Some actors pursue a career in acting because they want to be famous, or rich, or because they're attracted to the world of celebrity. In Tom Hanks's case, it was almost a form of therapy. He describes himself as being a 'Bible toting, painfully shy nerd' when he was young, and only really found solace in theaters. He would buy tickets, travel and go to see theater shows alone, studying the works of the greats.
Unsurprisingly, he studied theater at California State University. Quite surprisingly, he didn't stick around to finish the course. At the suggestion of actor and director Vincent Dowling, Hanks took an internship at the Great Lakes Theater Festival. Becoming more and more engrossed in the internship, he eventually dropped out of classes and focused his time on learning all there was to know about theater, from the lighting to the stage management.