Dustin Lee Hoffman is a famous American film, television and Broadway actor and director who rose to prominence during the 1960’s. Hoffman debuted in 1967 and appeared in films such as ‘The Graduate’, ‘Midnight Cowboy’, ‘Lenny’, ‘Kramer vs Kramer’ and ‘Rain Man’, for which he received Academy Award nominations in the best actor category, winning the award for his performances in ‘Kramer vs Kramer’ and ‘Rain Man’. Hoffman also appeared in the TV movie ‘Death of a Salesman’ for which he won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award.

Hoffman is considered as one of the finest actors in the history of films and is known for his versatile portrayals. In a career spanning over 6 decades, Hoffman has appeared in several critically and commercially successful films such as ‘Little Big Man’, ‘Papillon’ ‘Straw Dogs’, ‘All the President’s Men’, ‘Marathon Men’, ‘Tootsie’, ‘Wag the Dog’ etc. Hoffman has also been felicitated with 6 Golden Globe Awards, 4 BAFTA Awards and 2 Emmy Awards in addition to his 2 Academy Awards.

Early Life and Education

Hoffman was born on 8 August 1937 in a Los Angeles, California as the younger son of Columbia pictures prop decorator Harry Hoffman and his wife Lillian Gold. He was raised in a Jewish Ashkenazi family along with his older brother Ronald. Hoffman’s family immigrated to USA from Kiev in Ukraine and Iasi in Romania.

Hoffman attended the Los Angeles High School from where he graduated in 1955 and later enrolled into Santa Monica College to study medicine. However, he dropped out after a year to pursue an acting career and joined the Pasadena Playhouse to that effect. He took acting lessons at New York City’s Neighbourhood Playhouse. 

Dustin Hoffman – Young Pictures

Career Rise

Hoffman began his acting career undertaking Broadway projects and successfully transitioned to the silver screen, making his debut with the 1967 film ‘The Tiger Makes Out’. Later that year, Hoffman appeared in the role of Benjamin Braddock in Mike Nichols’ blockbuster hit film ‘The Graduate’ for which he received his first Academy Award nomination. Hoffman then appeared in James Leo Herlihy’s 1969 drama ‘Midnight Cowboy’ in which he essayed the role of Enrico Salvatore “Ratso” Rizzo, once again garnering an Academy Award nomination. ‘Midnight Cowboy’ won the Oscar for Best film along with two other awards. Hoffman then appeared in a series of hit films like ‘Little Big Man”, ‘Straw Dogs’ ‘Papillon’ and ‘Lenny’, (receiving a third Oscar nomination) ‘All the President’s Men’, ‘Marathon Man’, ‘Straight Time’ and ‘Agatha’ and became one of the most bankable actors of his generation.

Hoffman essayed the role of Ted Kramer, a workaholic turned loving father in the 1979 film ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ with Meryl Streep, for which he won his first Academy Award. He was also nominated for his work in the 1982 film ‘Tootsie’. Hoffman won an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Willy Noman in the TV movie ‘Death of a Salesman’ based on the play of the same name by Arthur Miller. Hoffman won his second Academy Award for his portrayal of Raymond “Ray” Babbitt, an autistic savant in the 1988 film ‘Rain Man’. Hoffman then appeared in films like ‘Family Business’, ‘Dick Tracy’, ‘Hook’, ‘Outbreak’, ‘Mad City, ‘Wag the Dog’, ‘Moonlight Me’, ‘Runaway Jury’, Finding Neverland’ etc. He also voiced the character of Master Shifu in the ‘Kung Fu Panda’ films.

Dustin Hoffman – height

Hoffman is 1.65 meter tall or 5 feet 5 inches.  Though he has less than average height, he stands tall among the most distinguished actors in Hollywood.

Personal Life

Hoffman has been married twice. Hoffman was first married to Anne Byrne from 1969-1980. During their marriage Hoffman adopted Byrne’s daughter from a previous marriage, Karina. The couple also became parents to another daughter, Jenna in 1970.

 

Hoffman then married Lisa Gottsegen Hoffman, a businesswoman in October 1980 and the couple became parents to four children, sons Jacob Edward and Maxwell Geoffrey and daughters Rebecca Lillian and Alexandra Lydia.

Controversies

In November 2017, Hoffman was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by Writer Anna Graham Hunter in an article. Graham alleged that when she was 17 and interning on the sets of the 1985 TV movie ‘Death of a Salesman’, Hoffman groped her and engaged in sexually inappropriate conversations throughout the duration of the filming. Hoffman issued an apology claiming “I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation. I am sorry. It is not reflective of who I am.”

Dustin Hoffman – Net Worth

Hoffman has an estimated net worth of approximately $50 Million