Tom Hanks, the 67-year-old Hollywood actor, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts and gave a powerful speech at the 2023 Harvard University graduation on May 25th. According to People, Hanks was selected for his contributions to national culture and his ability to inspire younger generations, especially in fostering a love for history. In his speech, Hanks humorously acknowledged, “Unlike you, I got my degree without having to attend class or spend hours in the library.”
Hanks used his platform to address the importance of fighting indifference in modern society. He emphasized the need for individuals to make critical decisions throughout life, saying, “Each day, every year, and with each graduating class, we must make choices. Americans have three archetypes to choose from: those who embrace freedom, those who resist it, and those who live in indifference. Only when the next generation helps to build a stronger country will we remain undivided.”
He also called on the more than 9,000 students attending the ceremony to become heroes who stand for truth and justice in America, while condemning those who distort the truth.
In a tribute to Hanks’ role in the movie Cast Away (2000), Harvard presented him with a volleyball featuring the school’s logo. The ceremony also included a performance by Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals, reenacting some of Hanks’ most iconic film roles.
Earlier in March, Harvard President Larry Bacow announced Hanks as the keynote speaker for the university’s 372nd commencement. Bacow praised Hanks as a “master of cinema,” noting his ability to bring depth and life to every character he portrays. “For over 50 years, he has made us laugh, cry, question, and reflect on life through his iconic films.”
Past Harvard commencement speakers include former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, civil rights leader John Lewis, and director Steven Spielberg, who worked with Hanks on Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me If You Can (2002), and Bridge of Spies (2015).
Prior to the Harvard event, Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson attended the premiere of Asteroid City, directed by Wes Anderson, at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. In the film, Hanks plays a character named Stanley, set in a fictional American desert town in the 1950s.
Born in 1956, Tom Hanks is an acclaimed actor, director, and producer. He studied theater at Chabot College before transferring to California State University, where he graduated before beginning his acting career. Hanks is known for standout roles in films like Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Philadelphia (1993), Forrest Gump (1994), and Cast Away (2000). Throughout his career, Hanks has earned six Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, and two Academy Awards.
