President Obama was especially boisterous in his praise of Tom Hanks as he saluted new Kennedy Center honorees Hanks, Lily Tomlin, Sting, Al Green and ballerina Patricia McBride at a White House reception Sunday just prior to a Kennedy Center Honors event featuring celebrity tributes to the nominees.
Obama turned several times to Hanks, not always seriously.
“Tom’s career began just like so many Hollywood legends — dressing in drag for a show called ‘Bosom Buddies,’ kung-fu fighting The Fonz on ‘Happy Days.’” Obama said to laughter, before going on to note that Hanks “won our hearts” in comedies like “Big” and “Splash.”