Flick Fact: Which actor's brother is an expert on beetles that recently killed ash trees in Bloomington-Normal?
Question: The emerald ash borer beetle is responsible for the recent death of thousands, if not millions, of ash trees across Central Illinois. A leading expert in America of such wood-boring insects is in Urbana; he's a ranking professor at the University of Illinois who is famous in his field worldwide as an entomologist. Although he is famous, his younger brother is even moreso. Do you know the professor and his brother?
Answer: At the University of Illinois, Lawrence Hanks, 73, is a professor of 30 years and ranking entomologist with doctorate in entomology. He is also head of Hanks Lab in Urbana. But his brother, Thomas Hanks, 69, is probably more famous. While Lawrence Hanks is better known as Larry, Thomas is better known as Tom Hanks, the actor and two-time Oscar winner.
------------
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 2:34 PM.