Tom Hanks’ wife of 36 years was criticized for having a “flabby” body while he remains fit at 69 — but the actor insists she’s beautiful.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson remain one of Hollywood’s rare long-lasting love stories — a couple who has stayed together for decades despite the pressures of fame.

Their relationship has been largely free of public drama, aside from the occasional challenge involving their children. After 36 years of marriage, they’ve grown used to tuning out critics — but one situation pushed even their patience.

Tom Hanks, now 69, continues to be one of the most respected and adored actors in the industry. His wife, Rita Wilson, is equally admired for her talent, kindness, and resilience. Their bond is something many in Hollywood envy.

But in 2022, photos of the couple surfaced — and some people twisted those images into an opportunity to say cruel and unnecessary things about Wilson.

The two actors first crossed paths back in 1981 on the set of the sitcom Bosom Buddies. At the time, Hanks was still married, but he and Rita Wilson instantly connected as friends. Hanks spent a couple of seasons on the show, while Wilson had only appeared as a guest star — but the spark between them never faded.

Hanks and his first wife, Samantha Lewes, officially divorced in 1987, though they had been separated much earlier. In 1985, Hanks and Wilson found themselves working together again on the film Volunteers, and that project brought them back into each other’s orbit. In April 1988, Wilson and Hanks tied the knot. Her short, stylish wedding dress became iconic as photos of their joyful ceremony spread throughout Hollywood. For a while, their marriage was the talk of the industry.

Two years later, they welcomed their first child together: Chester “Chet” Hanks. He followed his parents into the entertainment world, becoming both an actor and a rapper, with roles in Empire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Fantastic Four, and Shameless.

Their second son, Truman Theodore Hanks, was born in 1995. Like the rest of the family, Truman works in the film industry, though he prefers to stay behind the scenes rather than in front of the camera.

Alongside raising their two boys, Wilson and Hanks also helped care for Hanks’s children from his first marriage: Elizabeth Ann Hanks and Colin Hanks. Despite blending families and juggling busy careers, the household remained a close-knit one. Hanks has openly acknowledged the effort required to maintain such a long-lasting partnership. He once said:

“[…] Our relationship isn’t some kind of magic — not like what you see in movies […]. But we both know that no matter what happens, we’ll be there for each other and we’ll get through it.”

Even with the pressures of fame, their relationship has stayed more grounded and peaceful than many other celebrity couples.

In August 2022, the pair were spotted in New York City, hand in hand while heading to dinner.

Their outfits were casual, simple, and relaxed — but unfortunately, it was Wilson who became a target for criticism. Commenters online attacked her appearance, focusing on perceived weight gain and the fact that she wasn’t wearing heavy makeup. People compared her to Hanks, pointing out how fit he looked at 69 beside his wife. One Instagram user remarked, “Tom looks in great shape; why does Rita look out of shape flabby [sic]?”

Still, the Sleepless in Seattle actress has spent decades in the public eye and didn’t let the harsh comments shake her.

Wilson has openly discussed her lifelong struggle with fluctuating weight. She once admitted that food had always been a source of comfort during periods of stress and emotional difficulty.

After being criticized for gaining weight at the Emmys one year, she decided to make a major lifestyle change and joined Jillian Michaels’s Biggest Loser program.

She adopted a healthier diet, focusing on lean foods, and committed to regular exercise. Wilson also began seeing a chiropractor to help ease shoulder pain from an old injury. As her health improved, she said:

“My shoulder pain and the moles I’d been ignoring were finally addressed, and it lifted a kind of mental burden — just having two fewer things to worry about.”

In 2014, Hanks joined her on her health journey after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

His support for her has always been unwavering. Wilson’s physical health has gone through many ups and downs, but Hanks has remained her anchor. In 2015, when she underwent a double mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis, Hanks praised her publicly, calling her “extraordinarily brave and beautiful.”

In 2018, during an interview, he said Wilson was “one of the most classically beautiful women ever to walk the Earth.”

Hanks has never shied away from expressing his admiration for his wife. In interviews and in private moments, he is always her loudest supporter.

“I’m a lucky man,” he has said more than once. His behavior proves it — especially the time in June 2022 when paparazzi and fans crowded them in New York City. When someone bumped into Wilson and nearly caused her to fall, Hanks angrily yelled, “Guys, this is my wife! Back the [expletive] off!”

Despite being known as one of Hollywood’s gentlest, calmest stars, he refuses to stay quiet when it comes to protecting his wife.

The couple has weathered their share of challenges, from Hanks’s diabetes diagnosis to Wilson’s cancer fight — and even being among the first major celebrities to test positive for COVID-19 in 2020.

Professionally, they support each other as well. In 2019, when Wilson received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hanks sat in the front row, smiling proudly and cheering her on the whole time.

They walk red carpets together. They attend his movie premieres hand in hand. They show up at major Hollywood events side by side.

At home, they enjoy cooking meals together, hosting anniversary parties, and spending time with their grandchildren. Chet is father to Michaiah, while Colin has two daughters, Olivia and Charlotte.

Their grandchildren love visiting. They play, make messes, and enjoy normal, everyday moments with Hanks and Wilson — proving that behind all the fame, the family remains grounded, loving, and wonderfully ordinary.