Tom Hanks' daughter opens up about tumultuous childhood in new memoir

Tom Hanks' daughter, reveals violent childhood struggles and her mother's mental health issues in new book.


Pop Culture & Art April 04, 2025
Photo: Reuters/Instagram

E.A. Hanks, the daughter of actor Tom Hanks, is revealing the emotional and violent struggles of her childhood in her upcoming memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and The Open Road.

In the book, set to release on April 8, Hanks delves into the chaotic early years spent with her late mother, Susan Dillingham, who she believes struggled with undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by E.A. Hanks (@eahanks)

Hanks shares her journey of revisiting her mother’s troubled past during a 2019 road trip, retracing the route she took with Dillingham when she was just 14. The memoir recounts Hanks’ experiences from ages 5 to 14, marked by confusion, violence, and deprivation. Her mother’s struggles with mental illness left the family in disarray, with memories of a home filled with neglect and emotional trauma.

Hanks, now 42, opens up about how her mother’s behavior became increasingly erratic, with their living conditions deteriorating over time. She recalls a moment when emotional violence turned physical, leading to a drastic change in her custody arrangement.

The book also reveals Hanks' journey of self-discovery and her desire to understand the forces that shaped her mother’s volatile path. The 10 offers an honest look at the challenges of growing up in a famous family, with a focus on personal healing and family dynamics.

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