Tom Hanks has paid tribute to Jim Lovell, the NASA astronaut he portrayed in Ron Howard’s 1995 film Apollo 13, who has died at 97.
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Lovell was the commander of the ill-fated mission to the Moon in 1970, and on Thursday (August 7), it was confirmed that he passed away at the age of 97 in Lake Forest, Illinois.
56 hours into the Apollo 13 mission, an oxygen tank exploded, crippling power and life support. The Moon landing was aborted as the three-man crew – Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise – used the lunar module as a lifeboat, rationing power and water. They improvised, catapulting themselves around the far side of the Moon, splashing down safely on Earth after 142 hours in space, in what has been described as NASA’s most “successful failure”.
The dramatic events were depicted memorably in Apollo 13, with Hanks reciting Lovell’s immortal line, “Houston, we have a problem”, in the film.
The actor shared a tribute on Instagram on Friday (August 8), writing: “There are people who dare, who dream and who lead others to the places 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.”
“His many voyages around the 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. Godspeed you, on this next voyage, Jim Lovell.”
Apollo 13 director Ron Howard also issued a statement. “Rest in peace, Commander Lovell,” he wrote. “Navy test pilot, Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and, of course, Apollo 13. 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.”
Brian Grazer, who produced the film, added: “Jim Lovell was a true American hero whose courage, intellect and grace under pressure inspired a nation. 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.”
Apollo 13 was a major box office success in 1995, earning more than $300million at the global box office and racking up nine Oscar nominations, winning two.