Tom Hanks' Most Overlooked Masterclass Is in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can

Tom Hanks usually gets remembered for his back-to-back Oscar wins—‘Philadelphia’ and ‘Forrest Gump’ aren’t leaving the montage reels any time soon. But if you’re only focusing on Hanks the awards juggernaut, you’re kind of missing out on his other greatest creative partnership: Steven Spielberg. These two have bounced around WWII together, made us dodge bullets on the beaches of Normandy, and given us one of TV’s all-time best miniseries with ‘Band of Brothers’. But there’s one Hanks-Spielberg team-up that, for my money, never gets its due: ‘Catch Me If You Can’.

When Tom Hanks Stepped Back So Leo Could Run Wild

‘Catch Me If You Can’ hit theaters in 2002, and while Leonardo DiCaprio grabbed headlines as the real-life con man Frank Abagnale Jr., Hanks quietly stole scenes as the guy chasing him—FBI agent Carl Hanratty (big glasses, Boston accent, hat that he probably stole from the department’s lost and found). Hanks was so good at blending in that a lot of fans still don’t appreciate how sharp (and different) his performance actually is. And honestly, after nearly a quarter-century, the subtlety of what Hanks does in this supporting role really stands out—sometimes the quiet ones are the real MVPs.

The Backstory: Hanks Actually Asked to Join the Cast

Spielberg and Hanks didn’t just toss a dart at a casting board to get things rolling. Hanks read Jeff Nathanson’s script as a sample and, classic Hanks, called Spielberg himself to ask if he could play Hanratty. According to Hanks, he told Spielberg: 'I really know who this guy is.' Not every A-lister offers himself up for a supporting role, especially when DiCaprio’s clearly set up as the star, but Hanks even called Leo directly to make sure he wouldn’t be stepping on toes. Here’s how Hanks put it:

'Is it an imposition for me to be in this movie, which is clearly your film? You’re carrying it. Would it be an imposition upon you if I played the FBI agent?'

If you ever need a lesson in professional humility, there it is.

So, Who Was Carl Hanratty?

The real Frank Abagnale Jr. was a master at lying his way through jobs he had no business doing—pilot, doctor, lawyer, you name it—all before he could legally rent a car. The FBI agent on his trail in real life was Joseph Shae, and Hanratty in the film is a loose interpretation of Shae. This wasn’t just cat-and-mouse stuff; as the story unfolds, there’s an actual bond that develops between pursuer and pursued. Hanks sells this relationship by playing Hanratty as a worn-down but deeply decent pencil pusher. He’s exhausted, yes, but he’s got a rooting interest in young Frank, too.

• The film: 'Catch Me If You Can' (2002) – A brisk, surprisingly funny crime caper about a kid outsmarting the grown-ups.
• Hanks’s role: Carl Hanratty, the eye-bagged FBI guy who becomes both tormentor and weird father figure to Frank.
• Based on: The real cat-and-mouse game between Frank Abagnale Jr. and FBI Agent Joseph Shae.
• Supporting cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (Frank), Christopher Walken, Amy Adams, Martin Sheen (yes, really).

Why Hanks’s Performance Actually Rules

Now, Spielberg called Hanks 'a chameleon', and that label fits. Before he went full dramatic, Hanks was the king of likeable comic leads. But here, he's doing something sneakier. The movie is plenty funny in a dry, tight-lipped way—Hanks deadpanning his way through a pile of paperwork and a chorus of disbelieving coworkers. He lets Leo strut around and keeps Hanratty almost invisible by choice.

'He’s a chameleon. He has amazing range. This is the first movie I think he’s ever been in where he has made a meal of anonymity, because he’s so anonymous for so long in the picture. He doesn’t steal any scenes; he’s not trying to out-act anybody. He’s just trying to play this pencil pusher whose own FBI agents don’t believe all this effort is worth the trouble he’s going through.’ — Spielberg

And Spielberg’s right—the restraint is the point. Hanks burrows into the role so deep, half the time you forget he’s one of the most recognizable stars on the planet. There’s not a shred of leading man ego; he fully hands the stage to DiCaprio, layers on the earnestness, and never once oversells it. In a movie full of bravado, Hanks is the anchor, and the film’s better for it.

So next time you watch 'Catch Me If You Can', pay special attention to Hanks’s performance. It’s less showy, more lived-in, and honestly, it’s what makes that movie click. Not all legends need the spotlight.