Breaking into Hollywood is like trying to win the lottery, the odds are stacked wildly against you. Even for most who managed to “make it”, they’ve had to work their asses off to get to where they are.
Now Tom Hanks is one of the most talented and beloved actors ever but even he had to tough it out for a few years before breaking through.
But where as most actors do things like wait tables, act in lame commercials, and teach classes, Tom did something completely out of left field: he sorta had a drag career that lasted for about a year.
Like most actors starting out in Hollywood, Tom did a bunch of random projects before catching something of a break when he was cast as the lead in the 1980 sitcom Bosom Buddies, which depicts two men needing to cross-dress as women so they can live in the one apartment they can afford.
Yeah. The 80s were a different time when it came to sitcom premises.
This meant that Tom (and his fellow co-star Peter Scolari) had to basically dress in drag for a good part of the show’s run, which lasted about two years, 37 episodes, and some pretty unforgiving critics (though they thought the banter between Tom and Peter was pretty good).
So in a way, Tom Hanks legit had a drag career for about a year.
Starring in a poorly-received TV show where crossdressing is a major thing would normally kill someone’s Hollywood career but Tom managed to emerge unscatched as he landed the lead in Splash not long afterwards.
Whereas most people would probably try and forget about something like Bosom Buddies, Tom looks back upon it with fond memories because of course he bloody would, he’s just that type of person.
He may be rocking the Mr. Rogers look these days, but never forget that brief period of time when he crossdressed for a TV show.