In a new reflection on one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time, Ross Malinger, the child actor who played the matchmaking son in Sleepless in Seattle, is opening up about his genuine bond with co-star Tom Hanks. Now 42, Malinger recalls how their off-screen connection translated to the “natural chemistry” that made the film a classic.
Malinger, who was just 8 years old during production, played Jonah Baldwin, the determined son of Hanks’ grieving widower, Sam. In a recent interview, he shared that his relationship with Hanks was far more than a professional one. “We genuinely cared about each other,” Malinger said, adding that this bond allowed him to bring “a lot of intensity and emotion to Jonah’s character.”
The former actor shared a touching and humorous anecdote from the set, recalling an off-camera moment at the fish market. As they waited for a scene to begin, Hanks, ever the playful jokester, began picking up different fish, moving their mouths, and making them “say goofy things” to make him laugh. These small, impromptu moments helped forge the authentic on-screen relationship between the father and son.
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Their connection continued long after filming wrapped. Hanks invited Malinger to the premieres of his other hit films, including Philadelphia in 1993 and That Thing You Do! in 1996. This lasting friendship underscores the heartfelt warmth that radiated from their performances in the film.
Now a family man and no longer in the acting business, Malinger works as a finance manager for a car dealership. Yet, he looks back on his time with Hanks and director Nora Ephron fondly. He recalls a conversation with Ephron after filming a particularly dramatic father-son fight scene, where she told him she knew then that the movie was going to be “very special.” Malinger credits their collaboration, stating, “Tom and I worked together in harmony, and ultimately that is what I believe made this film a classic.“
