Samantha Lewes: 10 Facts About Her Life and Career

Some people become part of Hollywood history without spending decades in front of the camera. Samantha Lewes was one of those people.

She had a small collection of television credits, studied theater and experienced the entertainment world before it became a global, nonstop media machine. However, much of the public knows her primarily as Tom Hanks’ first wife and the mother of Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Hanks.

That description is accurate, but it is incomplete.

Samantha Lewes had an identity before celebrity headlines attached her name to a famous marriage. She was Susan Jane Dillingham, a California-born actress with an interest in performance, literature and the arts. Her life included young love, parenthood, acting opportunities, divorce, personal struggles and years spent away from public attention.

Her story is not a traditional tale of Hollywood fame. Instead, it is a quieter and more complicated account of a woman who lived close to the entertainment industry while keeping much of her own life private.

Here are 10 important facts about Samantha Lewes, her career, her family and the legacy she left behind.

Samantha Lewes Biography

Biography Detail	Information
Full Name	Susan Jane Dillingham
Stage Name	Samantha Lewes
Date of Birth	November 29, 1952
Age	49 at the time of her death
Birthplace	San Diego, California, United States
Profession	Actress and performer
Nationality	American
Net Worth	Not publicly verified
Former Spouse	Tom Hanks
Children	Colin Hanks and Elizabeth “E.A.” Hanks
Notable Works	Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success
Date of Death	March 12, 2002
Place of Death	Sacramento, California, United States

1. Samantha Lewes Was Born Susan Jane Dillingham

Samantha Lewes was not her birth name. She was born Susan Jane Dillingham on November 29, 1952, in San Diego, California.

Using a professional name was common in the entertainment industry. Actors often adopted stage names that were shorter, more memorable or better suited to casting notices and screen credits. Susan eventually became known professionally as Samantha Lewes.

The change helped create a clear distinction between her private identity and her work as an actress. Even today, both names appear in biographies, family accounts and entertainment records.

Why Her Real Name Still Matters

Knowing her birth name gives readers a more complete view of her life. Samantha Lewes was the public identity, while Susan Dillingham was the woman known by relatives, friends and those closest to her.

This distinction has become especially relevant in later accounts of the Hanks family. Her daughter, writer Elizabeth “E.A.” Hanks, often refers to her mother by her birth name when discussing their family history.

Rather than being a meaningless piece of trivia, the two names reflect the separate worlds she moved through: private family life and public performance.

2. She Grew Up in California

California played an important role throughout the life of Samantha Lewes. She was born in San Diego and later became closely connected to Sacramento, where she studied, built relationships and spent part of her adult life.

California in the 1960s and 1970s offered many routes into the performing arts. While Los Angeles remained the center of the movie business, universities and regional theaters across the state gave young performers space to learn acting, stagecraft and production.

Samantha’s path did not begin with a glamorous Hollywood premiere. Like many aspiring actors, she developed her interest in performance through education and theater communities.

That background matters because acting is rarely just about standing in front of a camera. It also involves:

• Understanding scripts and character development
• Learning stage movement and vocal control
• Rehearsing with an ensemble
• Studying dramatic literature
• Working behind the scenes
• Developing confidence before a live audience

These foundations shaped the early creative environment around Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks.

3. Samantha Lewes Studied Theater in Sacramento

One of the most important chapters in Samantha Lewes’s early life was her connection to California State University, Sacramento.

She and Tom Hanks met while they were students there during the mid-1970s. Both were interested in theater and performance. At that point, neither person could have known just how dramatically their lives would change.

The university theater environment gave young artists practical experience. Students could act, build sets, manage productions, study plays and spend time with others who shared their creative ambitions.

A Relationship Built Around Theater

Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks did not meet at a Hollywood party or on the set of a major film. Their relationship began in a college setting where performance was still a craft to be explored rather than a path to international celebrity.

This detail makes their early story feel surprisingly ordinary. They were young people trying to understand acting, adulthood and their futures.

Moreover, their shared interest in theater gave them common ground. Both understood auditions, rehearsals, stage pressure and the uncertainty that comes with pursuing an artistic career.

4. She Became a Mother Before Marrying Tom Hanks

Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks welcomed their first child, Colin Hanks, on November 24, 1977.

They married soon afterward in January 1978. At the time, Tom Hanks was only 21, while Samantha was 25. They entered marriage as a young couple already facing the responsibilities of parenthood.

Starting a family while trying to build an acting career is difficult under any circumstances. Income may be uncertain, work schedules can change without warning and auditions rarely come with guarantees.

Tom Hanks later spoke publicly about being a young father before achieving financial stability. His older children saw him during the period when he was still working to establish himself and earn enough to support a household.

Life Before Major Hollywood Success

This was long before films such as Big, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and Saving Private Ryan made Hanks one of the most recognized actors in the world.

During those early years, Samantha Lewes was not married to an established movie star. She was building a life with a young actor who was still searching for his breakthrough.

That context is essential. It prevents readers from viewing their marriage only through the fame that came later.

5. Samantha Lewes Appeared in Bosom Buddies

The best-known acting credit connected to Samantha Lewes is her appearance in the television sitcom Bosom Buddies.

The ABC comedy, which began airing in 1980, starred Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari. The show followed two men who disguised themselves as women so they could live in an affordable, women-only apartment building.

Although the series had a relatively short run, it became an important early step in Tom Hanks’ career. Samantha appeared in a 1981 episode, giving her a place in the history of the program.

Her Television Appearance Was Brief but Notable

Samantha Lewes did not play a long-running central character. Still, her involvement demonstrates that she was more than a celebrity spouse attending premieres from the sidelines. She had acting experience of her own.

A small television role may look modest when compared with a major film career. However, even brief screen work requires preparation. Performers must understand blocking, timing, dialogue, camera placement and direction.

Television production is fast-moving. Actors are expected to arrive prepared and adapt quickly.

Her appearance in Bosom Buddies remains the credit most frequently associated with her name because it connects her personal history, acting career and the early career of Tom Hanks.

6. She Also Appeared in Mr. Success

Another recognized acting credit for Samantha Lewes was Mr. Success, a television production released in 1984.

The project added to her small but legitimate screen résumé. However, Samantha did not continue building a large public filmography afterward.

That limited list of credits has led to confusion online. Some biographies exaggerate the size of her career, while others dismiss her acting completely. The truth sits somewhere in the middle.

She was an actress with professional screen appearances, but she was not a major Hollywood star with dozens of leading roles.

A Small Career Can Still Be a Real Career

It is important to describe Samantha Lewes’s work accurately.

Not every actor spends a lifetime chasing fame. Some people perform for a few years, take smaller roles, work in theater or step away because family responsibilities become more important.

Success in the arts is not measured only through awards, box-office totals or celebrity status. Appearing in a professionally produced television project is still an achievement.

Therefore, the fairest description is that Samantha Lewes had a brief acting career rather than a long or highly publicized one.

7. She Had Two Children With Tom Hanks

Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks became parents to two children: Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Anne Hanks.

Their son Colin was born in 1977. Their daughter Elizabeth was born on May 17, 1982.

Both children later entered creative fields, though they followed different professional paths.

Colin Hanks Became an Actor and Filmmaker

Colin Hanks followed the acting tradition of both parents. He built an independent career through television, film, voice acting and directing.

His notable projects include:

• Roswell
• Orange County
• King Kong
• The House Bunny
• Dexter
• Fargo
• Life in Pieces
• A Friend of the Family

Colin earned strong reviews for his performance in Fargo and received major award nominations. Over time, he proved that he could build a lasting career rather than rely entirely on his famous surname.

His middle name, Lewes, also preserves a clear link to his mother’s professional identity.

Elizabeth Hanks Became a Writer

Elizabeth Anne Hanks, now widely known as E.A. Hanks, chose writing rather than a full-time acting career.

She appeared briefly in films as a child, but her adult work has focused on journalism, essays, books and literary projects. She studied at Vassar College and contributed to several respected publications.

In 2025, she released The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road. The book explores family memory, childhood, travel, grief and her effort to understand her late mother.

The creative careers of both children form an important part of the legacy of Samantha Lewes.

8. Her Marriage Ended Before Tom Hanks Became a Global Star

Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks separated in 1985. Their divorce was finalized in 1987 after roughly nine years of marriage.

Divorce is often reduced to a simple date in celebrity biographies. In reality, the end of a marriage affects housing, finances, parenting, custody and relationships for years.

The couple’s separation happened as Tom Hanks’ career was gaining momentum. He had already appeared in television and comedy films, but his greatest professional success was still ahead.

Their Relationship Belonged to an Earlier Chapter

It is tempting to view Samantha Lewes only through Tom Hanks’ later achievements. However, their relationship belonged to a very different period.

They were together before Academy Awards, blockbuster films and international fame became part of the Hanks name.

They experienced:

• College theater life
• Young parenthood
• Early acting jobs
• Financial uncertainty
• Career changes
• Growing family responsibilities
• The pressure of an evolving public life

Consequently, Samantha knew Tom Hanks before the polished public image and legendary film career were fully formed.

After the divorce, Hanks married actress Rita Wilson in 1988. Samantha, meanwhile, lived a more private life away from regular Hollywood coverage.

9. Samantha Lewes Largely Avoided the Spotlight

Unlike many people connected to famous actors, Samantha Lewes did not build a public brand around her former marriage.

She did not become a regular television guest, write a celebrity tell-all or constantly discuss Tom Hanks in interviews. Instead, she lived outside the center of entertainment media.

Her privacy is one reason reliable information about her remains limited. Many websites repeat the same small set of facts, while others fill the gaps with unsupported claims.

Her Net Worth Was Never Reliably Confirmed

Numerous websites publish estimated celebrity net-worth figures for Samantha Lewes. However, no dependable public financial record confirms those numbers.

For that reason, any exact claim about Samantha Lewes’s net worth should be treated carefully.

She had a short acting résumé and lived privately after her divorce. There is no clear evidence that she maintained a large entertainment fortune or publicly disclosed her personal assets.

A trustworthy biography should admit when information is unknown rather than present speculation as fact.

Privacy Changed How the Public Remembered Her

Because Samantha rarely sought attention, later audiences often discovered her only while researching Tom Hanks or Colin Hanks.

Still, privacy should not be mistaken for insignificance. A person can influence a family and shape the lives of others without remaining visible to the public.

Her story reminds us that celebrity history contains many people whose most meaningful experiences happened away from cameras.

10. She Died in 2002 at the Age of 49

Samantha Lewes died on March 12, 2002, in Sacramento, California. She was 49 years old.

Later reputable accounts identified lung cancer as the cause of her death. Her passing came at a relatively young age and ended a life that had already moved far away from Hollywood publicity.

At the time, her son Colin was establishing himself as an actor, while Elizabeth was entering adulthood and developing her voice as a writer.

Her Death Became Part of a Larger Family Story

Grief does not remain fixed. Family members often understand a loss differently as they grow older.

Years after Samantha’s death, E.A. Hanks began examining her mother’s life, personal history and complicated family experiences more publicly. Her memoir presented a difficult, deeply personal view of childhood and motherhood.

Those later accounts should be handled with care. They represent a daughter’s lived experience and reflection, not material for casual celebrity gossip.

Human lives are rarely simple. Someone can be artistic, loving, troubled, private and imperfect at the same time. Samantha Lewes’s story appears to contain many such contradictions.

What Was Samantha Lewes Known For?

Samantha Lewes is best known for three connected parts of her life:

1. Her brief acting career
2. Her marriage to Tom Hanks
3. Her role as the mother of Colin Hanks and E.A. Hanks

Her appearances in Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success form the core of her screen work. Meanwhile, her family connections kept her name present in Hollywood biographies long after she stepped away from acting.

However, reducing her to “Tom Hanks’ ex-wife” leaves out the fact that she was a theater student, performer, mother and private individual with her own history.

Samantha Lewes Movies and TV Shows

The verified screen credits associated with Samantha Lewes are limited.

Year	Production	Format	Career Significance
1981	Bosom Buddies	Television sitcom	Her best-known television appearance
1984	Mr. Success	Television production	Another recognized acting credit

Some online profiles try to make her filmography appear longer than it was. Yet a short résumé is not something that needs to be hidden or exaggerated.

Her career simply followed a different path from that of her former husband and son.

Was Samantha Lewes Tom Hanks’ First Wife?

Yes, Samantha Lewes was Tom Hanks’ first wife.

The couple met through the theater community at California State University, Sacramento. They married in January 1978 and had two children together.

They separated in 1985 and finalized their divorce in 1987.

This marriage took place before Hanks became one of Hollywood’s most successful dramatic and comedic actors. Therefore, Samantha was part of his early adult life and the difficult years when he was still trying to establish a stable career.

How Old Was Samantha Lewes When She Died?

Samantha Lewes was 49 when she died in March 2002.

She would have turned 50 in November of that year. Her death from lung cancer occurred years after she had withdrawn from public entertainment work.

Because she maintained a low profile, reports about her illness were not heavily covered at the time. As a result, confusion about her cause of death has circulated across less reliable celebrity websites.

The Lasting Legacy of Samantha Lewes

The legacy of Samantha Lewes is not based on a long list of starring roles. It comes from the people, experiences and creative paths connected to her life.

Her son became an accomplished actor, director and filmmaker. Her daughter became a journalist, author and memoirist. Both entered storytelling professions, echoing the performing-arts world in which their parents first met.

Samantha’s life also offers a more realistic look at Hollywood history.

For every person who becomes internationally famous, there are others who shared the early struggle, helped build a family or stepped away before the spotlight grew brighter. Their experiences are still part of the story.

Why Readers Remain Interested in Her

Interest in Samantha Lewes continues for several reasons.

People want to understand Tom Hanks’ early life before fame. They are also curious about Colin Hanks’ family background and E.A. Hanks’ writing.

Moreover, Samantha’s private nature creates a sense of mystery. There are no endless interviews or carefully managed social media posts explaining every stage of her life.

What remains is a small number of acting credits, family memories, verified dates and a much larger human story behind them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Samantha Lewes

What was Samantha Lewes’s real name?

Her birth name was Susan Jane Dillingham. She used Samantha Lewes as her professional or stage name.

When was Samantha Lewes born?

She was born on November 29, 1952, in San Diego, California.

What did Samantha Lewes do for a living?

She worked as an actress and appeared in television productions, including Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success.

When did Samantha Lewes marry Tom Hanks?

She married Tom Hanks in January 1978.

How many children did Samantha Lewes have?

She had two children: actor and filmmaker Colin Hanks and writer Elizabeth “E.A.” Hanks.

When did Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks divorce?

Their divorce was finalized in 1987 after they separated in 1985.

Did Samantha Lewes remarry?

There is no widely verified public record showing that she remarried after her divorce from Tom Hanks.

What was Samantha Lewes’s net worth?

Her net worth was never reliably disclosed. Exact estimates published on celebrity websites should be viewed as speculation.

What was Samantha Lewes’s cause of death?

Reputable later reports state that she died from lung cancer.

When did Samantha Lewes die?

She died on March 12, 2002, in Sacramento, California, at age 49.

Conclusion

Samantha Lewes lived a life that touched Hollywood without being fully controlled by it.

Born Susan Jane Dillingham, she studied theater, pursued acting and appeared in television productions such as Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success. She married Tom Hanks before his rise to global fame and became the mother of Colin Hanks and E.A. Hanks, two people who later built creative careers of their own.

Yet Samantha Lewes was more than a collection of famous connections. She was a private woman whose life included ambition, family, change, struggle and loss.

Her acting résumé may have been short, but her place in entertainment history remains meaningful. She belonged to the early chapter of a remarkable Hollywood family, and her influence continued through the work and memories of her children.

Share this article with readers who enjoy thoughtful celebrity biographies, and leave a comment about which fact from the life of Samantha Lewes you found most interesting.