Hollywood actor Tom Hanks made an interesting red carpet entrance at the Academy Awards on Sunday by challenging a U.S. Army sergeant to a pushup contest in front of the cameras.
Hanks who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” caught the eye of the U.S. Army Sergeant in attendance at the Hollywood awards ceremony. At 63-years-old, Hanks still appeared fit to drop and take the soldier on in a pushup contest.
Tom Hanks Drops and Does Push Ups with a U.S. Army Sergeant on the #Oscars Red Carpet https://t.co/jAOtmze4qR pic.twitter.com/aqyfzMnlRq
— People (@people) February 10, 2020
The soldier in his Army dress blues took on Hanks, who wore a tuxedo.
Hanks earned fame for his role in the 1994 film, “Forrest Gump.” In the film, Hanks’ titular character served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and earned the Medal of Honor for heroically saving members of his unit from an ambush. The film went on to win six Oscars including for Best Picture and for Best Actor thanks to Hanks’ performance.
Hanks also played a U.S. Army captain in the 1998 World War II film “Saving Private Ryan.” The film lost out at the Oscars that year, but Hanks’ role in the film earned him a place as an honorary member in the U.S. Army’s Ranger Hall of Fame in 2006.
The actor has also produced two HBO miniseries, “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific,” which both dramatize the stories of various World War II veterans.
Hanks has lent his support for various veterans causes in the past. In 2018, Hanks signed on to produce and act in a veteran directed film, “No Better Place to Die.” The film, funded through crowdsourcing and envisioned by USMC veteran and military film advisor Dale Dye. Dye advised on films like “Platoon” as well as “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers.”
