Colin Hanks
Born in Sacramento on November 24, 1977, Colin Lewes Hanks attended Sacramento Country Day School before going on to study at Chapman University and Loyola Marymount University. His work across film, television, stage, and voice performance established him as a practitioner in multiple areas of the entertainment industry, and he has also worked behind the camera as a film director, producer, and screenwriter.
Hanks's stage work earned him a Theatre World Award, marking an early recognition of his abilities as a performer outside of screen roles. His career in television included playing Gus Grimly in the FX crime series Fargo during its 2014–2015 run, a role that brought him considerable attention. That performance contributed to nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Critics' Choice Television Award.
Across his career, Hanks has worked as a film actor, television actor, stage actor, and voice actor, while also taking on roles as a producer and director. His range across these disciplines reflects a sustained engagement with multiple aspects of storytelling in both performance and production. The nominations he received for his work on Fargo represent some of the more concrete markers of recognition his television career has generated.
Quotes by Colin Hanks
When I was younger it was - you know, my dad dressed up in drag on 'Bosom Buddies.' And that was what I was having to deal with at the time. And then around the time that I was into college was when he became statue-worthy I guess you could say.
Keep in my mind my dad didn't become a huge, huge mega actor until I was halfway through high school - so right around the time he's going through his big renaissance is right when I'm starting to do my high school revolting.
I’ve always really been a fan of scenes in which you’re able to be as natural as you want.
I’ve always been a big fan of comedy and sketch comedy, and I like to laugh, but you can’t just be funny. You do have to work at it, and you have to try to know what your role is and when you can insert humor, or when it’s best not to.
I’m really fascinated with anything that takes place between the 1920s up through the 1960s. In some ways it feels familiar, and in other ways it feels like it’s from another planet.
Honestly, the two main things that I always look for is, when I read the script for the first time, do I read it quickly? Because if I read it quick, that’s an important telltale sign.
You could make a film about being intoxicated only when you’re riding motorcycles, but really when you’re in an enclosed space safely, you can.
I probably need another couple of years of absorbing that and really looking at it to be able to do it because you actually have to know everybody’s job and I don’t know everybody’s job yet. I’m just now comfortable with my own.
