Samantha Lewes: Tom Hanks' divorce story and her cause of death
Samantha Lewes was Tom Hanks' first wife before his long-lasting marriage to Rita Wilson. She was a talented actress who effortlessly combined her beauty and brains to get her fans' undivided attention. Samantha may not have bagged numerous awards, but she was an impressive achiever in her own right.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Who is Samantha Lewes?
Key takeaways
- Apart from being the ex-wife of the most recognisable film star, she graced the screens with her remarkable acting talent in several sitcoms.
- The California native landed roles in several films, with a few featuring her ex-husband, Tom Hanks.
- She is known for starring in the TV series Bosom Buddies and the movie Mr. Success.
Profile summary
| Real name | Susan Jane Dillingham |
| Popularly known as | Samantha Lewes |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | November 29th, 1952 |
| Date of death | March 12th, 2002 |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Place of birth | San Diego, California, United States |
| Place of death | Sacramento, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 5'5" |
| Height in centimetres | 165 |
| Weight in pounds | 121 |
| Weight in kilograms | 55 |
| Body measurements in inches | 36-27-38 |
| Body measurements in centimetres | 91-68-96 |
| Hair colour | Light brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Mother | Harriet Hall Dillingham |
| Father | John Raymond Dillingham |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-husband | Tom Hanks (from 1978 to 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
| Grandchildren | 2 |
| Profession | Actress |
Who is Samantha Lewes?
Tom Hanks' first wife was an actress named Susan Jane Dillingham, born to John Raymond Dillingham and Harriet Hall Dillingham in San Diego, California. She was a very private person whose childhood life was unknown to many.
Source: Original
Her mother was an elementary English teacher, and she also spent one year as an exchange teacher in England. Her father, John Raymond Dillingham, was a US Marine who served during the Korean War, World War II, and the Vietnam War. During his 26-year military service, he received the Purple Heart award.
Not all went well for her family since her parents' separation, leading to Samantha being raised single-handedly by her mother. She spent her childhood in California, Hawaii, Florida, and Virginia. After the separation, her mother moved her family closer to her brother David in Northern California.
How old was Samantha Lewes when she died?
The American actress was 49 years old. She was born on November 29th, 1952.
What movies did Samantha Lewes play in?
Lewes ventured into acting and started well. She was an outstanding actress who appeared in an episode of the ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies in 1981 and the movie Mr. Success in 1984.
When did Tom Hanks meet Samantha Lewes?
Samantha Lewes and Tom Hanks met as acting students at California State University, Sacramento. Their friendship grew into a romantic relationship that ended at the altar.
How long was Tom Hanks married to Samantha Lewes?
They were married for nine years and divorced in 1987. Samantha was 26, and Tom was 22 when they married in 1978. As a young couple, they endured hurdles, leading to their survival on the little they could afford.
How many children did Tom Hanks have with Samantha Lewes?
They were blessed with two children. Their firstborn son, Colin Lewes Hanks, is an American actor who has starred in films including Orange County, King Kong, and the Jumanji film series.
He was born on November 24th, 1977. Colin is married to Samantha Bryant, and they have two daughters, Charlotte and Olivia.
Source: Getty Images
Samantha Lewes' daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hanks, is an actress and producer known for Forrest Gump, That Thing You Do! and Anchoraged. She was born May 17th, 1982, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes' divorce story
The two started living separately due to misunderstandings and complications, and these were the significant factors for their split.
Eventually, they got divorced, and they each went their way. According to Tom, his divorce was caused by getting married at a very young age due to loneliness, and it was too early to take on additional responsibilities.
Samantha Lewes' controversies
According to Samantha Lewes' memoir, written by her daughter, Elizabeth, her mother was an abusive parent. Elizabeth had this to say about her traumatic childhood:
She pushed me, shook me, pulled at my hair and locked me in a closet once or twice … she told me there were men hiding in her closet who were waiting for us to go to sleep to come out and do horrible things.
Elizabeth believes that her mother was bipolar and suffered from episodes of “extreme paranoia and delusion,” although she was never clinically diagnosed.
What happened to Samantha Lewes?
She died on March 12th, 2002, in Sacramento, California, at 49.
What was Samantha Lewes' cause of death?
The cause of her death was bone cancer, diagnosed after a routine checkup. She only had a few months to live since it had spread to her lungs and brain.
The late actress felt a sense of loss of health since the doctors could only manage her pain. This news hurt Tom Hanks, despite being divorced from her. He still cared for her and the kids they had together.
Did Samantha Lewes remarry?
No, she did not remarry.
Where is Samantha Lewis buried?
She is buried at East Lawn Memorial Park, according to Findagrave.com.
Samantha Lewes died more than two decades ago, but her memory lives on in many people's hearts. She was a well-known actress during her time. Samantha fought a valiant battle with cancer until her death.
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