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Tom Hanks has two Best Actor Oscars, and it turns out he’s a writer, too

caption: Nancy Pearl and Tom Hanks on stage at McCaw Hall
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Nancy Pearl and Tom Hanks on stage at McCaw Hall
Courtesy of Libby Lewis Photography

And now for something maybe completely unexpected. Tom Hanks wrote a book. The prolific actor credits writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron with encouraging his writing years ago on the set of “Sleepless in Seattle.” He later wrote a piece about a friend in the film business and ran it by Ephron, asking “Is this a thing?” She said yes, with some qualifications, and Hanks took her advice to heart.

More recently, Hanks had some time on his hands. He wrote a couple of stories and sent them to his friend, actor/writer Steve Martin. He again asked “Is this a thing?” Martin responded in the affirmative, and Hanks kept writing.

The result is Tom Hanks’ first book, “Uncommon Type: Some Stories.” The "type" in the title could refer to Hanks himself, but mostly it involves his obsession with vintage typewriters: Each story includes one.

Seattle Arts & Lectures presented this conversation between Tom Hanks and Nancy Pearl on December 6 at McCaw Hall.

Please note: This recording contains unedited language of an adult nature.

Listen to the full version below:

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