Tom Hanks makes surprise visit to to Bay Area typerwriter store

Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks took a trip to one of the most novel spots in the Bay Area: a typewriter store.

Photos posted on social media by Berkeley Typewriter — which has offered vintage typewriter service repairs for 90 years — showed the star chatting with workers and sitting in front of a black typewriter.

While he was there, Hanks picked up a 1930s Royal machine, the shop said.

The “Forrest Gump” and “Cast Away” star spent an hour in the store testing out its wares before making a purchase, staff said.

According to the shop’s website, Hanks didn’t just buy a typewriter — he gifted the shop a treasured one from his collection.

Photos shows a red typewriter accompanied by a letter from Hanks, both bearing his signature. The gift has been put on display, the shop said.

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The letter from Hanks read, in part: “On one hand, you are taking [it] off my shelves and out in the greater world. On the other hand you are giving me more space and less clutter.

“On the third hand, you just may be giving this miracle of a machine a fuller, newer life of use.”

The actor asked the store to take good care of the typewriter and hopes it continues to operate for another 100 years.

Hanks is a huge fan of typewriters. The actor owns over 300 of them, has been collecting them over 30 years, and was involved in an effort to try to save another similar store, California Typewriter. That business ended up closing in 2020.

“Hanks has spoken about his love for typewriters, saying they have a unique charm and character that can’t be replicated by modern technology. He also enjoys the tactile experience of typing on a typewriter and the sound it makes,” the store said on its website.

Staff told SFGate they were delighted to see Hanks stop by and took photos with him.

“He’s got a really positive attitude, just about everything,” a typewriter technician said.

Known for his “everyman” persona, Hanks is famous for roles in iconic movies including “Big” and “Saving Private Ryan,” as well as the voice of Woody in the “Toy Story” franchise.