Tom Hanks | Saving Private Ryan

In the movie Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks plays the character of Captain John Miller, who got assigned to bring home a soldier named Private James Ryan during the Normandy invasion in World War II. In the preceding events, a mother had lost three of her four sons in the war, which were Private Ryan’s siblings, and the President of the United States tasked the military to do everything in their power to bring back the remaining son home. As Captain Miller and his men embarked on finding the private, they faced a difficult and deadly journey, with snipers and tanks waiting for them along the way.

Tom Hanks reportedly received $40 million for the movie, which was a substantial amount for the actor at the time—credit to his fame. Hanks was inducted into the United States Army Ranger Hall of Fame as an honorary member in 2006 for his accurate portrayal of a captain in the movie.