Chet Hanks has spent much of his life attracting attention for being very different from his famous father, Tom Hanks. Now 36, the actor and musician has unveiled another noticeably changed look — complete with a closely shaved head, thick beard and extensive religious tattoos — and viewers quickly began commenting on more than just his appearance.
Chet marked his August 4 birthday with a video reflecting on what 36 years had taught him. Mixing humor with advice, he joked about back pain, taxes and officially reaching “uncle status,” while acknowledging that simply getting older was something worth appreciating. Yet as he spoke, many viewers became distracted by how different he looked and sounded.
One question in particular appeared among the reactions: “What happened to his accent?” Another viewer admitted they couldn’t quite understand his birthday wisdom but still told him he looked good. Others focused on his tattoos, with one person reacting in surprise after noticing his latest addition.
The ink covering Chet’s chest, shoulders, arms and back isn’t purely decorative. One of his most striking pieces is a huge cross across his back, while another dominates his chest. The latter replaced an Eye of Providence tattoo in 2023, when Chet publicly described entering a new chapter centered around his Christian faith.
That transformation followed years in which Chet became known for a series of colorful public personas, from acting and rap music to his viral “White Boy Summer” era and much-discussed use of a patois accent. He eventually admitted that he no longer wanted to live as a caricature of himself and began speaking more openly about authenticity, faith and finding a different direction.
Chet has also revealed that life behind his famous surname wasn’t always easy. During a 2026 podcast appearance, he discussed addiction, rehab and his struggles with self-worth while growing up in the shadow of one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. At one particularly difficult point, he recalled leaving rehab broke and without the career momentum he desperately wanted.
Surprisingly, Chet said learning to appreciate simple things ultimately changed his outlook. Instead of obsessing over success, he began finding gratitude in having somewhere to live, riding his bike or simply waking up to a beautiful day. He claimed opportunities started appearing once he stopped desperately trying to force his career forward.
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Today, Chet says faith has helped him relinquish some of that pressure and trust where life takes him. His enormous crosses have become visible symbols of that change — but after his latest birthday appearance, viewers are still debating the transformation for themselves. Between his dramatically different look, tattoos and the way he speaks, Tom Hanks’s son certainly gave people plenty to notice.
