Michael Conner Humphreys, who played young Forrest, gave a performance that touched many viewers. But instead of pursuing a Hollywood career after the film’s success, he took a different path. Humphreys joined the U.S. Army, proudly serving his country and completing a tour overseas.
Michael Conner Humphreys’ role in Forrest Gump (1994)
Michael Conner Humphreys was born on March 1, 1985, in the picturesque town of Independence, Mississippi. In 1993, at just eight years old, he auditioned for a role that called for “a young Tom Hanks with light eyes and a quirky disposition.” This role, as you might have guessed, was for the film Forrest Gump.
Humphreys was chosen to portray young Forrest Gump, and his unmistakable Southern accent brought an added layer of authenticity to the character. Tom Hanks even took extra steps to perfect the accent of young Forrest to accurately portray the older version of the character. Humphreys’ performance earned him a nomination at the 16th Youth in Film Awards, where he was recognized alongside his co-stars Hanna Hall and Haley Joel Osment.
Humphreys chose not to pursue acting
Outside of high school productions; an uncredited role in the 2003 television movie, A Painted House; the World War II-era independent film, Pathfinders: In the Company of Strangers; and an episode of Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us, Humphreys has largely stayed out of Hollywood, opting to pursue other endeavors.
Speaking about his decision to not pursue acting, Humphreys once said, “My parents allowed me to make my own choices, and they never pressured me to pursue more acting opportunities. I was more interested in having fun and playing with my friends. School was important to me, so I wasn’t actively seeking more roles.”
Service with the US Army
Michael Conner Humphreys enlisted in the U.S. Army around 2004 or 2005, shortly after finishing high school. His decision was shaped by two key influences: his family’s military service and the impact of Forrest Gump, especially the film’s depiction of war. A visit to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, set up by Paramount Pictures, also deepened his resolve to serve.
He went through Basic Training at Fort Benning in Georgia—now known as Fort Moore—before being assigned to Germany. From there, he deployed to Iraq’s Anbar province with the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, for an 18-month tour.
His unit faced heavy combat and suffered around 100 casualties during their deployment.
The Army helped him develop
Following his deployment overseas, Humphreys was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, before leaving the service in June 2008. In an interview with the Associated Press, he revealed that his time in the US Army was “a good experience and you saw a lot of bad things, a lot of people got hurt over there. There was definitely a lot of violence. I just hope that we did some good. In the end, I learned a lot and I hope it made me a better person.”
He added in an interview with The Bona Venture, “I’ve never known anyone with that kind of camaraderie or a group that helped me develop than the people in the Army.”
Michael Conner Humphreys has readjusted to civilian life
Although he left acting behind years ago, Humphreys is still remembered for his role as young Forrest Gump in the Oscar-winning movie. Fans often ask for his autograph on movie memorabilia, even though he doesn’t attend fan conventions. In 2019, he reunited with his on-screen mom, Sally Field, and the heartwarming moment was shared on Instagram.