American actor Dustin Hoffman has received an honorary star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, two Oscars, BAFTA, Golden Bear, Cesar and a dozen nominations in various categories. The actor became famous for his roles in the romantic comedy "Tootsie", the comedy drama "Rain Man" and "Kramer vs. Kramer" with Meryl Streep, as well as the historical series "Medici: Lords of Florence".
Dustin Hoffman biography
The future famous actor was born on August 8, 1937 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was the second child of Harry and Lillian Hoffman. His father changed several jobs, one of which was the development of design and production of furniture. The actor's mother is a jazz pianist. Dustin grew up in his hometown with his older brother Ron.
After briefly attending Santa Monica College, Dustin dropped out and went to study music at the Los Angeles Conservatory, as well as the basics of acting in Pasadena. Hoffman later moved from sunny Los Angeles to New York to further improve his acting skills.
As Dustin Hoffman later admitted: “The biggest reason why I went into acting is social: I wanted to date girls. I was not well complex, I studied poorly and there was nothing else that I could do better than playing. After my first acting job, I felt attractive. This was the first time I knew what I was doing. And I liked it."
While Dustin Hoffman auditioned for the role, he changed many different jobs in order to somehow support himself and justify the cost of training. He worked as a dance studio janitor, coat supervisor, dishwasher and toy salesman.
Dustin Hoffman's career
While studying acting, Dustin met Gene Hackman, with whom they shared a room. Until now, Hoffman and Hackman maintain friendly relations.
In 1961, Dustin Hoffman made his television debut in a cameo in The Naked City.
In the early 1960s, Dustin concentrates not only on working in the theater, but also on the process of creating theatrical productions, assisting the director as an assistant and manager.
Hoffman later returned to film work. In 1967, he starred in The Tiger Gets His Way. The comedy drama The Graduate became a real breakthrough in the beginning career of an actor. The film tells the viewer the story of 21-year-old Benjamin, a timid young man, unsure of his future and trapped in a "love triangle". This film would later become a classic in American cinema.
Dustin Hoffman agreed to difficult roles, although his films did not always become successful.
In 1973, he starred in a supporting role in the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning crime film Moth.
In 1979, Dustin Hoffman landed the lead role in the drama Kramer vs. Kramer, where he played the role of Ted Kramer, an advertising manager whose wife left him and left him with a young son. Meryl Streep became a colleague on the set. Hoffman decided to improvise in the episode when Ted and Joanna are sitting in a restaurant. While talking at the table, Dustin Hoffman grabbed a glass of wine and smashed it against the wall. Meryl Streep's fright was so realistic that they decided to leave the scene. The film received many positive reviews, awards, including the first "Oscar" in the list of films by Dustin Hoffman.
Dustin Hoffman in the movie Tootsie
After the release of Kramer vs. Kramer, the actor did not act in films for several years. Returning, Hoffman took up an unusual role in the comedy Tootsie. The main theme in the film revolves around Michael Dorsey - an aspiring actor who has been out of work for several years. Desperate, he decides to change his image and transforms into a woman actress, Dorothy Michaels, who immediately gets a role in one of the television soap operas.
In this comedy, Dustin Hoffman starred opposite Jessica Lange, who won her Oscar for Gorgeous Supporting Actress. Also with Hoffman played aspiring comedian Bill Murray, almost all of whose lines in the film are improvisation. To embody his character on the screen, Hoffman had a hand in adjusting the original script for his character, which is why Dustin often clashed with director Sidney Pollack. In general, the name of the film "Tootsie" was suggested by Dustin Hoffman himself, at that time it was the nickname of his dog.
The film "Tootsie" has become incredibly popular not only in the United States, but also abroad. Today, this comedy ranks second in the list of the funniest American films of all time (the first is "There are only girls in jazz").
Later in an interview, the actor said: “I liked Dorothy Michaels. I felt this image stronger than all the others previously played. She made me very emotional, very. I still don't fully understand her."
The main role in the film "Rain Man"
In 1988, a comedy drama was released where Dustin Hoffman played another unusual character - the autistic Raymond, who was kidnapped from the clinic by Charlie's brother (played by aspiring actor Tom Cruise) in order to get the inheritance of his deceased father. Throughout the film, the brothers develop a warm relationship, and frequent comical awkward situations. Hoffman very carefully got used to the role, allowing himself even improvisation in some of the dialogues and actions of the hero. Thanks to his excellent performance, Dustin Hoffman won the second major award in his career, the Oscar.
Film career 1990-2000
The most significant films of Dustin Hoffman in the 1990s are the family comedy Captain Hook, the comedy melodrama Hero, the fantastic thriller Epidemic, the crime drama The Sleepers, the crime thriller Mad City, the comedy Cheating and the historical drama. Joan of Arc.
The most striking works of the actor in the 2000s were: the comedy "Meet the Fockers 1, 2" with Robert De Niro, a supporting role in "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer", the fantasy comedy "Character", the family comedy "Shop of Miracles" with Natalie Portman, musical drama "Chorists", TV series "Fart" and "Medici: Lords of Florence".
Dustin Hoffman's personal life
The actor has been married twice. Dustin Hoffman's first marriage was with ballerina Anna Byrne in 1969. In this marriage, he adopted Anna's daughter, Karina. Later, in 1971, they had another daughter, Jenna. However, after 10 years, the couple broke up due to career conflicts.
In 1980, Hoffman married a second time - to the lawyer Lisa Gottsegen. From a happy marriage, the spouses have four children.
