Tom Hanks' family offered Greek passport too for fire help

Greece's government is extending its offer of citizenship to Tom Hanks to his wife and ir two children, in recognition of family's help in assisting victims of a dely wildfire near Ans in 2018. Last month, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos signed an horary naturalization order allowing 63-year-old actor, who has spent his recent summer vacations at a family home on Greek island of Antiparos, to claim Greek citizenship.

decision published in a government gazette Tuesday and co-signed by Greek Interior Minister Takis odorikakos revealed that order also includes Hanks' wife, actress and producer Rita Wilson, and ir two sons, Chester and Truman.

wildfire killed more than 100 people in July 2018, sweeping through coastal town of Mati and or nearby resorts east of Ans.

" Hanks family gave a signal all over world for immediate relief actions to help our fire-stricken fellow citizens," order signed on Dec. 27 said. It ded that in ir effort to assist charity efforts y h provided "exceptional services to Greece."

Horary naturalization, under Greek law, may be granted to people “who have provided exceptional services to country or whose naturalization serves public interest.”

Hanks became an Orthodox Christian before his second marri in 1988 to Rita Wilson, who is of Greek and Bulgarian descent.

Hanks, Wilson, and Hollywood producer Gary Goetzman co-produced 2002 romantic comedy, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which received an Acemy Award mination for best original screenplay.

In a post on Instagram last week, Hanks said: "Starting 2020 as an Horary citizen of all of Greece! Kronia pola! (more or less, 'Many years to you!'). Hanx"

post shows show of Hanks holding up his left arm against an ancient Greek statue.