O scar-winning actor Tom Hanks honored James Lovell, the American astronaut he portrayed in “ Apollo 13 ,” with a heartfelt Instagram tribute to his courage, curiosity and fortitude. Lovell died Thursday in Lake Forest, Illinois. He was 97 years old.

One of NASA's most-traveled astronauts in the agency's first decade, Jim Lovell flew four times, including on the groundbreaking Apollo 8 and the harrowing Apollo 13.

Tom Hanks posted a tribute on social media to James Lovell, who died on Aug. 7. Lovell was a NASA astronaut known for commanding the troubled Apollo 13 mission. That mission was turned into a hit 1995 film from director Ron Howard starring Hanks as Lovell.