Tom Hanks Honors Astronaut Jim Lovell, Who He Portrayed in ‘Apollo 13’: ‘God Speed You, on This Next Voyage’

Tom Hanks has shared a tribute to James A. Lovell, the astronaut he portrayed in the 1995 feature “Apollo 13.” Lovell died Thursday at the age of 97. The film, directed by Ron Howard, starred Hanks as Lovell and dramatized the Apollo 13 lunar mission, which faced an explosion after launching and forced NASA scientists to improvise solutions to return its crew safely to Earth.

“There are people who dare, who dream, and who lead others to the place we would not go on our own. Jim Lovell, who for a long while had gone farther into space and for longer than any other person of our planet, was that kind of guy,” Hanks wrote in a tribute shared on his social media platforms. “His many voyages around Earth and on to so-very-close to the moon were not made for riches or celebrity, but because such challenges as those are what fuels the course of being alive — and who better than Jim Lovell to make those voyages.”

“On this night of a full Moon, he passes on — to the heavens, to the cosmos, to the stars. God speed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell,” the statement finishes.

Howard also shared a statement honoring Lovell, as did his “Apollo 13” producer Brian Grazer.

“Rest in peace, Commander Lovell. Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13,” Howard wrote. “Simply knowing Jim has been a tremendous honor. His combination of intellect, courage and commitment to duty made him one of the most remarkable individuals I’ve ever met. His support of our movie-making efforts inspired authenticity and elevated our process in so many ways. Thank you, sir, for your service to our country and to humankind.”

“Jim Lovell was a true American hero whose courage, intellect, and grace under pressure inspired a nation,” Grazer wrote. “He was not only a legend in space exploration, but also an incredibly generous, kind and inspiring man. Thank you, Commander Lovell, for showing us the best of what we can be.”

Lovell died Thursday in Illinois. He was 97. Along with Apollo 13, he was a veteran of three other spaceflights: Gemini VII, Gemini XII and Apollo 8.

Released by Universal in June 1995 as a summer tentpole, “Apollo 13” drew critical acclaim for its recreation of the nearly tragic mission and the nose-to-the-grindstone labor that saved lives. The film earned $355 million globally against a $52 million production budget, ranking as the third-highest-grossing global release of its year. It earned nine Academy Award nominations, including in best picture, and won two prizes, in best film editing and best sound. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, “Apollo 13” is re-releasing to Imax theaters on Sept. 19.