Martin Short - Tom Hanks Bails Out Martin Short After Fender-bender

The Father of the Bride star was shopping near his Palisades home in New York when he spotted Hanks perusing the mall on Christmas Eve (24Dec11).

The movie star asked to tag along as Short picked up a few things at the supermarket, and the 61 year old is glad Hanks did because the actor's charming nature came in handy.

While appearing on U.S. morning show Live! With Kelly on Friday (09Mar12), he said, "I was in the Palisades where I live and I'm getting last-minute stocking stuffers, and there's Tom... He said, 'What are you doing?' And I said, 'Well I'm going to make a French punch, so I'm going to Gelson's.' And he said, 'Can I come with you? I have nothing to do.'"

"Later on... I'm in the parking lot and it's very crowded, because it's Christmas Eve, so I see a car coming out and I back out three feet and I smash into another car... A guy comes out and he looks at me and goes, 'Oh, well I guess I don't need your identification.'

"And then Tom comes out and (the driver is speechless). And Tom is really trying to be charming so he won't sue me. And by the time I get my insurance out of my glove compartment, I hear the guy saying to Tom, 'So you don't have to read the whole script... but if you just listen to the music that would be great.'"