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| | In 1960s, when Dustin Hoffman became very famous, film critics quoted that a new type of Hollywood star has arrived, who is absolutely dissimilar to film heroes of that time – tall and handsome with masculine jaw. Appearance of Hoffman was “atypical” – quoted delicately film critics about short man with huge nose.
As soon as Hoffman became a cult figure of 1960s generation and nominated by film academy for “Oscar”, no one wanted to have trouble by throwing delicate expressions in Dustin Hoffman’s address. From childhood, Hoffman literally scrambled through circumstances to become an actor and as a lazy man did not leave it on the way. He was born in 1937 in a poor Jewish family and his ancestors migrated to US either from Russia or from Romania. In school, Hoffman was insulted by his classmates and the humiliation had no boundaries. “For them I was not a “Dwarf” or “Short man”, reminisced Hoffman but a “Human Block”. In spite of fierce protests from parents, Hoffman joined theater after completion of school. At studio, during the entire course, he was voted “Least likely to succeed”.
For ten years, he knocked at the doors of theaters but with little success. For 10 years, he lead a half-starved life – earned his livelihood by working as watchman and hospital attendant in psychiatric clinic and slept in kitchen at friends places.
Dustin’s first major role that brought hi fame was in the movie “The Graduate”. Selection of next role of the latest star has plunged everybody into a shock. Hoffman made a 180o turn by playing a miserable, patient and repulsive character nicknamed “Razzo” in film “Midnight Cowboy”. During filming, Hoffman’s friends called him and shouted “You are crazy! This role is not for you and your hero stinks! You will ruin your career”! Production house refused to produce the film since the film had “X’ rating and considered as light pornography. Film was shown only in two theatres and as a result, became sole X-rated film in the history of Hollywood to have bagged Oscar. Hoffman was again nominated for Oscar but, this time the award was not conferred.
Film “Tootsie” was released after three years of Kramer vs Kramer”. In this film, hero dresses up like a woman so as to grab a role on show opera. After the success of film, Academy personnel were in a doubt: Whether to cast Dustin Hoffman as a “Best Actor” or “Best Actress”. Till date, this role in Tootsie is a favorite one for the children of Dustin Hoffman. If, in Kramer vs Kramer, Hoffman proved that a man can be a best mother, then in “Tootsie”, he proved that a man can be a better woman than a woman.
After 6 more years, film “Rain Man” was released.
While filming the “Rain man”, three directors, two cameraman and many producers were replaced since nobody could put up with combined creative work with Hoffman. The same stubbornness and self-confidence, which made him a popular figure amongst the audience, hopelessly spoiled his character. Being a perfectionist, for every scene, he made changes to his role and how it is to be interpreted and often, these changes increased the script. Being a perfectionist, Hoffman distinguishes himself with irrepressible passion to study the character, completely grow accustomed to character and demonstrates passion to analyze and wishes to share his knowledge with others. To achieve his character's exhausted look in “Marathon Man”, Hoffman deprived himself of sleep for two days; For the sake of natural limping in “Midnight Cowboy”, Hoffman filled his shoes with pebbles and so enthusiastically coughed in one of the scenes, that on third take he simply fell down. For film “Outbreak” in 1995, in which he played a scientist, fighting with dangerous virus, Hoffman read many scientific literatures, consulted scientists-virologists and discussed his knowledge with the group. Is it really worth mentioning that, before the film “Rain Man”, Hoffman consulted psychiatrists and read huge medical books. He completely gets into the shoes of the characters he portrays in films and this puts him in bad situation – during the filming of “Kramer vs Kramer”, Hoffman, visibly, acted naturally as a divorcee that his wife, Anne Byrne with whom he lived for 10 yrs, applied for a divorce. After all, a very famous Lawrence Olivier told Hoffman one day: Why don’t you try not to endure but try acting the required situation, its much easier”.
Actors, who acted tough scenes alongside Hoffman, remember with shivers. After “Tootsie”, Jessica Lange reminisces that during the filming, something happened and they came to blows. A Meryl Streep said about his partner in film “Kramer vs Kramer” exclusively in unprintable expressions.
Hoffman himself admits that he checks the length of characters with a stopwatch, his or his partners. He not only makes actors go frenzy but also directors – After “Tootsie”, Sydney Pollack solemnly vowed not to work with Hoffman in future. Hoffmann was badly disappointed when his third “Oscar” was handed over to Jack Nicholson, with whom he has cold relationship for quite sometime. More over, Hoffmann cannot tolerate Al Pacino.
There’s a single director, with whom Hoffmann adores to work with and astonishingly, even the director wishes to work only with Hoffman. With Barry Levinson, Hoffmann starred in “Rain Man”, “Sleepers”, “Wag the Dog” and “sphere”.
Hoffmann is 70 yrs old and as usual, he is healthy. He has a faithful wife – advocate and six children.
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Hollywood legend 
