In theaters, Tom Hanks was making a crash landing in Sully. In Central Park, he was crashing a wedding.
On September 24, Elisabeth Murphy ’11 and her new husband, Ryan Barclay, were strolling through the park with their photographer and videographer when Hanks, who was out for a run, casually jogged up behind them.
“Hi, I’m Tom Hanks,” he said, extending his hand to Murphy and her beaux. It took the bride a second to register what was happening before she exclaimed, “Oh my God!” and asked for a photo. “Elizabeth [different spelling] is my daughter’s name,” he said after she introduced herself. He told Barclay, “You’re a lucky man.”
As the couple posed for pics with the legendary actor, a member of their wedding party told Hanks, “We have extra seats.” He declined the invitation, saying he had a dinner engagement, but joked: “I am an ordained minister. If the guy cancels, just let me know.”
After taking a selfie with his phone, Hanks kissed Murphy on the cheek, wished the newlyweds good luck, and walked off. “We just peaked,” Murphy gushed to her family and friends.
Now in a league of their own, the couple made a big splash online — the photos appeared everywhere from Buzzfeed to the BBC.
— Aleta Mayne