Forrest Gump (character) childhood friend Jennifer Curran, who eventually becomes his wife. Tom Hanks portrayed the character in the film and earned an Academy Award for his performance, while Michael Conner Humphreys portrayed Forrest as a child. In 2008, Forrest Gump was named the 20th greatest movie character of all time by "Empire" magazine. Forrest was born near the small town of Greenbow, Alabama, on June 6, 1944. His father was absent during his life, and his mother said he was "on vacation". His mother named Forrest after their ancestor Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Scotch-Irish American and a noted Confederate general in the
Forrest Gump (character) Forrest Gump (character) Forrest Gump is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 1986 novel by Winston Groom, Robert Zemeckis's 1994 film of the same name, and "Gump and Co.", the written sequel to Groom's novel. In the film, Forrest is a philanthropist and former war veteran, businessman, and college football player who bears witness to various significant occurrences in the 20th century. He exudes a compassionate, optimistic, and tenacious attitude in the face of countless setbacks and strives to help every person he meets despite his strong naivety. Throughout his life, he maintains a sincere love for his