Stations
  • All Stations
  • Stations by City
  • All Music Stations
  • All Sports Stations
  • All News & Talk Stations
Partners
  • CNN
  • Bloomberg
  • Fox News
  • Comedy
Music
  • All Music Stations
  • Pop
  • Alternative
  • Country
  • Hip-Hop/R&B
  • Rock
  • Classic Rock
  • Latino
  • LIVE Performances
  • GRAMMYs 2021
Entertainment
  • Entertainment News
  • Movies
  • Television
News
  • All News & Talk Stations
  • Politics
  • Coronavirus
  • National News
  • Inauguration Day 2021
  • Money
  • City Guide
  • Food & Drink
  • Small Business Pulse
Sports
  • All Sports Stations
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NCAA Football
  • NCAA Basketball
  • MMA & WWE
  • Fantasy Football
  • Sports Betting
Originals
  • Scal & Pals
  • You Better You Bet
  • Bet Sweats
Where to Listen
  • about
  • apps
  • Roku
  • Amazon Alexa
  • Google Home
  • Sonos
  • Fire TV
  • Waze
  • Subscribe
More from Entercom
  • #ImListening
  • 1Thing
Stations
music
news
sports
podcasts
more
  • Sports
    Report: Blue Jays could begin 2021 season in Florida if COVID travel restrictions persist
  • Sports
    Meet Marshawn Lynch’s new hockey alter ego, ‘Shawn Gretzky’
  • Sports
    Jaguars hire former Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell as offensive coordinator
  • Music
    The Reel Buzz: Movies to watch this weekend including 'Tenet,' 'Promising Young Woman' and more
  • Music
    'Tiger King' star Carole Baskin says Netflix 'betrayed' her with overblown Joe Exotic drama
  • Music
    Watch our RADIO.COM LIVE Check In with Tate McRae
  • Sports
    Lions' new coach apologizes for anti-gay remark during college pep rally: 'I was young'
  • News
    Monarch butterflies move closer toward extinction as population hits all-time low
  • Sports
    Alex Smith: It's 'ridiculous' that Eric Bieniemy hasn't been hired as head coach
  • News
    Dr. Fauci says he feels 'somewhat liberated' working with Biden administration
Home / Music / Movies / 7 Lessons Tom Hanks Learned From Portraying Mr. Rogers

7 Lessons Tom Hanks Learned From Portraying Mr. Rogers

75756A5E-120A-4932-810C-2FD980DB785E
By RADIO.COM Staff
Updated on March 20, 2020 03/20/2020 8:11 am

It’s hard to imagine Tom Hanks could get any nicer, but even the cuddly pillow of a movie star picked up a few new tricks for spreading joy and kindness from his latest roll as Mr. Rogers in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”

The film dramatizes the meeting between journalist Tom Junod and beloved children’s TV host. To do justice to Fred Rogers, though, Hanks had to embrace aspects of Mr. Rogers’ quiet demeanor and approach into his own life. “I'm trying to learn from him,” Hanks told Ellen DeGeneres.

Related

Tom Hanks' Latest Coronavirus Update Is Inspired By Mister Rogers

Here are some of the valuable lessons Hanks learned on set.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nickelodeon Theatre (@nicktheatre)

Kids just need to feel safe

While babysitting his granddaughter, the star implemented Mr. Rogers’ approach in comforting children. When the kid woke to find her mother gone, Hanks explained to the LA Times, he told her, “Your mom has gone off to see some friends. And she’s left you with me to take care of. So I am going to keep you safe until your mom comes back. So I really hope you’ll come and help me now make some pancakes.” Rather than commanding her to be good, Hanks simply let her know she was safe with him.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tom Hanks Fans (@tomhanksfansite)

Give kids (and adults) a break

When most people talk to children, Hanks explained in the same LA Times interview, “It’s a constant: ‘Hey, are you enjoying school? What’s your special class? Do you play baseball? Is it fun to play baseball?’ And the kids are like: ‘Would you shut up and let me answer your question?’” To make a kid feel heard, adults should take a step back. Hanks added the grown-ups at the television station where Rogers worked reported a similar sense of being heard when talking to the TV host. “When you were talking to Fred you felt as though there was no one else in the room or the world that he was interested in,” Hanks added.

Just listen

One of the most profound lessons Hanks took from Mr. Rogers was the simple act of listening. “He taught me that listening is a million times more important than talking,” Hanks told DeGeneres. “You should just sit and listen to everyone who comes across your way, and you’ll be amazed at what you learn.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Relationship Insights Therapy (@insightsminneapolis)

When in doubt, W.A.I.T.

One trick Hanks employed, following in the way of Mr. Rogers, was to constantly ask himself to W.A.I.T., an acronym that stands for “Why am I talking?” that helped remind the star to stop speaking and start listening. “I wrote that down in a notebook that I keep to remind myself that listening, for me anyway, is a disciplinary art,” Hanks says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Living ROI (@livingroi)

Reassess your actions

Zipping up the cardigan made Hanks feel as if he were putting on a superhero uniform, but the deepest lessons struck at the man inside the sweater. “This movie has actually made me think a lot about myself as a man and a father,” Hanks admitted, reassessing the type of programming he wants kids to see and how he wants to interact with children himself.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Connected (@connected_mentalhealth)

Mean what you say

To make his Mr. Rogers feel real, Hanks had to learn not only to physically slow down his speech, but to imbue his words with real meaning. Simple phrases like “How are you?” and “Thank you” took on greater importance, and director Marielle Heller would force the actor to stop and think before speaking with intent and honesty.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by W. BRADFORD (@wbradfordco)

We all need to come together

In an increasingly fractured, polarized society, Hanks thinks one of Rogers’ greatest lessons is about togetherness across divides. “We are not binary creatures divided by territory–marked ‘us’ and ‘them,’” Hanks says. “We all share the same desires for safety, comfort, the love of our family and the caring for those we love, which means we have much more in common than we are told.”

LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

  • Mr. Rogers
  • Tom Hanks
  • A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
  • Entertainment

LATEST in music

  • GLAAD’s Sarah Kate Ellis hopes Biden-Harris administration gives LGBTQ+ people 'a seat at the table'
  • Listen to each of Luke Combs 10 consecutive number 1 songs
  • Dolly Parton mourns the loss of her brother Randy Parton: ‘He’s shining in heaven now’
  • Megan Thee Stallion goes off after reports Tory Lanez' charges were dropped: ‘Y’all still don’t see’
  • Joe Biden mashed up with this classic Arctic Monkeys moment is giving us life

TRENDING on RADIO.COM

news
Biden expected to lift military transgender ban
sports
Fans are stunned to learn Steph Curry's real name is 'Wardell'
news
PHOTOS: Baby girl poses as president to celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris
news
Cómo los latinos han sido afectados en los primeros días de la presidencia de Joe Biden
sports
Former Washington QB Dwayne Haskins resurfaces with Steelers
sports
Casual bettor's guide to NFL conference championships: Brady, Mahomes will prevail
×

listen

listen live mobile app

connect

FAQ 1Thing get my PERKS #ImListening contact us Submit a Station Submit a Podcast Sitemap

legal

public inspection file careers EEO public files public file help privacy policy terms of use copyright notice music submission policy Do Not Sell My Personal Information
© 2021 Entercom Communications Corp. All rights reserved. Part of RADIO.COM Music.