Dustin Hoffman
Known for: Acting
Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable characters. Actor Robert De Niro described him as "an actor with the everyman's face who embodied the heartbreakingly human". At a young age Hoffman knew he wanted to study in the arts, and entered into the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music; later he decided to go into acting, for which he trained at the Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles. His first theatrical performance was 1961's A Cook for Mr. General as Ridzinski. During that time he appeared in several guest roles on television shows like Naked City and The Defenders. He then starred in the 1966 off-Broadway play Eh? where his performance garnered him both a Theatre World Award and Drama Desk Award. His breakthrough role was as Benjamin Braddock in Mike Nichols' critically acclaimed and iconic film The Graduate (1967), for which he received his first Academy Award nomination. His next role was "Ratso" Rizzo in John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy (1969), in which he acted alongside Jon Voight; they both received Oscar nominations, and the film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. He gained success in the 1970s playing roles that shaped the craft of his acting, crossing genres effortlessly in the western Little Big Man (1970), the prison drama Papillon (1973), playing a controversial and groundbreaking comedian in Bob Fosse's Lenny (1975), Marathon Man alongside Laurence Olivier (1976), and as Carl Bernstein investigating the Watergate scandal in All the President's Men (1976). In 1979, Hoffman starred in the family drama Kramer vs. Kramer alongside Meryl Streep. They both received Academy Awards for their performances. After a three-year break from films, Hoffman returned in Sydney Pollack's show business comedy Tootsie (1982) about a struggling actor who pretends to be a woman in order to get an acting role. He returned to stage acting with a 1984 performance as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and reprised the role a year later in a television film earning a Primetime Emmy Award. In 1987 he starred alongside Warren Beatty in Elaine May's comedy Ishtar. He won his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the autistic savant Ray Babbitt in the 1988 film Rain Man, co-starring Tom Cruise. In 1989, he was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for playing Shylock in a stage performance of The Merchant of Venice. In the 1990s, he made appearances in such films as Warren Beatty's action comedy adaptation Dick Tracy (1990), Steven Spielberg's Hook (1991) as Captain Hook, medical disaster Outbreak (1995), legal crime drama Sleepers (1996), and the satirical black comedy Wag the Dog (1997) alongside Robert De Niro.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Mr. Bergstrom (voice)
1989
Series
The Daily Show
Self
1996
Series
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self (archive footage)
1961
Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Guide #1
2000
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee / Presenter
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Winner
1944
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Cecil B. DeMille Award Recipient
1944
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee / Presenter
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self
1956
Series
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
Series
Champs-Elysées
Self
1982
Series
Naked City
Lester Stenton
1958
Series
Naked City
Finney
1958
Film
Tuner
Harry Horowitz
2026
Film
Kung Fu Panda 4
Shifu (voice)
2024
Series
Sacrée soirée
Self
1987
Series
Wetten, dass..?
Self
1981
Series
American Masters
Self
1986
Film
Kung Fu Panda
Master Shifu (voice)
2008
Series
The Defenders
Robert Burke
1961
Series
The Defenders
Buddy
1961
Series
Spécial cinéma
Self
1974
Series
The Reichen Show
Self
2005
Series
Finding Your Roots
Self
2012
Series
Big Brother's Little Brother
Self
2001
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Goldene Kamera
Self
1984
Film '72
Self
1971
Series
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight
Shifu (voice)
2022
Series
V Graham Norton
Self
2002
Film
Kung Fu Panda 3
Shifu (voice)
2016
Film
Kung Fu Panda 2
Master Shifu (voice)
2011
Series
Today
Self
1952
Series
Medici: Masters of Florence
Giovanni de' Medici
2016
Series
Rachael Ray
2006
Series
HBO First Look
1992
Film
Sleepers
Danny Snyder
1996
Film
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Giuseppe Baldini
2006
Film
The Graduate
Ben Braddock
1967
Film
Hook
Captain Hook
1991
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
Film
The Holiday
Dustin Hoffman (uncredited)
2006
Series
ABC Stage 67
J.J. Semmons
1966
Film
Meet the Fockers
Bernie Focker
2004
Film
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Critic (uncredited)
2004
Film
Rain Man
Raymond Babbitt
1988
Series
The Directors
Self
1999
Film
Chef
Riva
2014
Series
Coucou c'est nous !
Self
1992
Film
Outbreak
Sam Daniels
1995
Film
Midnight Cowboy
Ratso
1969
Series
The Nurses
Larson
1962
Series
Liberty's Kids
Benedict Arnold (voice)
2002
Series
Luck
Chester Bernstein
2012
Film
Megalopolis
Nush 'The Fixer' Berman
2024
Film
Little Fockers
Bernie Focker
2010
Film
Papillon
Louis Dega
1973
Film
Tootsie
Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
1982
Film
Racing Stripes
Tucker (voice)
2005
Film
Sphere
Dr. Norman Goodman
1998
Film
Kramer vs. Kramer
Ted Kramer
1979
Film
The Cobbler
Abraham Simkin
2014
Film
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc
Joan's conscience
1999
Film
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five
Shifu (voice)
2008
Film
Runaway Jury
Wendell Rohr
2003
Film
Marathon Man
Thomas 'Babe' Levy
1976
Film
Dick Tracy
Mumbles
1990
Film
Straw Dogs
David Sumner
1971
Film
Finding Neverland
Charles Frohman
2004
Film
All the President's Men
Carl Bernstein
1976
Series
Stand-Up: The Laughing Therapy
Lenny Bruce (archive footage)
2024
Film
Kung Fu Panda Holiday
Shifu (voice)
2010
Film
Hero
Bernard 'Bernie' Laplante
1992
Film
Stranger Than Fiction
Professor Jules Hilbert
2006
Film
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2005
Film
Spielberg
Self
2017
Series
This Morning
Self
1988
Film
Wag the Dog
Stanley Motss
1997
Film
Boychoir
Master Carvelle
2015
Film
Ishtar
Chuck Clarke
1987
Film
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll
Shifu / Warrior (voice)
2016
Series
MADtv
Self
1995
Film
Confidence
Winston King
2003
Film
The Tale of Despereaux
Roscuro (voice)
2008
Film
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters
Shifu (voice)
2011
Film
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
Mr. Edward Magorium
2007
Film
The Program
Bob Hamman
2015
Film
Billy Bathgate
Dutch Schultz
1991
Film
I ♥ Huckabees
Bernard Jaffe
2004
Film
Barney's Version
Izzy Panofsky
2010
Film
Last Chance Harvey
Harvey Shine
2008
Treffpunkte
Self
1970
Film
The Earth Day Special
Every Lawyer
1990
Film
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Harold Meyerowitz
2017
Film
Megadoc
Self
2025
Film
Lenny
Lenny Bruce
1974
Film
The Devil's Arithmetic
Self (Introduces Film) (uncredited)
1999
Film
Family Business
Vito McMullen
1989
Film
Straight Time
Max Dembo
1978
Film
Hal
Self
2019
Film
Mad City
Max Brackett
1997
Film
Into the Labyrinth
Dottor Green
2019
Film
Death of a Salesman
Willy Loman
1985
Film
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
Film
Little Big Man
Jack Crabb
1970
Film
The Lost City
Meyer Lansky
2005
Film
Moonlight Mile
Ben Floss
2002
Film
The Point
Narrator / Father (first telecast)
1971
Film
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982
Film
Kung Fu Panda: The Awesome Secrets Collection
Shifu (Voice)
2013
Film
Sam & Kate
Bill
2022
Film
Earth to America
Self
2005
Film
La Classe américaine
Self
2012
Film
American Buffalo
Walt 'Teach' Teacher
1996
Film
Close Up
Self (archive footage)
2012
Film
TOVAH
Self
2026
Film
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self
1995
Film
Twiggy
Self
2025
Film
Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2010
Film
La Classe américaine
Peter (archive footage)
1993
Film
All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone
Carl Bernstein (archive footage)
2016
Film
Roald Dahl's Esio Trot
Mr. Hoppy
2015
Film
Earth and the American Dream
Reader (voice)
1992
Film
John and Mary
John
1969
Film
Trumbo
Self - Interviewee
2007
Film
As They Made Us
Eugene
2022
Film
The New Cinema
Self
1968
Film
Diamond
2026
Film
Heart of the Festival
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
Warner Bros. 75th Anniversary: No Guts, No Glory
Self - Host (segment "75 Years of Award Winners")
1998
Film
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self (archive footage)
1980
Film
Agatha
Wally Stanton
1979
Film
Alan Pakula: Going for Truth
Self
2019
Film
Madigan's Millions
Jason Fister
1968
Film
Mike Nichols: An American Master
Self
2016
Film
All the President's Men Revisited
Self
2013
Film
Reinventing Elvis: The 68' Comeback
Benjamin Braddock (archive footage)
2023
Film
Goldwyn: The Man and His Movies
Self - Narrator
2001
Film
Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt
Narrator (voice)
1989
Film
Hollywood: No Sex, Please!
2018
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002
The Revisionist
2026
Film
Finding the Truth: The Making of 'Kramer vs. Kramer'
Self
2001
Film
Aretha Franklin: Duets
Self
1993
Film
PRIDE: To Be Seen - A Soul of a Nation Presentation
Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels (archive footage)
2022
Film
There's Only One Paul McCartney
Self
2002
Film
Alfredo, Alfredo
Alfredo
1972
Film
Free to Be… You and Me
Self (scenes deleted)
1974
Film
Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure...
Self
2020
Close Up
Self - Interviewee
2006
Film
Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey
Self
1990
Film
The Tiger Makes Out
Hap
1967
Film
Visual Acoustics
Self - Narrator
2008
Film
The Journey of the Fifth Horse
Zoditch
1966
Film
Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?
Georgie Soloway
1971
Film
Jonas in the Desert
Self
1994
Film
Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon
Self
2022
Film
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story
Narrator (voice)
2010
Film
Steve McQueen: American Icon
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
Tower Stories
Jacob
Film
Moonlight Mile: A Journey to Screen
Self / Ben Floss
2003
Film
The Magic of Hollywood... Is the Magic of People
Self
1976
Film
Lost in the Garden of the World
Self
1975
Film
Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years
1999
Film
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film
Self
2006
Michael Ballhaus - Eine Reise durch mein Leben
Self
2008
The Shakespeare Sessions
2003
After Midnight: Reflecting on a Classic 35 Years Later
2004
Film
A Better Man: The Making of 'Tootsie'
Self
2008
Film
Going the Distance: Remembering 'Marathon Man'
Self
2001
Film
Franz Kline - Remembered
Self
Film
Pressure and the Press: The Making of 'All the President's Men'
Self
1976
Film
The Star Wagon
Hanus Wicks
1966
Film
Private Conversations: On the Set of ‘Death of a Salesman’
Self / Willy Loman
1986
Film
Led Zeppelin Played Here
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back
Self
1977
Film
Arthur Miller: A Man of His Century
Self - Actor
2015
Film
Telling the Truth About Lies: The Making of "All the President's Men"
Self
2006
Film
The Making of 'Tootsie'
Self
1982
Film
Against the Tide
Narrator
2009
Film
The Magnificent Rebel
Self
1973
Now Showing: Unforgettable Moments from the Movies
Host
2003
Film
On Location: Dustin Hoffman
Self
1971
Film
Strokes of Genius: de Kooning on de Kooning
Self
1982
Film
'The Graduate' at 25
Self
1992
Film
Mantrap – Straw Dogs: The Final Cut
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
The Many Faces of Dustin Hoffman
Self
1970
Film
Tuesday
voice
2001
Film
Arthur Penn: The Director
Self
1970
Film
The Graduate at 25
Himself
1992
Film
Dustin!
2009
Film
The Crowd Around the Cowboy
Self
1969
Strokes of Genius: Arshile Gorky
Self
1982