Tom Hanks to receive award for work reflecting history
For his work in films reflecting US history such as Saving Private Ryan, Apollo 13 and Bridge Of Spies, actor Tom Hanks has won this year’s Records of Achievement Award, the National Archives Foundation said earlier this week.
Hanks, 61, will receive the award, given to individuals who bring a broad awareness of US history through their work, at an Oct 21 event at the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, the nonprofit organisation said in a statement.
“As a dive into archives of almost any kind is, to me, a swim in the finest of waters, I’m dazzled to be a part of this event,” said Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, who last year was one of 21 people awarded the 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest US civilian honour.
“Part of my job has always been one not far from that of a lay-historian, to understand that I am a part of the documenting of the human condition and the American idea, even in the silliest of stories,” he added in the statement.
Hanks has appeared in numerous films based on historical events and figures, including the World War II drama Saving Private Ryan and crime thriller Catch Me If You Can, based on the true story of fraudster Frank Abagnale.
More recently, Hanks played the title role in Sully, based on pilot Chesley Sullenberger’s 2009 emergency landing of a passenger flight on the Hudson River.
He was also an executive producer and a co-writer/director on the 2001 World War II television miniseries Band Of Brothers that aired on HBO.
“He’s served in World War II, in both the European and Pacific Theatres, negotiated for the US in the Cold War, fought in Vietnam, worked in Congress, and led the space programme,” said David Ferriero, archivist of the United States and board member of the National Archives Foundation.
A past winner of the award is Steven Spielberg, who directed Hanks in Saving Private Ryan, Bridge Of Spies and the upcoming Pentagon Papers movie The Papers.
Previous recipients also i nclude Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Ron Chernow, Tony award-winning film and theatre director Thomas Kail, and Tony award-winning Hamilton composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda.