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19-01-01 news
Tom Hanks thanks Irish influence...

On his way for to getting his third Oscar for his current role in Cast Away, Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks has taken time out to thank the Irish man who gave him a start. The Oscar winning actor has said that his acting success is entirely due to the former Abbey Theatre boss Vincent Dowling.

"Vincent's the reason I'm an actor. He gave me my first union job at the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in Ohio," Hanks wrote in the forward to Vincent's new book Astride the Moon which was launched in Dublin by the Irish actor and Star Trek hero Colm Meaney before Christmas.

"That forward is the truest words I've ever put down on paper. He's a charming man and unfortunately, I haven't seen him as much as I would have liked over the past 20 years. Although we have exchanged notes along the way."

Hanks who worked in American Theatre with Dowling for three years said he was a huge influence on his life. "I first met Vincent when I was 20 years old and that was 24 years ago. I probably have more vivid memories of the three years I spent at his theatre then of the last three movies I've made."

Hanks also revealed that he can't wait to read Dowling's book. "I can't wait to read his book and see what it says about me."