E.A. Hanks Reveals Harrowing Childhood With Abusive Mother, Iconic Father

At the age of 14, Elizabeth Ann Hanks, known as EA Hanks, was told by her mother that they would be embarking on a journey across the United States in a newly purchased Winnebago. It was the year 1996, and EA had just moved from her mother Susan’s home to live with her father, acclaimed actor Tom Hanks, in Los Angeles. “My relationship with my mother was incredibly strained at that time,” she recalls. The journey from California involved long hours of driving, with her mother frequently smoking and listening to Christian rock, only pausing for food and sleep. The trip concluded awkwardly and silently in Florida after three grueling months. The purpose of the trip remains unclear, although it was during this time that EA met her mother’s family for the first time. Susan often left many things unexplained.

In 2019, two decades following Susan’s death, EA retraced the journey along Interstate 10 in a quest to piece together her mother’s mysterious past. This exploration is detailed in her memoir, “The 10.” “I realized I knew very little about my mother’s upbringing, her background, or the people in her life. She never talked about it,” EA explains. Her mother’s life seemed enveloped in a shadowy southern gothic tale, filled with drama and violence.

EA’s childhood was marked by abuse and neglect. At times, Susan left her without food or clean clothes, and once, when EA was 13, Susan struck her face without provocation. Susan, who was also an actress under the stage name Samantha Lewes, struggled with cocaine addiction and mental health issues that EA believes may have been undiagnosed bipolar disorder. Susan’s family remained distant; none visited during her illness or attended her funeral.

Years later, while sifting through Susan’s possessions, EA discovered a journal containing disturbing allegations against her own grandfather, accusing him of heinous crimes. These claims seemed too extreme to be true, especially from a woman who believed God spoke to her and that her ex-husband had people hidden in the walls to spy on her. “As I learned more about my mother’s deteriorating mental health, her life seemed to spiral into paranoia and delusion,” EA remarks. Yet, the journal hinted at a traumatic past that might explain her mother’s troubled life. Driven to find closure, EA borrowed a Ford Transit van from her father and set off with a typewriter to uncover the truths of her family history.

Now 43, EA previously pursued journalism in New York City, working under relentless deadlines at the Huffington Post. She later returned to LA, taking up various jobs and eventually writing for television. Her journey into writing helped rekindle her passion for storytelling, a trait she shares with her father.

Inspired by her initial road trip in 1996, EA envisioned her travel as a political exploration from California through the southern states to Florida. However, this idea was initially dismissed by editors. This personal journey ultimately delved into the dark corners of American history and her family’s secrets. The landscapes she traversed were both breathtaking and stark reminders of America’s violent past, particularly the near-extermination of Indigenous peoples.

In Mississippi, she visited a museum dedicated to Jefferson Davis, the only president of the Confederate States, which provoked her to reflect on the unresolved trauma of America’s history, much like the unresolved issues in her personal history.

EA’s early life with her mother in Sacramento was fraught with instability, ranging from neglect to brief moments of kindness, where her mother introduced her to arts and culture. In contrast, visits to her father in Los Angeles exposed her to a different, bustling environment filled with family and care. This stark disparity was a source of internal conflict and shaped her perceptions of family and identity.

Despite the fame surrounding her father, EA appreciated growing up away from the public eye, which allowed her a semblance of normalcy despite her tumultuous home life. As she matured, she gained a new perspective on her father’s celebrity status, recognizing the genuine affection people felt towards him.

Reflecting on her troubled relationship with her mother, EA noted the complexities of their interactions, marked by fear and manipulation. It wasn’t until a violent incident that she could finally leave her mother’s home to live with her father. Throughout her life, this precarious relationship influenced her ability to form close personal connections.

The journey and writing of her memoir allowed EA to reconnect with her mother posthumously, giving her space to process her past and choose what memories to hold onto. “Engaging with her writings felt like resuming a long-paused dialogue,” she reflects.

In the UK, the NSPCC offers support to children on 0800 1111, and adults concerned about a child on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331. In the US, call or text the Childhelp abuse hotline on 800-422-4453. In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800; adult survivors can seek help at Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380. Other sources of help can be found at Child Helplines International