Tom Hanks, the Golden Globe winner and actor known for his roles in films such as Forrest Gump and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, almost died while filming the movie Cast Away, according to a report by Entertainment Weekly.
Hanks played Chuck Noland in the 2000 survival drama, a role that required him to lose over 50 pounds.
In addition to the physical demands of the role, Hanks also sustained a serious leg injury on set.
“Cast Away put me in the hospital. I was there for three days with something that, believe it or not, almost killed me,” Hanks told BBC’s Radio 1 in 2009.
“I got an infection from a cut and it was eating its way through my leg. I didn’t know it, I just thought I had a sore.”
The Hollywood Reporter identified the infection as a staph infection, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can turn deadly if the bacteria invades the bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, or heart.
Hanks described the experience to Radio 1, saying, “I went to the doctor who took one look and said, ‘I have to put you in the hospital because we have to get this infection out of you before it poisons your blood and you die.'”
Despite the close call, Hanks made a full recovery and the film was a major success. When all the box-office numbers were added up, Cast Away earned a total of $429 million worldwide.
Hanks’s performance in the film also earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor and an Oscar nomination for Best actor in a Leading Role.
Hanks is set to receive the Cecil B. deMille Award at the 2020 Golden Globes, recognizing his distinguished career in the film industry.
His dedication to his craft and commitment to delivering top-notch performances have solidified his place as one of the greatest actors of all time.
