NYC taxi driver shares story about how he met Tom Hanks

A taxi driver in New York recently shared the wonderful story about how he met Tom Hanks.

Manny Anzalota, who shared his tale with Humans Of New York's photographer Brandon Stanton, sauid that one night he had just finished one of his shifts on a cold day in mid-January when a man tried to flag him down, News.com.au reported.

The driver said that he had no idea he was talking to the living legend because his face was hidden by a hat, was already late getting the car back to the garage and told him that he could take him to 59th Street, but he said never mind.

The driver had a change of heart upon seeing that the man seemed sad and yelled out to him and told him to get in, the passenger then asked the driver about how his day was.

Anzalota stated that it took him a few minutes to realise who his passenger was and when he recognised the mystery man's voice, he turned around and yelled "WIILLLSSSOOOONNN" upon reaching a red light, to which Hanks immediately cracked up, and the two chatted about education, the cabbie's previous gig working at Sotheby's and his family.

Before leaving, Hanks asked if Anzalota wanted a picture, and the two snapped the now-viral selfie on the Upper East Side streets before the actor handed over a "generous" tip.

But that wasn't the last encounter the two would have, as throughout the next few months, the cabbie picked up people connected to Hanks, including Robert Guy, the wardrobe designer for Lucky Guy, and Christopher McDonald, who played the lawyer in the 2013 Broadway show starring Hanks. Every time, Anzalota would tell them to "let Mr. Hanks know Mr. Ferrari said hello."

The cab driver got a text message inviting him to Hanks show and asking him to bring the Ferrari outfit he wore sop the actor can sign it for him.

When he arrived at the theatre, he got VIP treatment, including backstage passes to meet Hanks again and get his Ferrari shirt and hat signed.