Tom Hanks once starved for Philadelphia, but Denzel Washington still didn’t hold back on pranks

Back in the Philadelphia days, Tom Hanks was not only transforming into Andrew Beckett, but also saw some memorable assaults from Denzel Washington. While Hanks had to shed nearly thirty pounds to look lean enough for courtroom scenes, Washington decided to make the process, shall we say, a little more “fun” for him.

During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Washington reminisced about their time in Philadelphia and recalled the pranks that made Hanks’ extreme diet trial even more difficult. “It was extreme,” Washington said. “He only ate 800 calories a day and he lost a lot of weight.”

And what was Washington’s idea of ​​support? He would leave candy bars. He sneezed and suddenly 500 almond joys flew out. Oh, and let’s not forget the pizzas. Washington wanted pizzas delivered right in front of Hanks, just to twist the knife – or rather the stomach.

But here’s the twist: despite these borderline torturous pranks, Hanks eventually thanked Washington during his Oscar acceptance speech for Philadelphia. By winning his first Oscar for that role, Hanks showed that even in the midst of pranks and starvation diets, respect and camaraderie were the real things.

While Hanks learned to look emaciated for the role, Washington had to bulk up. Tom Hanks almost starved himself, while Denzel Washington enjoyed eating chocolate bars – right in Hanks’ face. It was a weight-gaining contrast that created a memorable friendship dynamic.

In addition to the antics, Hanks got a masterclass in acting from Washington. Speaking to The Irish Times, Hanks said that sitting next to Washington for the Philadelphia courtroom scenes felt like a high-stakes acting camp. “I had no dialogue. It was an actor-class thriller,” Hanks said. “He follows no rules, but pursues the moment. No bullshit, but a looseness that can’t be faked. A one-on-one scene with him is a game of hardball catch—he both dares you to follow along and drives you to do more.”

Hanks didn’t just deal with weight loss challenges and pranks; he also absorbed lessons from an acting giant. Hanks described Denzel Washington as a force to be reckoned with, calling him, “He’s our Brando. Nicholson. Olivier.” That is high praise. And in true Hanks fashion, he even joked about Washington’s antics. “Like me, he steals office supplies and notebooks from the set,” Hanks said.

So while Philadelphia became a film about love, loss and injustice, it also became a story of resilience, camaraderie and the unexpected experiences that come from working with a talent like Denzel Washington. Tom Hanks’ Oscar moment wasn’t just about career success; it was about surviving the gauntlet of a friendship filled with pranks, weight loss, and a deep respect for an iconic co-star who was willing to push the boundaries of friendship—and acting—at every turn.

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