‘The Brady Bunch’ Plays a Part in Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s Love Story
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (Photo: Getty Images)
Tom Hanks didn’t even know Rita Wilson’s name yet, but he knew that he liked her. The year was 1972, and the 16-year-old future Oscar winner saw the woman destined to become his wife in her very first TV role, playing a girl at the cheerleader tryouts where Greg Brady was a judge.
“I was actually at a friend of mine’s house when it aired and I remember thinking ‘that girl’s cute,’”Hanks told reporters at the New York premiere of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, which the couple co-produced.
The two met while filming the 1985 comedy Volunteers, although both were in other relationships at the time. Their romance didn’t start until 1987, with marriage following a year later, and two sons born over the following decade.
Since then, Hanks and Wilson — both 59 — have continued to prove they’re still in love, whether they’re working together, as they did in Sleepless in Seattle and will on her upcoming music tour, or hitting the red carpet.
Even Hanks has admitted that he isn’t sure why it’s worked so well for so long.
“I wish there was a secret, you know,” he told People in November. “We just like each other. You start there."
Related: Tom Hanks Is America’s Favorite Movie Star (Sorry, Denzel Washington!)
Also, sometimes being a movie star has its advantages!
"I still can’t believe my wife goes out with me,” he said. “If we were in high school and I was just funny, I’d never have the courage to talk to her."
And to think, some groovy guy like Greg Brady could have derailed one of the greatest modern romances in Hollywood.
