Samantha Lewes was an American actress best known for her early television work and for being the first wife of actor Tom Hanks. Born Susan Jane Dillingham on November 29, 1952, she later used Samantha Lewes as her professional name. She met Hanks while they were studying theater in California, and their relationship eventually led to marriage and a family. The couple married in 1978 and had two children, Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks, before their divorce was finalized in 1987.
Although Samantha Lewes became widely recognized because of her connection to Tom Hanks, she also pursued acting during the early years of her adult life. She appeared in television productions including Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success, building a small acting career of her own. After her marriage ended, she lived a quieter life and remained closely connected to her children. She died on March 12, 2002, at the age of 49 after cancer.
Samantha Lewes is remembered for her acting career, her family, and her place in Tom Hanks’ early life.
Samantha Lewes Quick Bio
| Full Name | Susan Jane Dillingham |
| Name | Samantha Lewes |
| Born | November 29, 1952 |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, USA |
| Died | March 12, 2002 |
| Age at Death | 49 |
| Profession | Actress |
| Known For | Bosom Buddies, Mr. Success |
| Spouse | Tom Hanks |
| Marriage | January 24, 1978 – March 19, 1987 |
| Children | Colin Hanks, Elizabeth Ann Hanks |
| Parents | John Raymond Dillingham, Harriet Hall Collins |
| Death Cause | Cancer |
| Nationality | American |
Who Was Samantha Lewes?
Samantha Lewes was the professional name of Susan Jane Dillingham, an American actress born in California in 1952. She became known through her relationship with Tom Hanks, whom she met while they were both studying theater. Their relationship began when they were still young and building their lives and careers, long before Hanks became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors. Lewes was therefore part of an important period in Hanks’ life before his rise to major fame.
Lewes also pursued acting herself and appeared in several television productions during the early 1980s. Her credits included an appearance on Bosom Buddies and a role in the television movie Mr. Success. Her acting career remained relatively short, and she eventually lived away from the entertainment spotlight. She died in Sacramento, California, on March 12, 2002, at the age of 49.
Samantha Lewes was an actress whose life became closely connected with her family, especially her two children with Tom Hanks.
Samantha Lewes’ Early Life and Background
Samantha Lewes was born Susan Jane Dillingham on November 29, 1952. Her birthplace has been described differently in biographical accounts, with some identifying San Diego and others pointing to Alameda County. What remains consistent is that she was born in California and spent her early life there before moving into theater and acting as a young adult.
Her interest in the performing arts became an important part of her early adulthood. She studied theater in California, where she eventually met Tom Hanks. Their shared interest in acting brought them together during a formative period in their lives, and the relationship later became an important part of both their personal histories. Lewes would go on to pursue acting professionally before eventually stepping away from the industry.
Samantha Lewes grew up in California and developed her interest in theater during her early adult years.
Who Were Samantha Lewes’ Parents?
Samantha Lewes was born to John Raymond Dillingham and Harriet Hall Collins. Her family background is part of the early story of Susan Jane Dillingham, the woman who would later become known professionally as Samantha Lewes. Family records also connect her to siblings from the Dillingham family, giving some context to her life before she entered the theater world.
Her parents were not major figures in the entertainment industry, and details about their careers and personal lives do not form a significant part of Samantha Lewes’ biography. Her own path eventually moved toward the performing arts, where she developed an interest in acting and theater. That interest became particularly important when she began studying theater and met Tom Hanks.
Samantha Lewes’ parents were John Raymond Dillingham and Harriet Hall Collins.
Where Did Samantha Lewes Go to School?
Samantha Lewes studied theater at California State University, Sacramento. Her time there was particularly important because it was where she met Tom Hanks, who was also studying theater. Their shared academic interest in acting gave them a common connection at a time when both were still working toward their future careers.
Studying theater also gave Lewes an opportunity to develop her interest in performance before moving into professional acting. Her education was centered on the performing arts rather than a different career field, and the experience helped shape the direction of her early adult life. Her relationship with Hanks began during this period and eventually became one of the most recognizable parts of her biography.
Samantha Lewes studied theater at California State University, Sacramento, where she met Tom Hanks.
How Did Samantha Lewes Meet Tom Hanks?
Samantha Lewes met Tom Hanks while they were both theater students at California State University, Sacramento, during the 1970s. At that point, neither had reached the level of fame that would later define Hanks’ career. They were young performers with an interest in theater, and their shared background gave them a natural connection.
Their relationship eventually developed into a family life. Their first child, Colin Hanks, was born in 1977, followed by their daughter Elizabeth Ann Hanks in 1982. By then, Lewes and Hanks had married and were raising their growing family while Hanks continued working toward a larger career in entertainment.
Lewes and Hanks met as young theater students before either had reached widespread fame.
Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks’ Marriage
Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks married in January 1978. Their marriage began during an early stage of Hanks’ career, before he became the major Hollywood star recognized around the world. Lewes also had an interest in acting, and the couple were connected by their shared background in theater and performance.
The marriage lasted several years before the couple separated during the 1980s. Their divorce was finalized in 1987, ending their marriage but not their connection as parents to Colin and Elizabeth. Hanks later married actress Rita Wilson in 1988, while Lewes continued her life away from the entertainment spotlight.
Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks were married from 1978 until their divorce was finalized in 1987.
Did Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks Have Children?
Yes. Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks had two children together, Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks. Colin was born in 1977 and later became an actor, following a path into the entertainment industry. Elizabeth, who is also known as E.A. Hanks, pursued writing and journalism rather than becoming an actress like her brother.
Their children eventually established their own careers and identities. Colin developed a career in television and film, while Elizabeth became a writer and later an author. In 2025, Elizabeth published The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, a book that explores her childhood, her relationship with her mother, and aspects of her family history.
Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks were the parents of Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann “E.A.” Hanks.
Colin Hanks
Colin Hanks is Samantha Lewes’ eldest child and Tom Hanks’ first son. Born in 1977, he eventually entered the entertainment industry and developed a career as an actor. His work in television and film allowed him to establish his own professional identity rather than simply being known as Tom Hanks’ son.
Colin also played an important role in the family life described by his sister E.A. Hanks. In accounts connected with her 2025 memoir, Elizabeth described her brother as an important source of support during difficult periods of their childhood. His relationship with his sister remains an important part of the family story surrounding Samantha Lewes.
Colin Hanks is Samantha Lewes’ eldest child and became an actor in his own right.
Elizabeth Ann Hanks
Elizabeth Ann Hanks, known professionally as E.A. Hanks, is Samantha Lewes’ younger child. Born in 1982, she chose a different professional direction from her brother and became a writer and journalist. Her work has included contributions to major publications, and she later expanded her writing career into book-length work.
In 2025, E.A. Hanks published The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road. The memoir looks closely at her childhood and her relationship with her late mother while also exploring parts of her family history. Through the book, Samantha Lewes became an important figure in a deeply personal story told from her daughter’s perspective.
E.A. Hanks became a writer and later explored her relationship with her mother in her memoir.
Samantha Lewes’ Acting Career and Notable Roles
Samantha Lewes had a relatively short acting career, with her screen work concentrated in the early 1980s. Her acting credits include an appearance in Bosom Buddies and a role in the 1984 television movie Mr. Success. These appearances show that acting was not simply something connected to her relationship with Tom Hanks; she also pursued the profession herself.
Her career, however, remained much smaller than the extensive film and television career later achieved by Hanks. Lewes did not build a large filmography, and her screen appearances were limited. Even with a short career, her work remains an important part of her biography because it reflects her own connection to acting and television.
Lewes’ acting career included television appearances during the early 1980s.
Bosom Buddies
Samantha Lewes appeared in an episode of Bosom Buddies, the television comedy starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari. Her appearance came in 1981, during a period when Hanks was still developing his television career. The series later became an early part of his rise in the entertainment industry.
Lewes was credited as a waitress in the episode. While the role was small, Bosom Buddies remains one of the most recognizable credits from her acting career. It is also notable because it places her professional work within the same television period when Hanks was beginning to gain broader attention.
Lewes appeared as a waitress in an episode of Bosom Buddies in 1981.
Mr. Success
Samantha Lewes also appeared in the 1984 television movie Mr. Success. She was credited as a customer in the production, giving her another screen appearance during the later part of her acting career. The role added to the small group of television credits associated with her professional work.
Unlike Hanks, who went on to develop an extensive career in film and television, Lewes did not continue acting on a large scale. Her work remained limited to a handful of appearances, making Mr. Success one of the later entries in the short acting career that she pursued during the early part of her adult life.
Her role in Mr. Success was one of Samantha Lewes’ later acting credits.
What Happened to Samantha Lewes After Her Divorce From Tom Hanks?
After her divorce from Tom Hanks, Samantha Lewes lived a quieter life and remained closely connected to her children. Colin and Elizabeth spent much of their childhood with their mother, including time in Sacramento. During these years, Lewes was no longer part of the growing Hollywood spotlight surrounding her former husband.
Her later life has received renewed attention through E.A. Hanks’ memoir The 10. In the book, Elizabeth looks back at her childhood and her relationship with her mother, sharing personal memories and difficult experiences from that period. Her account gives a more personal view of the family life that followed the end of Lewes’ marriage to Hanks.
After her divorce, Lewes lived a quieter life while remaining closely connected to her children.
Samantha Lewes’ Final Years and Death
Samantha Lewes died on March 12, 2002, in the Sacramento area at the age of 49. Her death followed a battle with cancer and came years after her divorce from Tom Hanks. By the time of her death, her life had moved far away from the early acting work and public attention associated with her younger years.
Her death had a lasting effect on her children, particularly Elizabeth. Years later, E.A. Hanks reflected on her mother and their relationship in The 10. The memoir revisits memories from her childhood and examines the complicated emotions that remained part of her relationship with her mother after her death.
Samantha Lewes died in 2002 at the age of 49 after cancer.
What Caused Samantha Lewes’ Death?
Samantha Lewes died from cancer in 2002. Accounts have described the illness differently, with some identifying lung cancer and others describing bone cancer. Because of those differences, the most consistent description of her death is that she died following cancer at the age of 49.
She died on March 12, 2002, in Sacramento, California. Her illness and death marked the end of her life well before her daughter later shared more of their family story in The 10. Her death remains one of the most searched aspects of her biography because it came at a relatively young age.
Samantha Lewes died from cancer in 2002 at the age of 49.
How Samantha Lewes Is Remembered Today
Samantha Lewes is remembered as an actress, Tom Hanks’ first wife, and the mother of Colin Hanks and E.A. Hanks. Although her acting career was short, her work in television forms an important part of her own story. Her connection to Tom Hanks also placed her within the early family history of an actor who later became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars.
Her story received renewed attention in 2025 when E.A. Hanks published The 10. Rather than focusing only on Samantha Lewes as Tom Hanks’ former wife, the memoir explores her as a mother and an important figure in E.A. Hanks’ childhood. The book offers a personal look at their relationship and the experiences that continued to shape Elizabeth’s understanding of her mother.
Samantha Lewes continues to be remembered through her acting, her family, and her daughter’s personal account of their relationship.
E.A. Hanks’ Memoir and Her Family Story
E.A. Hanks’ The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road was published in 2025. The book follows a cross-country journey along Interstate 10 while also examining her childhood, her mother Susan Dillingham, and parts of her family history. The journey gives the memoir a broader setting while keeping family relationships at its center.
The book brought renewed attention to Samantha Lewes because E.A. Hanks shares personal memories of growing up with her mother. She reflects on difficult family experiences and the process of trying to understand her mother years after her death. The memoir therefore adds a personal dimension to the story of Samantha Lewes that goes beyond her connection to Tom Hanks.
E.A. Hanks’ 2025 memoir gives readers a more personal look at her relationship with Samantha Lewes.
Did Samantha Lewes Have a Net Worth?
There is no established figure for Samantha Lewes’ net worth at the time of her death. Online estimates vary, but they do not provide enough basis to state a specific amount as fact. Her financial life was not a major part of her public career, making it difficult to attach an exact figure to her wealth.
Lewes’ acting career was relatively short, and her financial circumstances cannot be calculated simply from her television appearances or her marriage to Tom Hanks. Her former husband went on to build a highly successful career, but that does not provide a reliable way to determine Lewes’ personal finances.
Samantha Lewes’ exact net worth cannot be stated with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was Samantha Lewes?
Samantha Lewes was the professional name of Susan Jane Dillingham, an American actress and Tom Hanks’ first wife. She was also the mother of Colin Hanks and E.A. Hanks. Her acting career included television appearances during the early 1980s.
2. What was Samantha Lewes’ real name?
Her birth name was Susan Jane Dillingham. She used Samantha Lewes as her professional name during her acting career and became known by that name.
3. When did Samantha Lewes marry Tom Hanks?
Samantha Lewes married Tom Hanks in January 1978. Their marriage lasted several years, and their divorce was finalized in 1987 after they had separated during the 1980s.
4. How many children did Samantha Lewes have?
Samantha Lewes had two children with Tom Hanks: Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks. Colin later became an actor, while Elizabeth, known as E.A. Hanks, became a writer and journalist.
5. What movies or TV shows was Samantha Lewes in?
Samantha Lewes appeared in Bosom Buddies in 1981 and the television movie Mr. Success in 1984. These productions make up the best-known parts of her short acting career.
6. When did Samantha Lewes die?
Samantha Lewes died on March 12, 2002, at the age of 49. She died in the Sacramento area after battling cancer.
7. What did Samantha Lewes die from?
Samantha Lewes died from cancer in 2002. Accounts differ over the specific type of cancer, with descriptions including lung cancer and bone cancer.
8. What is E.A. Hanks’ book about Samantha Lewes?
E.A. Hanks’ 2025 memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road, explores her childhood, her relationship with her late mother, and parts of her family history. The book provides a personal look at the experiences that shaped their mother-daughter relationship.
Concolution
Samantha Lewes’ life extended beyond her connection to Tom Hanks. She studied theater, pursued acting, became the mother of Colin and E.A. Hanks, and later lived a quieter life after her divorce. Her acting career was brief, but her role in the Hanks family has kept her story connected to one of Hollywood’s best-known families.
In recent years, E.A. Hanks has added another dimension to that story through The 10. The memoir explores their complicated mother-daughter relationship and the process of trying to understand a parent after her death. Samantha Lewes is therefore remembered not only as Tom Hanks’ first wife, but also as an actress and mother whose life remains an important part of her family’s story.
