This is What’s Trending Today:
Elizabeth Murphy and Ryan Barclay were posing for wedding photos along a path in New York City’s Central Park.
It was already an exciting day in their lives.
Murphy was wearing a beautiful, white wedding dress. Barclay was wearing a formal black suit called a tuxedo.
And then, actor Tom Hanks showed up. He was exercising in the park. He was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and a sweatshirt.
The couple was surprised when he walked up and introduced himself. He said, “Hi, I’m Tom Hanks.”
Elizabeth asked, “Can we get a photo with you?”
And he said, “By all means.”
Video and photos from the encounter are being shared on social media this week.
Hanks is one of the most popular movie actors of all time. He is known for playing Forrest Gump; a stranded traveler on a small island in “Cast Away”; and Woody the cowboy in the “Toy Story” animated films.
His current film, “Sully,” is the top new movie in the U.S. It tells the true story of pilot who safely landed a commercial airplane on the Hudson River near New York City after both engines failed.
Hanks posed with the couple, kissed the bride on the hand and cheek, and even took a selfie with his own phone.
The meeting took just over a minute.
One person in the group invited Hanks to the wedding, saying, “We have extra seats.” But the actor declined, saying, “I think I have a dinner engagement.”
On Facebook, many people praised Hanks for being so friendly.
One person wrote: “Such a gem of a human being.”
Others joked about Hanks’ many movie roles.
One man wrote: “This guy is amazing! I saw on TV that he landed a plane on the Hudson River and now he’s crashing wedding pictures, pretty cool guy.”
One woman posted a photo she took with Hanks at a Los Angeles restaurant. She wrote: “Tom Hanks is such a nice guy!”
And that’s What’s Trending Today.
Words in This Story
formal – adj. requiring or using serious and proper clothes and manners
encounter – n. a meeting that is not planned or expected
strand – v. to cause (something, such as a boat or a sea animal) to become stuck on land — usually used as (be) stranded
animated – adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another : produced through the process of animation
selfie – n. a picture that you take of yourself especially by using the camera on your smartphone
engagement – n. a promise to meet or be present at a particular place and time
gem – adj. excellent or admirable
crash – v. to go to (a party) without being invited