Writer of Pop Culture

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Award-Winning ‘Forrest Gump’ Opens a Box of Chocolates (July 6)

Tom Hanks has played everything from Andrew Beckett in “Philadelphia” to Woody in the “Toy Story” movies, but “Forrest Gump” may be his most famous role so far.

July 6, 2026

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

After the seriousness of playing Andrew Beckett in 1993’s Philadelphia (and winning an Oscar for it too), Tom Hanks took on the main role in 1994’s Forrest Gump. Though still plenty serious, the former Bossom Buddies star provided plenty of laughs during its lighter moments (and won his second Oscar for it).

1994 – Run Forrest Run

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump sitting on a bench — Tom Hanks in *Forest Gump. (TVDB)*

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the hugely successful movie, Forrest Gump is based on the 1986 novel of the same name. Winston Groom, the book’s author, grew up in Alabama and served in the Army during the Vietnam war (like Forrest does in the movie), but the similarities probably end there.

In Gump, Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) has a below-average IQ and yet, his view of the world changes people’s lives. On a bus stop bench he waxes eloquently about how “life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get” to everyone who sits on the bench with him. He tells stories about how he outran his use for crutches, became a ping-pong champ, mixed things up with key iconic figures like Elvis and Nixon and even helped create the smiley face by cleaning mud off his face.

Forrest Gump also stars Robin Wright (Forrest’s children friend and love interest Jenny Curran), Gary Sinise (as Lieutenant Dan Taylor, Forrests platoon leader), Mykelti Williamson (as war-time buddy Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue) and Sally Field (as Forrest’s loving and at times, patient mother).

The movie also features Haley Joel Osment in his first feature film role as Forrest Gump Jr. Peter Dobson has a small role as Elvis Presley (Kurt Russell provided his voice) and Dick Cavett played a de-aged version of himself.

Forrest Gump received 13 Academy Award nominations and took home six Oscars including Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role (Hanks), Director, Visual Effects, Adapted Screenplay and Film Editing.

1942 – Anne Frank Goes into Hiding

1939 Passport photos of Anne Frank. *(Wikimedia Commons)*

Annelies Marie Frank was born on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany. Her family moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1934 when Adolf Hitler gained control over the country. In 1941, she lost her German citizenship becoming stateless. On her 13th birthday on June 12, 1942, Anne received an autograph book which she used as a diary. Just one month later on this day, Anne and her family began hiding in a secret annex hidden behind a bookcase in building where her father worked.

Anne frequently wrote in her diary until her family was captured and sent to a concentration camp on August 4th. Anne’s diary became famous giving an interesting viewpoint of what life was like during those trying times Over 30 million copies of The Diary of a Young Girl have been produced and in 67 languages.