Fears for Tom Hanks’s health as Hollywood megastar appears unable to control his shaking right hand

Tom Hanks sparked concern among his fans earlier this month, as he appeared to be struggling to contain the shaking of his arm.

The 65-year-old is in the midst of a promotional whirlwind for Baz Luhrmann’s biopic of Elvis, in which Hanks stars as the singer’s manager.

Luhrmann, who was born in Sydney, arranged for an Australian premiere to be held in the city of Gold Coast, 50 miles south of Brisbane, where the filming took place.

Austin Butler, 30, who stars as The King, was at the June 4 event along with Hanks.

‘There is no better place in the world to make a motion picture than right here on the Gold Coast,’ he said, microphone in his right hand, and left hand in his pocket.

Tom Hanks, 65, is seen speaking on June 4 at the Australian premier of Elvis, in the city of Gold Coast. He clasped the microphone with two hands at one point, to try and stop the shaking

The two-time winner of the best actor Oscar, Hanks delighted the crowd in Gold Coast with his speech referencing filming in their city

Hanks plays Tom Parker, Elvis’s manager, in the film, with Austin Butler starring as Presley

‘I’ve shot films in Morocco and Los Angeles and New York City and Seattle and in Berlin. 

‘None of them have what the Gold Coast have, and what is that? Two words. None of those other cities have Dan Murphy,’ he said, referencing the chain of liquor stores, Dan Murphy’s.

‘What a man, who I got to know quite well,’ he said, to applause.

As his hand shook, Hanks tried to control it, by placing his left hand at the bottom of the microphone, below his right.

He also attempted briefly to switch hands.

Luhrmann can be seen listening in as Hanks addresses the crowd in Gold Coast, 50 miles south of Brisbane

Hanks several times tried to put two hands on the microphone, to stop the shaking

Hanks told the crowd in Gold Coast how much they had all enjoyed filming in Australia

Hanks is seen with his wife Rita Wilson at the Oscars in February 2020

The audience did not appear to notice, however, as Hanks delighted them by declaring: ‘We had an absolutely magnificent time with you all. 

‘There is something about the people and the place of the Gold Coast that makes everyone walk around with a confident look on their face. We were a part of that. 

‘Your confidence, joy and zest for life comes through in our motion picture.’

He added: ‘You have a wonderful proactive golden son in Baz Luhrmann who loves Australia more than kangaroos, more than Dan Murphy.’

Hanks famously played a Second World War soldier with PTSD in Saving Private Ryan, whose hands visibly shook due to the immense stress he had endured.

At one point, Hanks’s character, Captain Miller, tells Sergeant Horvath that the shaking ‘comes and goes.’ 

Horvath replies: ‘You may have to get yourself a new line of work. This one doesn’t seem to agree with you anymore.’

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Hanks’s character in the 1998 Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan shakes due to PTSD

Hanks is seen on June 13 at Graceland with (from left): Olivia De Jonge, who plays Priscilla; Austin Butler, director Baz Luhrmann, and SiriusXm host Jess Cagle

Following the Australian premier, Hanks flew back to the United States, where the film was screened at Graceland on June 11.

‘The only reason I’m here, it’s been done right,’ said Lisa Marie Presley, praising Luhrmann’s and Butler’s interpretations of her father’s story. 

‘I was quite young, but I still remember my father’s energy and his vibe. 

‘And Austin, he — what’s the word? — he nailed it.’

She said Butler’s success in the role was a contrast to previous attempts at Elvis onscreen.

‘In my life, it’s been one disappointment after another, in terms of people portraying my father. 

‘Bless their hearts, I’m sure they meant well.’