Broken Arrow Native Makes Big Screen Debut In New Tom Hanks Film

Being in the right place at the right time landed one of Green Country's own on the silver screen.

Broken Arrow native Nathan Cobler has a small role in Tom Hanks' new film, which is already making waves as an Oscar favorite.

Nathan Cobler lives in Virginia and serves aboard the U.S.S. Truxtun. When "Captain Phillips" started filming on his ship, he never thought he'd be side-by-side in a role with Tom Hanks.

"Captain Phillips" debuts on screens all across the country this Friday. Tom Hanks portrays the captain of the Maersk Alabama. The ship was taken over by Somali pirates and the U.S. Navy came to the crew members' rescue.

"It was like every day at work, minus the fact that it was with Tom Hanks," Nathan said.

Part of the movie was filmed on an actual U.S. Navy destroyer. That's where Broken Arrow's Nathan Cobler got his big break.

A member of the film crew approached Nathan and asked him to help out on the shoot.

"They decided to do this scene in medical, and they needed somebody to assist, so I happened to be in the right place at the right time," Nathan said.

Nathan went into the Navy two years after graduating from Broken Arrow High School. He's currently stationed in Virginia.

"I will remember that movie for a long time," said Nathan's mother, Marcia Cobler.

Nathan called his mom in Tulsa and broke the news that he was going to be in the film.

Nathan's family got a sneak preview. They were emotional about seeing him on the big screen.

His mom said she stayed until the end of the movie to see his name in the credits.

"A few tears were shed. I kept my quiet voice. I didn't scream out and yell out, 'That's my son.' I was able to contain my excitement," Marcia said.

Nathan said the reality of being on the big screen didn't sink in until he saw the movie with his family and shipmates.

"It was a very humbling experience to say, 'Wow! That's me right there!' And my daughter sitting right next to me going, 'That's my daddy!' right in the middle of the movie. It was a very humbling experience," Nathan said.

Her son sets sail on another deployment in about 9 months.