Dustin Hoffman's biography
"Your appearance isn't quite right for the screen," the actor was told, receiving yet another rejection, but he kept pursuing his dream. He was repeatedly told he had no promise and advised to find another line of work. The actor's name is Dustin Hoffman and today he has more than 60 roles under his belt, each one showcasing his exceptional skill and unique talent.
Early years
On August 8, 1939, the second child was born in the family of Lillian Gold and Harry Hoffman. The family lived in Los Angeles; Lillian was a pianist, and Harry worked as a prop supervisor at Columbia Pictures before becoming a successful furniture salesman.
The youngest son was given the name Dustin. His older brother was top of his class and dreamed of becoming a politician. Both parents and his brother laughed at Dustin, who dreamed of the stage. However, he was a poor student, painfully shy and short, and suffered from dyslexia.
Career. Beginning
The stories of how Dustin Hoffman clawed his way to Hollywood stardom have become legendary. In New York, the young actor finally got into Lee Strasberg's acting class on his fourth try, but after graduating, he faced years of auditions and rejections without landing a single role. To pay rent, he worked as a waiter, typist at a printing house, department store demonstrator, cashier, night bartender, and even a psychiatric hospital attendant.
Director Mike Nichols was searching for a twenty-year-old athletic blonde to play Ben in his drama The Graduate. Robert Redford seemed like the obvious choice for the lead—a young man named Ben who begins an affair with an older woman. But when Nichols met the short, nearly thirty-year-old Dustin, he knew he'd found his leading man.
Released during the dawn of the sexual revolution, The Graduate struck a nerve, catapulting Dustin Hoffman to stardom. The performance earned him a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award nomination.
In the 1969 romantic drama John and Mary, the actor starred alongside Mia Farrow, exploring the timeless story of how easily we can miss our destiny.
Dustin's next triumph came with Little Big Man, a western drama based on Thomas Berger's novel exploring white-Native American relations through the epic life story of Jack Crabbe and his struggles. The story unfolds through the eyes of the main character, a 120-year-old man whom Dustin had to embody. The actor, who once again amazed audiences with his transformative abilities, was joined by Faye Dunaway, Richard Mulligan, and real Native American Chief Dan George.The film's portrayal of society's outcasts living on the margins was highly praised by critics, and audiences were amazed by Dustin's transformation as he convincingly coughed and limped in his portrayal of the disabled character. For the role of Rico Dustin was again nominated for an Oscar.
In the thriller Straw Dogs, the actor played an intelligent mathematician forced to defend his life, weapon in hand. But after killing one of the local thugs—provoked by his girlfriend's revealing outfit—David couldn't stop and turned savage.
Best roles
In the 1982 comedy Tootsie, Dustin played a struggling actor who disguises himself as a woman to land a role. Things get complicated when he falls for his co-star, played by Jessica Lange. Teri Garr, Bill Murray, and Geena Davis, making her screen debut, also starred in the comedy, which became a box office hit and earned multiple awards. The role of Raymond in 1989's Rain Man earned Dustin his second Oscar. Self-centered businessman Charlie, who was played by Tom Cruise, discovers his father left his inheritance to autistic Raymond and takes him from the institution. During their road trip, Charlie uncovers family secrets that bring him closer to his brother and help Raymond navigate the world. This touching story of self-discovery and human connection became an instant classic upon release.
The 2000s saw him deliver memorable comic performances in the two Meet the Fockers films, where Dustin joined an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Barbra Streisand, Ben Stiller and Blythe Danner, and in the comedy-drama I Heart Huckabees, where he starred with Isabelle Huppert and Jude Law.
In 2016 Dustin began working on a role in the Medici: Masters of Florence project, the first season of which aired successfully in America and Europe. The following year he played Harold, the head of an eccentric Jewish family, in the drama The Meyerowitz Stories. Adam Sandler, Emma Thompson, Ben Stiller, and Sigourney Weaver also appeared in the picture.
Dustin Hoffman's personal life
According to numerous biographical articles about the famous actor's career and personal life, Dustin Hoffman supposedly wasn't successful with women before becoming a movie star. However, this isn't true – the actor himself said in an interview that all he had to do was read a few lines of poetry and take a girl's hand, and she'd be ready to marry him on the spot.
Early in his career, Dustin had a relationship with singer Betty Kelly and model and actress Vera von Lehndorff, but both affairs did not last long.
Dustin Hoffman Nowadays
Dustin Hoffman continues to act in films. In 2019, the film "L'uomo del labirinto" with his participation was released. The plot of the thriller is based on the book by Donato Carrisi and tells about the mysterious events associated with a man in a rabbit mask.
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Carol Burns
2021-04-23 13:03:52
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Sharon Reyes
2021-04-14 09:42:02
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Samuel Olson
2021-04-06 14:16:07
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Deborah Ortiz
2021-03-29 15:45:40
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Kenneth Thompson
2021-03-28 17:37:30
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