Born on November 29, 1952, in San Diego, California, as Susan Jane Dillingham, Samantha Lewes was an actress and Tom Hanks’s former wife. While not as much of a public figure as the glitter and glamour of Hollywood star Tom Hanks’s career may have been, Samantha certainly led a life full of talent as an actress who made a difference in the audience. Through personal struggles, she proved to be resilient as well as talented and dedicated.
Early Life and Family Background
Samantha was the daughter of John Raymond Dillingham, who was a decorated U.S. Harriet Hall Dillingham, an English teacher, and Marine during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.He had received a Purple Heart while in Vietnam. When he did return, though, she wasn’t afforded the stability that one would have hoped for in such a scenario. He and her mother divorced, and so she spent most of her childhood with her mother, who raised her.
Much of Samantha’s childhood life was spent in different states: California, Hawaii, Florida, and Virginia, typical of a military family’s lifestyle. When Samantha’s mother finally settled near her brother, David, in Northern California, those early years probably instilled in her the independence and adaptability she would later express in her career and personal life.
Career as an Actress
Samantha Lewes appeared relatively briefly, though not in any way inconspicuously. She appeared during the early years of the 1980s, when in 1981 she made a guest appearance on an episode of the ABC sitcom *Bosom Buddies*. The show, featuring Tom Hanks, two guys disguise themselves as women so they could live in an apartment building for women, where the rent is way lower. Samantha’s ability and charming potential were highlighted by this minor role.
She appeared in the 1984 TV movie *Mr. Success*. Despite her very few credits, Samantha clearly had a lot of star power and something special about connecting with audiences. Unlike most of her peers, Samantha shunned publicity, including keeping her personal life and family close to herself.
Marriage to Tom Hanks
Samantha Lewes met the very very popular Tom Hanks in the reputable popular California State University, Sacramento. Through her mutual passion, she bonded up with each other; she and Tom were in acting class at California State University, Sacramento. In 1978 when Samantha was 26, she met Tom who was just 22 years old and married them together.
Life together as a couple was hard for Samantha and Tom. The first year was effected by financial issue,Still, they really did their best to build a home that would be stable for both them and their children.
Samantha and Tom had two children. The firstborn was Colin Hanks, born November 24, 1977, a year before the wedding. Colin followed suit with his parents by also becoming a successful actor who played such notable roles as in the films *Orange County*, *King Kong*, and the *Jumanji* film franchise.
Divorce and Life After Marriage
Samantha and Tom married for nine years until their divorce in 1987. The couple cited that the major reason for their divorce was that they were too young for such onerous responsibilities.
After the divorce, Samantha chose to lead a private life, far from public limelight. She devoted herself to the upbringing of her children and supported their various activities. Samantha Lewes and Tom remained civil even after the separation of their marriage, putting more interest in the welfare of their children.
Samantha’s Fight with Cancer and Death Samantha Lewes was diagnosed with advanced bone cancer during a routine checkup in the late 1990s. By then, however, it had already spread to her lungs and brain: so that her battle was an extremely more difficult one. Despite her courage and determination, Samantha succumbed to the illness on March 12, 2002, in Sacramento, California, at the age of 49. Her passing created a profound vacuum in the lives of her loved ones, especially to her children, Colin and Elizabeth. She is so dearly missed that they have continued to strive to keep her memory alive by their successes and values that she bequeathed unto them.
Samantha’s legacy lives not only in their triumphs, but also the love and inspiration she continues to ensure receive all who knew her.
Conclusion
Born to Susan Jane Dillingham, Samantha was an extremely talented actress who went about work with much passion and authenticity; however, she usually remained out of the public eye. Yet, her career proved decent enough in showing how much she loved storytelling and the arts. She was in projects such as Bosom Buddies and Mr. Success. She got to play out her acting skills with these types of projects, but mainly it remained not on the setting of a warm household but instead on nurturing a family.
FAQs About Samantha Lewes
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Who is Samantha Lewes?
Samantha Lewes is Susan Jane Dillingham’s birth name. She is an American pretty famous actress from *Bosom Buddies* and *Mr. Success*. She had two children, Colin Hanks and Elizabeth Ann Hanks, from her marriage to Tom Hanks, one of the most well-known actors in the world.
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What is the birthdate of Samantha Lewes, and where did she raise herself?
Samantha Lewes was born in very popular and buzling San Diego, California,, and grew up in a home that supported the arts.
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What was the relationship between Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks?
She was the first wife of Tom Hanks. During the marriage in 1978, she had two children with him, and they separated in 1987.
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What was the connection between Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks?
Samantha Lewes was Tom Hanks’s first wife. With two children, this couple stayed married between 1978 and 1987.
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How did Samantha Lewes die?
Samantha Lewes died following a long battle with bone cancer. The disease had reached her lungs and brain during her fatal fight when Samantha died at 49 years of age. Even during the pains of her illness, Samantha was still the strong pillar for her children as well as other loved ones. Her sudden death was a great loss to her family and her children, especially.
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What influence does Samantha Lewes have on the children’s life?
Despite all this, Samantha Lewes was still a good mother to Colin and Elizabeth Ann Hanks. She featured significantly in their childhoods and nurtured their creative pursuits at such an early age. Both are popular personalities in the world of entertainment, today.
