- Uses his real badge, ID, handcuffs, and sidearm on Atlanta Homicide.
- In the "Open Eyes" episode of Atlanta Homicide, a copy of one of his novels is lying on the secretary's desk in front of him, as he talks to her.
- Founder and chief conservation officer of the only eastern redwood forest in America, the Crescent Ridge Dawn Redwoods Preserve.
- Is a published author of several books.
- Is a legally ordained minister.
- Recipient of the Ronald Reagan Gold Medal award in 2005.
- Received a certificate of merit from President Gerald R. Ford in 1975 for environmental protection achievement.
- Has donated over 11 gallons of blood, saving more than 300 lives.
- The character of Tom Berncliff on Atlanta Homicide was derived from the street he lived on as a child (Berncliff Dr.), and the fact that so many people accidentally call him Tom Hanks, he responds to the name.
- Has run for public office at large.
- Was Jeff Gordon's stand-in for a series of pizza commercials in 2005.
- Has been riding motorcycles since 1990. In 1993, he built a café racer which took a first place trophy in the 1st Annual Blue Knights Bike Show in Wallingford, CT in September of 1994.
- Is licensed to drive a tractor-trailer.
- Developed his glaring, burn-a-hole-through-a-diamond, trademark stare from the pilot episode of Highlander: the Series, where Duncan MacLeod glares intently at Richie in the police precinct for what seems like forever. Having seen the episode a few days earlier, he used this same intense stare while doing an interrogation room scene in Atlanta Homicide, where he was filling in as an extra detective. This no-nonsense glare, and an improvised full length quote of the Miranda rights, landed him the role of Detective Tom Berncliff on the show.
- Appeared in an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos in 2002, as the presenter of a giant engagement ring made from a hula hoop. The footage was submitted in 1999, and by the time the episode aired three years later, he was already divorced. His ex-wife taped the show, and sent him a copy.
- Is related to both former Secretary of State Cordell Hull, and infamous Cardiff Giant hoaxer, George Hull.
- Turned down black tie dinner invitations in Washington DC with President George W. Bush, twice.
- Created the only Eastern redwood forest in America, and the sole wild dawn redwood forest outside of China.
- Was hired as a "private contractor," for a tour of duty in New Orleans, after Hurricane Katrina.
- Family ancestors founded the towns of Hanks Hill, Connecticut and Hanksville, Utah.
- Visited all 48 contiguous states by the time he was 23 years old.
- Is a licensed Life, Accident and Health insurance agent.
- One of the leading authorities in the world, on the critically endangered dawn redwood. His photographs of dawn redwoods have appeared in magazines, and are featured on a permanent exhibit at the Leo Carillo Ranch State Park in Carlsbad, CA.
- A licensed life and health insurance broker in North Carolina when he is not working on set. (March 2009)
- Has type AB- (Rh negative) blood. This is the rarest blood type, and is found in less than 1% of the population. Rh negative blood mysteriously appeared in a sequestered area of Europe, and allows the body to more functionally exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs; allowing the ability to ascend higher altitudes.
- Has synesthesia. Synesthetes have the ability to use all portions of their brains at once, resulting in in higher than normal IQs and greater creativity. Some examples include: Duke Ellington, Rush Limbaugh, Billy Joel, Marilyn Monroe and Lorde.
- Has an intriguing eye color combination known as segmental heterochromia; sometimes referred to as sectoral heterochromia, where areas of the same iris contains two completely different colors. D.A. Hänks has the most coveted color combination of all: an inner circle of gold, ringed with an outer circle of deep green. This combination is most commonly known as "cat eyes" or "Del Gato," but because of the gold and dollar bill green combination, is also sometimes referred to as "money eyes."
Segmental heterochromia is rare in humans. It is estimated that only about 1% of the population have it. - Ran for Mecklenburg County Soil and Water District Supervisor in 2012, garnering 109, 053 votes; the third-highest number of votes in the county.
- Is widely recognized as one of the leading experts in the world, on the critically-endangered dawn redwood. His research has rewritten many of the earlier "facts" that are now known to be false.
- Has an IQ of 138.
- A talented writer, he has the ability to write both fiction and non-fiction equally well, along with scripts and screenplays.
- Coined the nomenclature, "fire control pocket" in his book, "The Workbench AR15 Project;" a term that is now commonly accepted regarding the AR15 rifle.
- Has been hit twice by small meteorites, and accidentally caught a third while carrying a plastic Tote. The latter is what launched his obsession with finding meteorites in urban locations, as opposed to desert plains and dry lake beds. #2 and #3 remain in his possession.
- Is an avid meteorite hunter, seeking out fallen space rocks in urban locations.
- Cuts his own hair.
- Is the author of several books, including "The Workbench AR15 Project," which was one of Paladin Press' best selling titles. It remains to this day a record for Paladin, with more than 80 photographs.
- Has donated more than 12 gallons of blood.
- Went to high school with former NASCAR driver Rob Moroso (Daniel Hand HS in Madison, CT) and both former WNBA star Andrea Stinson and actress Amy Newell (North Mecklenburg HS in Huntersville, NC).
- Was a member of the Blue Knights law enforcement motorcycle club from 1995 to 2005. He was asked to resign in 2005 after "troubling" allegations arose during his run for Charlotte City Council. The allegations were later proven to be false, but an embittered Hänks never returned to the organization.
- A staunch advocate of the Second Amendment, D.A. Hänks literally wrote the book on building "ghost guns.".
- Ran for an At Large seat on the Charlotte City Council in 2005.
- Made national news in 2005, when he scaled the flagpole at historic Elmwood Cemetery to replace a Civil War flag that had been illegally removed by the City of Charlotte. He initially shimmied up the steel pole in 27F temps, but was so chilled that could not reattach the flag. He returned the next day with a ladder, which was the footage that made the news.
- Can cry on cue, simply by forcing internal pressure against his eyes and tear glands. During his death scene in "This is War," a concerned crew member asked him if he was okay because he seemed so distraught.
- Has visited every state except Hawaii.
- Had warned for years, about preppers stockpiling toilet paper. As a contributor to Doomsday Preppers about this very issue, his warnings played out in 2020, as millions of people scrambled for toilet paper during the Covid crisis.
- Has his own line of high end walking sticks and canes.
- Is a legally ordained minister. His first act of ministry, was officiating the marriage of his sister and brother-in-law. Ironically, their wedding day occurred on his own birthday; October 14th.
- Is an avid cat lover who has the ability to seemingly communicate with cats on a spiritual level. People who know him refer to him as the "Cat Whisperer.".
- His second novel, "The Green Day Prophecies," was based on information he received as a political candidate that promoted Agenda 21. When he refused to endorse those policies, his own party turned on him and threw him under the bus. In retaliation, he exposed everything he had experienced and put it into a story, via novel form.
- Brother of "Rainbow Soup" children's book author, Laura Hanks Stevens.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content