LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 03: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Tom Hanks attends MusiCares Persons of the Year Honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Fraze CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - Two-time Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks was named the principal speaker at Harvard's commencement on May 25, the Ivy League university announced Tuesday.Hanks, 66, has appeared in almost 100 films.
Nominated for an Oscar six times, he won best actor for "Philadelphia" in 1993 and "Forrest Gump" the following year.Harvard President Lawrence Bacow called Hanks "a true master of his craft."RELATED: Tom Hanks crashes wedding on Santa Monica beach"In addition to his brilliance as an actor, Tom has demonstrated both an innate empathy and a deep understanding of the human condition," Bacow said in a statement. "He has contributed to our national culture and expanded our ability to appreciate stories and histories that have been previously unexamined."Tom Hanks surprised an Australian boy after the boy reached out to express his concern about the actor's recent bout with coronavirus, but also mentioned how he was bullied because his name is Corona, a report said Thursday.Recent Harvard commencement speakers included former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, late civil rights activist and U.S.
Rep. John Lewis, and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.A comedic actor early in his career, Hanks transitioned seamlessly to dramatic roles, from his breakout performance in 1988's comedy "Big" to "Saving Private Ryan," "Apollo 13," and "Captain Phillips." He voiced the character Woody in the "Toy Story" animated films and voiced several characters in 2004's "The.