E.A. Hanks Opens Up About Troubled Childhood and Family Challenges in New Memoir

E.A. Hanks Opens Up About Troubled Childhood and Family Challenges in New Memoir

E.A. Hanks, the daughter of renowned actor Tom Hanks, has shared revealing insights into her childhood, depicting a period marked by turmoil and family struggles. In her upcoming memoir titled ‘The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road,’ E.A. reflects on her life shaped by her parents’ divorce and her mother’s alleged emotional and physical volatility.

Complex Family Dynamics

E.A. Hanks, who goes by her full name Elizabeth Anne, delves into her life experiences in this much-anticipated release. Born in Los Angeles, E.A. recounts her family’s disintegration following her parents’ separation after five years of marriage in 1985. Her mother, Susan Dillingham—also known by her stage name Samantha Lewes—gained primary custody. As a result, E.A. and her older brother, Colin Hanks, would spend weekends and summers with their father, the Academy Award-winning actor.

Life After Divorce

Following the divorce, Dillingham relocated E.A. and Colin to Sacramento without informing their father of this significant change. E.A. recalls the confusion of finding out that her father had been searching for them for weeks after he arrived to pick them up from school.

“My dad came to pick us up from school, and we’re not there,” E.A. wrote. “And it turns out we haven’t been there for two weeks, and he has to track us down.” This revelation highlights the strained communication between parents post-separation.

Challenges of Adolescence

Growing up in Sacramento, E.A. faced numerous difficulties under the care of her mother. In her memoir, she describes a home environment riddled with distress, stating, “As the years went on, the backyard became so full of dog waste that you couldn’t walk around it, the house stank of smoke.” E.A. expresses her belief that her mother struggled with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, experiencing bouts of extreme paranoia and delusional behavior.

“The fridge was bare or full of expired food more often than not, and my mother spent more and more time in her big four-poster bed, poring over the Bible,” E.A. noted.

Custody Changes Amid Crisis

The turning point in E.A.’s childhood occurred when her mother’s emotional abuse escalated to physical violence. In a significant moment, she was moved back to Los Angeles at the onset of seventh grade, ultimately switching custody arrangements with her mother. E.A. describes this transition as pivotal, noting how it reshaped her living arrangements and relationships.

Reflecting on those turbulent years, she mentions, “One night, her emotional violence became physical violence, and in the aftermath I moved to Los Angeles, right smack in the middle of the seventh grade.” This profound experience molded her perception of family life.

Experiencing Loss and Reflection

During her senior year of high school, E.A. received a shocking phone call from her mother who claimed to be dying. Dillingham succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 49 in 2002. This loss marked a significant chapter in E.A.’s life, prompting her to delve deeper into understanding her mother’s life and the impact it had on their family.

A Journey of Discovery

The memoir takes readers on a road trip journey E.A. undertook in 2019 from Los Angeles to Palatka, Florida, A destination significant because it was where her mother’s family once lived. This expedition serves as a catalyst for E.A. to uncover more about her mother’s past. The road trip echoes a similar adventure she experienced when she was 14, traveling across the country with her mother in a Winnebago.

“When I was 14, my mother and I drove across America along Interstate 10 to Florida, in a Winnebago that lumbered along the asphalt with a rolling gait that felt nautical,” she shared, reflecting on a rare moment of bonding with her mother amid their complicated relationship.

Moments of Family Unity

E.A. recalls one of the few instances she remembers her parents being together: the graduations of Colin and herself. “I have one picture of me standing between my parents,” she wrote, revealing a moment that encapsulated a complex history filled with emotional baggage. In the image, her mother’s wig appears slightly askew, symbolizing the complexities they faced.

Continuing the Family Legacy

After Tom Hanks and Dillingham divorced in 1987, Hanks married Rita Wilson in 1988. Together, they have two sons, Chet and Truman, expanding the family legacy beyond past struggles. Their commitment to family contrasts sharply with E.A.’s earlier experiences.

A Memoir of Healing and Understanding

E.A. Hanks’ memoir, ‘The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road,’ is set to be released on Tuesday, providing an unfiltered glimpse into the complexities of family life. It serves as a narrative of healing, understanding, and the search for identity amid challenging circumstances.

As she prepares to share her story with the world, E.A. invites readers into a journey filled with lessons, nostalgia, and hope for greater understanding of familial bonds.