Chet Hanks is raising a metaphorical glass (of sparkling water, calm down) to his legendary parents, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, for sticking by him through his sobriety journey—even when he was, let’s say, a handful.
The 34-year-old actor strutted onto The Drew Barrymore Show on Tuesday (March 18), announcing that he has been sober for over three years. And guess what? His parents didn’t just sit back with popcorn and watch—no, they were there, supporting him through thick and thin, much like a classic Tom Hanks movie where everyone cries in the end.
Drew Barrymore, the queen of wholesome chaos, chimed in with her own wisdom:
“What I’ve learned along the way is that family, whether it’s blood or found, makes you feel super awkward when you’re being a mess, and then suddenly turns into your biggest hype squad when you’re thriving.”
Chet, nodding like a man who’s seen some things, responded with the energy of someone who’s just discovered how much his parents actually love him:
“When you’re doing the right thing, your family goes from side-eyeing you at Thanksgiving to clapping like proud sports parents on the sidelines. I don’t take that for granted. I’m at that age where I just randomly get emotional about my parents, you know? Like, wow, they’re actually pretty awesome.”
Chet is currently lighting up screens as Travis Bugg in Netflix’s Running Point, which, according to him, has officially been approved by the “Hanks Parental Review Board.” Yes, Tom and Rita have reportedly binged the show—most likely with snacks, cozy blankets, and dad jokes from Tom.
And that is how you win in life: Get sober, make your parents proud, and have America’s Dad watching your show on Netflix. Bravo, Chet. Bravo.