Tom Hanks thanks an Irishman for giving him his big Hollywood break

Isn't this lovely.

Hollywood legend and actor Tom Hanks has thanked an Irishman for giving him the opportunity to act. Hank credited late Irish actor Vincent Dowling for his big break into the acting industry. The 59-year-old Oscar winner is one of the most respected stars in the film industry but he admitted that Dubliner actor Dowling was the one who helped him get started. The Castaway actor said that Dowling took a chance on him in the 1970s and cast him in a theatre production in Ohio. Dowling was working at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Cleveland, Ohio when he discovered a young Hanks, whose first role came in the Shakespearean The Taming Of The Shrew at the age of 20. Speaking to RTÉ at the premiere of his new film A Hologram for The King, he said:

“The reason I’m here now is because of a fabulous Irishman by the name of Vincent Dowling from the great O’Herlihy clan. “He’s the man who taught me, not only what it’s like to be an actor and to pursue it, but he also taught me that work in the theatre is more fun.”

At one point Hanks considered giving up acting altogether, however, Dowling was the one to reassure him:

"I'm very thankful that at a time when I was wondering what was going to come down the pike, I ran into this Irishman with a briefcase who said to me, `you just might be able to be an actor if you want it . . . but you have to want it!!!"

Irish people truly are the best after all.