Tom Hanks' mother has died.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks

The 60-year-old actor paid a touching tribute to Janet Marylyn Frager on Tuesday (12.07.16) in which he praised the "beauty" for making a difference to a number of people.

Alongside a picture of his mom in her younger years, he wrote on Instagram: "This beauty? My mom. She was the difference in many lives. Many lives. We say goodbye to her today. Safe crossing, mom! Hanx."

A few hours later, the 'Saving Mr Banks' actor posted another image of the State Theatre in Red Bluff, California, recalling happy memories as he and Janet watched many movies there when he was younger.

The post read: "Red Bluff, California. Saw many movies here with our Mom. Thanks for all who came to see her off. Hanx."

Tom's wife Rita Wilson also took to social media to pay tribute to her late mother-in-law.

Alongside a picture of her spouse and his parent, she wrote: "This wonderful lady gave birth to my husband, and three other children. Thank you for bringing my love into the world. She is at peace now."

In May, Tom was brought to tears as he recalled the loneliness of his "vagabond" childhood.

The 'Saving Private Ryan' star and two of his siblings lived with their chef father Amos - who died in 1992 - after their parents split up and lived in two houses in five years.

Choosing the theme to '2001: A Space Odyssey' on 'Desert Island Discs', Tom - whose youngest brother Jim stayed with their mother after the split - recalled: "This was the 'wow' moment going from kid trying to figure out what's interesting to young man yearning to be an artist.

"I started asking myself... how do I find the vocabulary for what's rattling around in my head.

"Not long after I started going to the American Conservatory Theatre by myself to see plays I had no idea even existed."

Asked what the feelings in his head were, he grew tearful and said: "What have you done to me?

"No, it's all right, because I put too much thought into this list. What it was, it was the vocabulary of loneliness."