Did he go to Cal?

He went to Skyline HS and grew up in Oakland.

RoseBowlBears;333567 said:

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He went to Skyline HS and grew up in Oakland.

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Not to name drop but I went to school with Tom Hanks at Skyline High in Oakland. He was the class of 74 and I was the class of 75. No, we were not buddies but I chatted with him on numerous occasions, sometimes after cast parties etc. He actually wanted to go to Cal but did not have the grades...he was a good student but not great. He ended up going to both Chabot College and I believe Sac. State... I still remember to this day my twin brother calling me and telling me to turn on the TV cause Tom Hanks was on Bosom Buddies....

drunkoski;333568 said:

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he didn't go to cal. i believe he grew up in concord

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Oh, maybe you're right. I just assumed he grew up in Oakland since he went to Skyline.

RoseBowlBears;333577 said:

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Oh, maybe you're right. I just assumed he grew up in Oakland since he went to Skyline.

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He was born in Concord but his mom and dad divorced when he was young I believe and his dad remarried and they moved around a bit.... he ended up in Oakland during his high school years.

Cal_Fan2;333585 said:

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He was born in Concord but his mom and dad divorced when he was young I believe and his dad remarried and they moved around a bit.... he ended up in Oakland during his high school years.

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I remember seeing a biograph of him and -- I may totally have this wrong -- he had a Chinese stepfamily and worked in a Chinese restaurant in Oakland's Chinatown.

okaydo;333605 said:

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I remember seeing a biograph of him and -- I may totally have this wrong -- he had a Chinese stepfamily and worked in a Chinese restaurant in Oakland's Chinatown.

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Yes.....his stepmom is Chinese...not sure if he worked in Chinese restaurant though... he had many Berkeley and Skyline references....Kip's, Henry's... I remember in one episode about the prom...(we actually called ours the Senior Ball), he had a run in with Football Coach Fardello.. Skyline's football coach at the time was Coach Fardella.. LOL

The Kip's/Henry's thing has come up before and it is just a coincidence. Henry's opened up following finals in Fall '81. I remember because Professor Slottman bought a round of drinks for my friends on the first day Henry's opened. Bosom Buddies premiered before Henry's opened.

Slottman used to give CalSO lectures all the time, and we used to take the parents' groups to the Bear's Lair before Henry's opened. Was kinda shocked when I saw some tipsy dad grab some mom's ass at Henry's the following summer, but at least they bought me and the other counselor a bunch of drinks before their scandalous behavior ruffled my tender sensibilities...

Knew the Skyline connection, but I thought Tom lived in Pleasant Hill before Oakland?

When is the last time Tom Hanks even mentioned Cal? (I remember seeing a video once, but that was just one interview, no?)

Is he even considered a Cal FB fan?

Has he attended even one game after he became famous?




Adam Duritz is a Cal FB fan. Tom Hanks? I don't think so.

dupdadee;333677 said:

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When is the last time Tom Hanks even mentioned Cal? (I remember seeing a video once, but that was just one interview, no?)

Is he even considered a Cal FB fan?

Has he attended even one game after he became famous?




Adam Duritz is a Cal FB fan. Tom Hanks? I don't think so.

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I don't think he is a Cal Bear fan...but he was very fond of Cal in his youth and has great memories of wanting to go to Cal

There's a fairly recent video of him saying he's a Cal fan. I would go along with you and say maybe he's not as hardcore as some of the people on this board, but he's probably more of a well-wisher, in that he does not wish us any particular harm. (Simpsons reference)

It would be awesome if Tom Hanks could be the narrator for a video like this one, played right before the team takes the field in the new Memorial in 2012.

On Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports show, he asked Hanks what his biggest sports fantasy is.

Hanks replied "Winning the Heisman trophy for the Cal Bears" (or words to that effect).

"OoooOOOHHHHHWWWWAAAAAHHHAAAAAaaaa! Nice try, aUNbear89. You and I both know that..well....that memory is the second thing to go in old age!"

"Nice try" - do you have the exact quote, broblood? Or are you just being an ass?

AunBear89;333726 said:

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On Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports show, he asked Hanks what his biggest sports fantasy is.

Hanks replied "Winning the Heisman trophy for the Cal Bears" (or words to that effect).

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I think it was Bob Costas, and he asked, "Is there anything you would trade your Oscar for?"

Tom Hanks: "If it were a Heisman Trophy as running back for the California Golden Bears, now that... that would be something special." Or something to that effect.

Cal_Fan2;333574 said:

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Not to name drop but I went to school with Tom Hanks at Skyline High in Oakland. He was the class of 74 and I was the class of 75. No, we were not buddies but I chatted with him on numerous occasions, sometimes after cast parties etc. He actually wanted to go to Cal but did not have the grades...he was a good student but not great. He ended up going to both Chabot College and I believe Sac. State... I still remember to this day my twin brother calling me and telling me to turn on the TV cause Tom Hanks was on Bosom Buddies....

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not trying to start anything but seeing that oakland tech is by far the best high school in the universe... GO BULLDOGS!!!

Bob Costas: What would you rather have on your shelf, an Oscar, or a Heisman Trophy?
Tom Hanks: If I were to play, you know, halfback for the California Golden Bears, then that would be substantial."

Youtube video here, 26 seconds in (04-21-2009):


There was a thread on this as well (04-29-2009):
http://www.bearinsider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12582

How often does that come up for an actor? I've heard him several times talk about all the time he spent on Telegraph. I think saying you'd trade your Oscar for a Heisman specifically from Cal is a pretty good shout out.

Maybe the guy isn't at the Duritz level, but I don't think you say something like that unless you are a fan (and I'm sure he knows Cal has used it in marketing video also). Don't see any reason to question his fandom.

OaktownBear;333874 said:

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Maybe the guy isn't at the Duritz level, but I don't think you say something like that unless you are a fan (and I'm sure he knows Cal has used it in marketing video also). Don't see any reason to question his fandom.

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Saw that video on Youtube, Hanks is awesome. I mean, come on, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Toy Story, You've Got Mail, etc., etc.

DeusEx;333921 said:

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Saw that video on Youtube, Hanks is awesome. I mean, come on, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Toy Story, You've Got Mail, etc., etc.

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....The Pacific, Band of Brothers...

okaydo;333937 said:

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....The Pacific, Band of Brothers...

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"Houston, we have a problem"

DeusEx;333921 said:

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Saw that video on Youtube, Hanks is awesome. I mean, come on, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Toy Story, You've Got Mail, etc., etc.

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Wasn't a big fan before, but now I think I like that guy.

That sounds about right - thanks for the help!

TouchedTheAxeIn82;333938 said:

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"Houston, we have a problem"

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Duritz is clown shoes...



Sandy should offer Hanks ESP if it would get him to games, and have him produce a short intro for the pre game... that would be substantial.

Phantomfan;334143 said:

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Duritz is clown shoes...



Sandy should offer Hanks ESP if it would get him to games, and have him produce a short intro for the pre game... that would be substantial.

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Yep, a major donor to the program is clown shoes, whereas a big name actor who probably donates nothing is the real guy we should focus on. Your contributions to this board continue to impress.

dupdadee;333677 said:

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...Adam Duritz is a Cal FB fan. Tom Hanks? I don't think so....

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Give Tom Hanks the same sideline passes like Adam Duritz currently exploits...oops, I mean, indulges in and, yeah, with all that face-time on TV wearing Cal gear, the rest of the Cal fanbase would suddenly notice that Tom really is a Cal Fan.

Didn't his son attend Cal?

Our Domicile;334182 said:

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Give Tom Hanks the same sideline passes like Adam Duritz currently exploits...oops, I mean, indulges in and, yeah, with all that face-time on TV wearing Cal gear, the rest of the Cal fanbase would suddenly notice that Tom really is a Cal Fan.

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What "all that face-time on TV wearing Cal gear" are you talking about?

dupdadee;334192 said:

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What "all that face-time on TV wearing Cal gear" are you talking about?

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Let it be known, I'm not dissing Adam -- I think the fact that Tom Hanks is a huge Cal Fan is a GREAT compliment. Don't get it twisted.

Our Domicile;334203 said:

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Let it be known, I'm not dissing Adam -- I think the fact that Tom Hanks is a huge Cal Fan is a GREAT compliment. Don't get it twisted.

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Here we go again. We do not know Tom Hanks is a "huge Cal Fan."

dupdadee;334208 said:

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Here we go again. We do not know Tom Hanks is a "huge Cal Fan."

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All Tom needs is some sideline passes and Cal gear and that would make it official. Maybe you or somebody can hook him up.

Our Domicile;334212 said:

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All Tom needs is some sideline passes and Cal gear and that would make it official. Maybe you or somebody can hook him up.

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Mind as well say the same thing about any other celebrities who grew up in the Bay Area/East Bay....

dupdadee;334223 said:

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Mind as well say the same thing about any other celebrities who grew up in the Bay Area/East Bay....

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Totally agree with you.

Cal should do a better job of reaching out to "celebrities" (and the everyday football fan for that matter through better advertising) with East Bay ties and vice-versa. Friendly correspondence (e-mails) inviting them to hang out on Saturdays would be nice. I don't think Adam Duritz has a monopoly on Cal Football fanhood as the obligatory sideline interviews with him seem to suggest. I think there are a handful of "celebrity" Cal Fans who are just waiting for an invite from the Cal brass and would be flattered by an invitation to hang out on the sidelines with the team on Gameday.

In defense of Tom Hanks -- Judging by Tom's age, I say he was a young man growing up in the East Bay during the post-Oakland Raider days (they moved to Los Angeles in 1982) and Cal Bear Football, whether good or bad in that Era, whether competitive in the PAC-10 or not, was the team to follow for Football Fans not inclined to jump on the 49er bandwagon on the other side of the Bay like, I believe, MC Hammer from Oakland did.

It is my impression that Tom was/is a fan that stayed loyal to football in the East Bay and Cal represents a substantial portion of the East Bay football fan demographic even with the return of the Raiders to Oakland in 1995. Some East Bay fans just like the College game better or have no problems cheering for both Pro and College teams in the area. Like Tom and others in the East Bay / greater Bay Area, one doesn't necessarily need a Cal degree to cheer for the University sports teams. It becomes a "local" issue for them and, thus, they cheer for the "local" team.

I can't say for sure if Tom Hanks is a "big" or "huge" Cal Fan, but for him to mention Cal Football in his interview with Bob Costas (link posted earlier in this thread) is a great compliment to Cal. If some Cal Fans got off their high horse, maybe they too would recognize this.