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Tom Hanks Had One Piece of Advice for Those Wondering How He & Rita Wilson Have Been Together for So Long

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have known each other for over 40 years and they have been married since 1988, with two sons—Chet and Truman—that they share. Recently, Hanks was seen defending his wife when she got pushed by a crowd of fans, and this is just the latest instance where we've seen the strong bond between this pair. So, what exactly is the secret to their lasting Hollywood marriage?

As Express pointed out, the Forrest Gump actor discussed the success of his relationship during an interview with Extra back in 2015. And the one piece of advice he had for other couples? “Don't be stupid,” he said. “I think that anybody that gets married is partaking in an act of bravery.”

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In a previous interview with Extra from 2013, Hanks said that he “got lucky” meeting Wilson. The two were first introduced on the set of Bosom Buddies back in 1981, but Hanks was currently married to Samantha Lewes at the time. However, Hanks and Lewes would end up divorcing in 1987.

When asked if there were any secrets to his long marriage, Hanks said, “No secrets, it's about winning the lottery.” He jokingly added, “[Wilson] could have done better, but man oh man. I'm no dope. I'm sticking with her, ain't no way to do better.”

Hanks has also told GQ that there was an immediate spark when he and Wilson met. “Rita and I just looked at each other and — kaboing — that was that,” he said. “I asked Rita if it was the real thing for her, and it just couldn't be denied.”

Throughout the years, the couple have starred in multiple titles together, from playing best friends in Sleepless in Seattle to Wilson playing a small, comical part in Hanks's Larry Crowne.

Talk about couple goals. We'll def be taking note of Hanks's advice.

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Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

Joel is the Associate Editor for News & Entertainment and has been reporting on all things pop culture for over 5 years. Before working at PureWow, he served as a Features...