Dustin Hoffman

 

Photo of Dustin Hoffman + John Voight in Midnight cowboyPhoto of Steve McQueen + Dustin Hoffman in PapillonPhoto of Dustin Hoffman in Rain man

Biography

Dustin Hoffman

Photo of Dustin Hoffman
Stardom equals freedom. It's the only equation that matters

Remarkable:

For The Graduate Katharine Ross did some screen tests with Hoffman for the part: “He looked about three feet tall, so dead serious, so humorless, so unkempt”

Born:

August 8, 1937

Born as:

Dustin Lee Hoffman

Died:

January 24, 1983

Dustin was born in Los Angeles. He made his off-Broadway debut in 1960 in Yes Is for a Very Young Man.

In 1967 Hoffman got his big break when he caught the attention of director Mike Nichols, who cast him in the The Graduate, which catapulted him into stardom.

Constantly looking for challenges, Dustin played the anti-hero in Midnight Cowboy (1969), Little Big Man (1970), and Marathon Man (1976) and the hero in All the President's Men.

The 1979 domestic drama Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and the comedy Tootsie (1982) were a major succes, but Dustin decided to go back to the theatre to portray Willy Loman in a Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman (1983).

He returned to the movies with a megaflop, the comedy Ishtar (1987) but revenged himself a year later with Rain man (1988).

During the nineties Hoffman's drawing power gradually diminished allthough he was nominated for another Academy award for Wag the dog (1997).

In the third millenium, his star rises again with the succes of Finding Neverland and Meet the Fockers (both 2004) and a lot of films planned for 2006.

Academy awards:

1998 Nominated Best Actor for: Wag the Dog (1997)
1989 Won Oscar Best Actor for: Rain Man (1988)
1983 Nominated Best Actor for: Tootsie (1982)
1980 Won Oscar Best Actor for: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
1975 Nominated Best Actor for: Lenny (1974)
1970 Nominated Best Actor for: Midnight Cowboy (1969)
1968 Nominated Best Actor for: The Graduate (1967)

Selected movies:

Books:

Dustin Hoffman: Hollywood's Antihero -> Jeff Lenburg (2001)

 

Photo of Anne Bancroft + Dustin Hoffman in The graduate

Rumours and new films

- The Tale of Despereaux -
Despereaux Tilling is a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. Dustin will do the voice of the rat Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light.
Release date: Within 32 weeks (December 19, 2008)

- Kung Fu Panda -
Po the Panda is the laziest animal in the Valley of Peace. He learns martial arts and then uses this new ability to fight their enemies. Dustin will do the voice of Shifu, the militant master who must transform Po into a kung-fu master.
Release date: Within 28 days (June 6, 2008)

- Last Chance Harvey -
Hoffman will star as a man who meets an unlikely companion (Emma Thompson) while in London for his daughter's wedding.
Releasedate: Within two years

Source / More (Web)

- Little Fockers -
The sequel to Meet the Fockers.The story is set around Greg and Pam raising their mischievous son who makes their lives a wreck.

Trivia

For The Graduate Katharine Ross did some screen tests with Hoffman for the part: “He looked about three feet tall, so dead serious, so humorless, so unkempt” Source / More (Book)

Both he and Robert Duvall said one of the best reasons why they went to acting classes were the girls. Duvall: “Dustin had more girls than anybody I’ve ever known”. Source / More (Book)

Hoffman is famous for his battles with directors, scriptwriters and studio executives.

When Dustin was a struggling actor, he stayed a while with Gene Hackman in an apartment and with Robert Duvall in another apartment during the early sixties. Source / More (Book)

Bibliography