Status: 12.08.2024 11:00 a.m.
At 87, Dustin Hoffman can look back on a long career and many successes – but the film business is not over yet. In 2022, “As They Made Us” was released, a film in which he plays a terminally ill father.
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From “The Graduate” (on August 12th from 10 p.m. on NDR television, after which the film will be available in the ARD media library) to “Kramer vs. Kramer” to “Rain Man”: Acting has something therapeutic for him, when he plays someone else he only feels comfortable in his own skin, says Dustin Hoffman in an interview with actress Mayim Bialik, known from the TV show “Big Bang Theory”.
Critical look at one’s own childhood
Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in “All the President’s Men” (1976)
In the podcast, Hoffman takes a critical look back – especially at his childhood, which was not pleasant because of his strict father: “I did not enjoy my childhood, I think I experienced it in absence, because the present was painful.” The way out was acting.
Hoffman becomes a movie star by chance
Dustin Hoffman (l.) and Tom Cruise in a scene from the movie “Rain Man”.
Hoffman, born in Los Angeles, made his first attempts at the Pasadena Playhouse, then studied acting at the renowned Lee Strasberg School in New York. He became a film star by chance because Robert Redford turned down the role in the film “The Graduate”. He promptly received his first Oscar nomination. He later appeared in front of the camera with Robert Redford in “All the President’s Men” about the Watergate scandal. This was followed by the western satire “Little Big Man”, the comedy “Tootsie” and “Marathon Man”. Hoffman received his first Oscar in 1980 for his role in the divorce drama “Kramer vs. Kramer” with Meryl Streep, and the second in 1989 for “Rain Man” alongside Tom Cruise.
Harassment allegations against Hoffman
Hoffman was very quiet in his private life for a long time. He enjoyed a clean-cut image, but this was tarnished in 2017. At the time, US author Anna Graham Hunter made allegations in a guest column in the Hollywood Reporter magazine that Hoffman had repeatedly harassed her in 1985 when she was 17 years old. Other women also reported similar things, and Hoffman apologized, saying this was not behavior that “reflected” on him.
Hoffman answered questions on Mayim Bialik’s podcast, but did not address this chapter – probably because Hoffman starred in her directorial debut called “As They Made Us” – as a terminally ill family man. He hopes for a long life, his brother is over 90 and still fit, so that he can follow in his footsteps to defy death, because death is always “the enemy,” says Hoffman.
More information
At 60 he began a Hollywood career, at 70 he showed his talent as an artist, at 80 he went on tour as a singer. Now he celebrated his 93rd birthday. more
Indiana Jones, Han Solo, Rick Deckard: Harrison Ford is unforgettable in many roles. He continues to make films – and series. more
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Film on NDR | 12.08.2024 | 22:00
