Point Park grads capture picture-perfect moment with Tom Hanks in Pittsburgh

Danette Levers changed her Facebook profile picture at 7:34 a.m. Friday.

There’s a pretty good chance she won’t ever change it again.

She waited for months to upload that photo of her standing next to Tom Hanks. She idolizes the actor. She can recite most of his movie lines from the likes of “Big” and “Forrest Gump.”

Levers finally met Hanks in Pittsburgh. Her best friend Missy Finnell captured the moment in a photo.

Levers wasn’t allowed to upload it until the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” premiered nationwide last week. Hanks plays Pittsburgh’s favorite neighbor, the late Fred Rogers. The connection between Levers and Hanks began when she was 13 years old. Her father had died. She turned to watching Hanks’ films to help her through her grief.

Levers and Finnell, Washington natives, have been friends since they were kids. They were roommates at Point Park University.

Finnell is a casting associate for Pittsburgh’s Donna Belajac Casting and worked on the film. Levers found about the filming of the movie before her friend, because of her fondness for Hanks.

Finnell said she contacted Dawn Keezer from the Pittsburgh Film Office to get details about the movie and filming locations in Pittsburgh. Finnell was able to get on the set during an evening shoot at WQED in Oakland.

“The set was amazing,” said Finnell. “It was the scene of make believe. It was vintage Mister Rogers, and as if he was there.”

Then Hanks walked by.

“I saw Tom Hanks with my own eyes,” said Levers. “I was so happy just to see him. I didn’t say anything because I was just trying to take it all in.”

Hanks passed them several times. At one point, Finnell and the movie’s director Marielle Heller were chatting. Finnell introduced Heller to Levers, and Hanks said “Who do we have here?”

Heller introduced Finnell to Hanks.

Finnell, in turn, introduced her best friend to the actor, telling him: “This is my friend Danette and she is truly your biggest fan,” Finnell said. “Hands down. She lost her dad when she was young, and she really turned to your films for comfort. Would it be OK if I got a picture of you two together? Tom gave a big smile and said, ‘Well, I think we have to.’”

Levers was thrilled.

“It was an out-of-body experience,” Levers said. “It’s not every day you get to thank someone for being there for you. After he walked away I collapsed in the chair. I told Missy if something happens to me on the way home know I am happy. Some people wait their whole lives to meet their idol and never get to meet him or her.”

Finnell said Hanks was very complimentary of Pittsburgh and took the Mister Rogers role very seriously.

“Eventually, he was pulled away to change for the final scene of the evening, but he mentioned how nice it was to meet us,” Finnell said. “I will never forget that night. I will never forget watching Danette meet her idol. And I will never forget Mr. Hanks’ kindness. He is a wonderful actor, but he is by far an even better person.”