Hanks’ speech upon accepting the Best Actor Oscar for “Philadelphia”:
“Here’s what I know. I, uh, could not be standing here without that undying love that, um, was just sung about. Uh, by not Bruce, but Neil Young. And I have that in, uh, a lover that is so close to fine, we should all be able to experience such heaven right here on earth.
I know also that, um, I should not be doing this, I should not be here but I am because of the union of such filmmakers as Ed Saxon, Ron Nyswaner, Kristi Zea, Tak Fujimoto, uh, Jonathan Demme, who, who seems to have these attached to his limbs with- for every actor that- that works with him of late. And a cast that includes Antonio Banderas who- who, second to my lover is the only person I would trade for. (Laughter.) And a cast that includes many other people, but the actor who really put his film image at risk and shown because of his integrity, Mr. Denzel Washington, who I really must share this with. (Applause.)
“I would not be standing here, if it weren’t for two very important men in my life. Two that I haven’t spoken with in a while, but I had the pleasure of just the other evening. Mr. Rawley Farnsworth, who was my high school drama teacher, who taught me that act well the part, there all the glory lies. And one of my classmates under Mr. Farnsworth, Mr. John Gilkerson. I mention their names because they are two of the finest gay Americans. Two wonderful men. That I had the good fortune to be associated with, to fall under their inspiration at such a young age. I wish my babies could have the same sort of teacher, the same sort of friends.
“And there lies my dilemma here tonight. I know that my work in this case is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels. We know their names. They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all. A healing embrace that cools their fevers. That clears their skin. And allows their eyes to see the simple, self evident, common-sense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all and was written down on paper by wise men, tolerant men. In the city of Philadelphia 200 years ago. God bless you, all, God have mercy on us all, and God bless America.