Final answer:
The statement regarding Tom Hanks's activity in 2001 is true; he was involved in the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers and a September 11 special, continuing Hollywood's tradition of patriotic involvement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Tom Hanks was absent from the silver screen in 2001 but remained in the public eye with a role in the acclaimed HBO mini-series Band of Brothers and appeared in the September 11 television special America is True. While Hanks may not have starred in feature films that year, his participation in Band of Brothers as both an actor and executive producer, and his appearance in the television special reflect the ongoing tradition of Hollywood figures engaging in patriotic expressions and contributing to the collective narrative during times of national significance. This is reminiscent of the era during WWII when actors such as John Wayne starred in war-themed movies and other actors such as Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable served in the military, supporting the war effort both onscreen and off.