Sleepless in Seattle Child Actor Ross Malinger Says He and Tom Hanks Had ‘Natural Chemistry’ as Father and Son

Ross Malinger is looking back on his bond with Tom Hanks.

Malinger was 8 years old when he starred in Sleepless in Seattle as Jonah, the son of protagonist Sam (Hanks), who set his father up with Annie (Meg Ryan).

Now at 42, Malinger is reflecting on his lasting friendship with Hanks, 69.

“We genuinely cared about each other,” Malinger told Entertainment Weekly. “That natural chemistry allowed me to really bring a lot of intensity and emotion to Jonah’s character.”

While filming Sleepless in Seattle, Hanks was “always joking around and making me laugh,” Malinger said. He recalled one off-screen moment at the fish market where Hanks kept grabbing fish, moving their mouths and “making them say goofy things.”

Once the filming and press run had concluded, Hanks invited Malinger to two other premieres — his 1993 film Philadelphia and his 1996 film That Thing You Do.

After Sleepless in Seattle, Malinger landed over 20 roles in TV and film before leaving Hollywood behind. He had a recurring role on CBS’s Good Advice and Warner Brothers’ Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher, plus shorter appearances on Party of Five, Seinfeld, The Simple Life and Touched by an Angel. His last on-screen role was in a 2006 episode of Without a Trace.

Malinger has since tried on a number of hats, including classic-car restorer, computer repair business owner and finance manager for a car dealership.

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Still, with his acting days largely behind him, Malinger holds dear his time on Sleepless in Seattle and his special bond with Hanks.

“Tom and I worked together in harmony, and ultimately that is what I believe made this film a classic,” Malinger told the outlet.