Audio By Carbonatix
Tom Hanks has a new penpal: an 8-year-old Australian boy called Corona, who says he has been bullied because of his name.
Corona DeVries, from Queensland, first wrote to the actor and his wife, Rita Wilson, after hearing that they had tested positive for coronavirus while in Australia.
In his letter, shown on-air Thursday by Australian news channel 9News, DeVries wrote: "I heard on the news you and your wife have caught the coronavirus. Are you ok?"
Earlier this month, DeVries told 9News that he had recently been called "coronavirus" at school.
"Coronavirus -- they kept on saying that, and I get really mad," he said. So he wrote to Hanks and Wilson, wishing them well and saying he knows what it's like to feel down.
It wasn't long before Hanks, who was the voice of "Woody" the sheriff in the "Toy Story" movies, responded -- sending DeVries a typewritten letter and the Corona-brand typewriter he had brought with him and used in Australia.
Hanks addressed his note to "Friend Corona" and expressed his gratitude for the 8-year-old's concern about his and Wilson's health.

Hanks addressed his note to "Friend Corona" and expressed his gratitude for the 8-year-old's concern about his and Wilson's health.
"Thank you for being such a good friend -- friends make their friends feel good when they are down," he added.
The actor also wrote: "I thought this typewriter would suit you.. Ask a grown up how it works. And use it to write me back."
He even included some self-addressed envelopes, to make DeVries' task a little easier.
And at the bottom of his letter, Hanks added the handwritten postscript "You got a friend in me!" -- the name of the "Toy Story" theme song.
Hanks and Wilson spent time in self-quarantine at their home in Australia after being released from hospital last month.
The couple were in Australia for pre-production work on a Baz Luhrmann film about Elvis Presley. Hanks is set to play the singer's manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
The pair returned home to Los Angeles in late March.
Latest Stories
-
Government has improved sanitation in one-and-a-half years — Salaga South MP
3 hours -
Nkwanta North Assembly to appear before Parliament over DACF sanitation spending
4 hours -
Mourinho prints out ‘red card’ incidents after Real lose derby
4 hours -
Atletico beat 10-man Real in feisty Madrid derby
4 hours -
Twelve Tribes of Israel Ghana to mark 40 years with anniversary celebration
5 hours -
GPL 2026/27: Hearts held by Bechem as Kotoko, Samartex share spoils
5 hours -
My Story (Kwaku Antwi-Boasiako)
5 hours -
We expect growth rate to re-accelerate in second-half of 2026 – IC Insights
5 hours -
The ungodliness and unrighteousness underlying the National Cathedral mess!
5 hours -
T-bills auction: Government fails to achieve target; yield on 91-day-bill remains unchanged
5 hours -
It’s Ghana’s shame to denigrate Nkrumah when the whole world honours him as African of the Century – Asiedu Nketiah
6 hours -
No other nationalist can compare to Nkrumah – Asiedu Nketiah
6 hours -
Collateral Registry: Foreign banks accounted for GH¢19.9bn of secured credit in quarter 2, 2026
6 hours -
This government should expect scrutiny – Asiedu Nketiah
6 hours -
Two-year-old girl dies in domestic fire at Cantonments
7 hours