Tom Hanks has never been like other Hollywood celebrities.

Though he first made his mark donning a dress in the 1980s sitcom “Bosom Buddies,” Mr. Hanks became America’s everyman thanks to a goofy, relatable on-screen persona that never seemed all that different from his off-screen personality. And even as he rose from TV actor to movie star to two-time Academy Award winner, his humble attitude seemed to remain the same.

[Update: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are released from the hospital.]

“You would never know from Tom if he has $1,000 or $1. He’s just that person,” said Michael Rosenberg, the co-chairman of Imagine Entertainment, the studio that produced “The Da Vinci Code” and other projects with Mr. Hanks. “He’s smart, authentic, real and honest. It’s hard to find all of those things in one person these days.”

So when Mr. Hanks announced on Wednesday night that he and his wife, the actress Rita Wilson, had tested positive for the coronavirus, the reaction was swift and emotional. The pandemic might mangle the stock markets, shut down colleges and bring worldwide travel to a halt. But infecting the beloved Tom Hanks? That was too far, especially for many people who have not been personally affected by the spread of the virus.