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Tom Hanks’ Daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hanks, Alleges Abuse in New Memoir
Elizabeth Ann Hanks, daughter of acclaimed actor Tom Hanks, is making headlines with allegations of emotional and physical abuse against her late mother, Susan Dillingham. In her forthcoming memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family And The Open Road, Hanks‘ second child details a challenging childhood following her parents’ separation. The Forrest Gump star, aged 68, was married to Dillingham, mother of Elizabeth Ann and actor Colin Hanks, from 1978 until their divorce in 1987, prior to his rise to Hollywood stardom.
Early Life and Parental Separation
Following the dissolution of their marriage, Susan Dillingham was granted primary custody of Elizabeth Ann and her brother Colin. According to Elizabeth Ann, who is known as EA, the alleged abuse commenced during this period. Her new book, slated for release, chronicles a transformative six-month road trip from Los Angeles to Palatka, Florida, the ancestral home of her mother’s family. This journey serves as a backdrop for confronting her difficult past and exploring her relationship with her mother, whom she speculates may have suffered from bipolar disorder, although never formally diagnosed.
Memoir Excerpt Details Childhood Trauma
An excerpt from The 10: A Memoir of Family And The Open Road, scheduled for release on Tuesday, April 8th, reveals poignant details of Elizabeth Ann’s early life. “I was born in Burbank, but after my parents separated, my mother relocated my older brother and me to Sacramento,” she recounts. “My recollections of my initial years in Los Angeles are sparse.”
“Ultimately, a divorce settlement was reached, allowing me visits to my father and stepmother (and eventually my younger half-brothers) during weekends and summers. However, from ages 5 to 14, years marked by bewilderment, aggression, neglect, and affection, I was a Sacramento resident. I lived in a white, pillared house, featuring a backyard pool and a bedroom adorned with horse pictures on every wall.”
Deteriorating Home Conditions and Alleged Abuse
Describing a decline in her home environment, Elizabeth Ann writes, “As time progressed, the backyard became overrun with dog excrement, rendering it unusable. The house reeked of cigarette smoke. More often than not, the refrigerator was either empty or stocked with spoiled food. My mother increasingly retreated to her large four-poster bed, engrossed in reading the Bible.”
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She further reveals, “One night, her emotional aggression escalated into physical violence, leading to my relocation to Los Angeles, precisely in the middle of seventh grade.” This pivotal moment marked a significant change in her upbringing.
Shift in Living Arrangements and Mother’s Passing
Elizabeth Ann explains that this event led to a change in her living arrangements, moving to Los Angeles to live with her father while visiting her mother on weekends. She discloses a poignant phone call during her senior year of high school when her mother informed her she was terminally ill. Susan Dillingham passed away from lung cancer in 2002, when Elizabeth Ann was 19 years old.
Tom Hanks’ Subsequent Marriage
Tom Hanks later married Rita Wilson and welcomed two more sons, Chet and Truman, Elizabeth Ann’s half-brothers.
Representatives for Tom Hanks have been contacted for comment regarding these allegations.