Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman , 1937-, American actor, b. Los Angeles. Not glamorous in the manner of earlier stars, Hoffman began on Broadway, but gained widespread popularity with his first major film, The Graduate (1967). Subsequently, he accepted a series of unusual tragic and comic character roles in such films as Midnight Cowboy (1969), Little Big Man (1976), Papillon (1973), Lenny (1974), Tootsie (1982), and Wag the Dog (1997). He won Academy Awards for his performances in Kramer vs. Kramer (1980) and Rain Man (1989). He returned to Broadway in Death of a Salesman (1984) and appeared on the London stage as Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (1989).

Hoffman, Dustin (1937– ) US film actor. Hoffman's debut performance in The Graduate (1967), earned him an Academy nomination for best actor. A dedicated character actor, he won further nominations for his roles as a derelict in Midnight Cowboy (1969) and as comedian Lenny Bruce in Lenny (1974). He finally won a best actor Oscar for Kramer vs Kramer (1979). After a startling performance in Tootsie (1982), he won a second best actor award for Rain Man (1988).