and an autistic in Rain Man (1988).

an actor pretending to be a woman in Tootsie (1982)

such as a crippled street hustler in Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Famous for taking a wide range of difficult roles

Trained at The Pasadena Playhouse for two years.

Decided to go into acting because he did not want to work or go into the service.

Also received some training at Los Angeles Conservatory of Music.

But before he did, he took an acting course because he was told that "nobody flunks acting."

Went to Santa Monica City College where he dropped out after a year due to bad grades.

He Graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1955.

Starred on Meet The Fackers

As of 2008, he and Philip Seymour Hoffman are the only two winners of best actor in a leading role at the Oscars to share a last name. Philip won for `Capote` and Dustin won for `Kramer vs. Kramer` and `Rain Man`.

The bathroom scene in Runaway Jury (2003), where Roar confronts Finch is the first ever dialog in a movie between him and Gene Hackman. It was added when someone on the crew found out that the two, though they had been friends for 50 years, had never starred in a movie together.

The only actor in history to have top billing in three films that won the Best Picture Oscar: Midnight Cowboy (1969), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Rain Man (1988).

Is one of the main supporters and contributers to the Santa Monica College Madison Theatre in Santa Monica, CA.

Has 6 children: Jenna Byrne and Karina Hoffman with his first wife Anne Byrne; Jake Hoffman, Rebecca Hoffman, Max Hoffman and Alexandra Hoffman with his second wife Lisa Gottsegen.

Was in talks to appear in The Verdict (1982).

Was an L.A. high school classmate of Johnnie L. Cochran Jr..

Was Warner Brothers` first consideration for "The Penguin" in Batman Returns (1992).

On an episode of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992), Dustin Hoffman said that his cameo in the film The Holiday (2006) was not scripted and unplanned. He was driving by the Blockbuster shown in the film and saw all of the cameras and equipment so he decided to stop in and see what was happening. Because he knew director Nancy Meyers, they worked up a scene which ultimately made the final cut.

Is active in a commercial campaign with the Swedish clothing company KappAhl.

While having dinner with Paul McCartney, Dustin Hoffman told the story of the death of Pablo Picasso and his famous last words, "Drink to me, drink to my health. You know I can`t drink anymore." Paul had a guitar with him and immediately played an impromptu chord progression while singing the quote. Thus, "Picasso`s Last Words", one of the highlights of the "Band On The Run" album, was made.

Two of his films are on the American Film Institute`s 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time. They are Rain Man (1988) at #63 and All the President`s Men (1976) at #34.

His performance as "Ratso" Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy (1969) is ranked #33 on Premiere Magazine`s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

His performance as Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels in Tootsie (1982) is ranked #39 on Premiere Magazine`s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

His performance as Raymond Babbitt in Rain Man (1988) is ranked #88 on Premiere Magazine`s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

His performance as Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels in Tootsie (1982) is ranked #33 on Premiere Magazine`s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

His performance as "Ratso" Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy (1969) is ranked #7 on Premiere Magazine`s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

Oscar-winning director John Schlesinger envisioned a cast of Al Pacino, Julie Christie and Laurence Olivier for "Marathon Man" (1976). Pacino has said that the only actress he had ever wanted to work with was Christie, who he claimed was "the most poetic of actresses." Producer Robert Evans, who disparaged the vertically challenged Pacino as "The Midget" when Francis Ford Coppola wanted him for The Godfather (1972) and had thought of firing him during the early shooting of the now-classic film, vetoed Pacino for the lead. Instead, Evans insisted on the casting of the even-shorter Dustin Hoffman! On her part, Christie -- who was notoriously finicky about accepting parts, even in prestigious, sure-fire material -- turned down the female lead, which was then taken by Marthe Keller (who, ironically, became Pacino`s lover after co-starring with him in Bobby Deerfield (1977)). Of his dream cast, Schlesinger only got Olivier, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Was considered for the role of Beau Burruoghs in Rumor Has It... (2005), but the part eventually went to Kevin Costner.

He is from a family of Polish Jews.

He was so boyish looking at age 30 that he played a generation younger than Anne Bancroft in The Graduate (1967), even though she is only six years older than him.

In 1993 he, together with Anne Bancroft, accepted the Oscar for "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium", on behalf of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who wasn`t present at the awards ceremony.

Had expressed an early desire to play the title role in Gandhi (1982), but was offered Tootsie (1982) the same year and ended up taking the latter role. He eventually lost the Oscar that year to Ben Kingsley who played Gandhi.

April 2005: Recipient of a Lincoln Center tribute.

Both he and Robert Duvall said one of the best reasons why they went to acting classes were the girls. When they were young, the classes were a gold mine to them.

Has appeared in two films about "Peter Pan" (Hook (1991) and Finding Neverland (2004)). Following his appearance in ""Hook", close friend and former roommate Gene Hackman began calling him "Hook" as a joke. The name stuck and his contemporaries call him by that nickname to this day.

While filming Finding Neverland (2004) lost the tip of a finger and performed one day of shooting on morphine.

Was interested in playing Shylock in Michael Radford`s adaptation of William Shakespeare`s "Merchant of Venice": The Merchant of Venice (2004). However, by the time he contacted Radford, Al Pacino had already been cast for the role.

He was voted the 28th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Despite being old friends and roommates with Gene Hackman back in the 1960s, it was literally decades before he appeared on screen with him. He finally starred with Hackman in Runaway Jury (2003).

Entered into The Guinness Book of World Records as "Greatest Age Span Portrayed By A Movie Actor" for Little Big Man (1970) in which he portrayed a character from age 17 to age 121.

As roommates, Hoffman and Gene Hackman would often go to the apartment rooftop and play the drums. Hoffman played the bongo drums while Hackman played the conga drums. They did it out of their love for Marlon Brando, who they had heard played music in clubs. They wanted to be like Brando and were big fans of his.

Another thespian he roomed with in New York was Robert Duvall.

After attending the Pasadena Playhouse, Hoffman decided to move to New York and looked up former Playhouse classmate Gene Hackman. The two of them roomed together in New York at Hackman`s one-bedroom apartment on 2nd Ave. and 26th St. Hoffman slept on the kitchen floor. Originally Hackman had offered to let him stay a few nights, but Hoffman would not leave. Hackman had to take him out to look for his own apartment.

Met actor Gene Hackman in their first month at Pasadena Playhouse and had several classes with him. Hackman failed out after three months and moved to New York to try his luck as a stage actor.

He was a neighbor of Mel Brooks in New York and was set to play the role of Franz Liebkind in Brooks` first film, The Producers (1968). Just before production was to commence, Hoffman was offered the role of Ben Braddock in The Graduate (1967), co-starring Brooks` wife Anne Bancroft, and asked to be let out of his contract. The role of Liebkind eventually went to Kenneth Mars.

3/6/70: He and wife Anne Byrne Hoffman were living in a brownstone on 11th St. in New York City`s Greenwich Village when the house next door blew up. Luckily, he and his family weren`t home. Members of the radical 1960s domestic terror group The Weathermen were living in that house unknown to anyone and had stored a large cache of explosives that accidentally detonated, killing three of the group`s members. Henry Fonda`s ex-wife, Susan Wager, was also a neighbor in that block and witnessed the explosion.

Has a house in the Kensington area of London.

Has known Gene Hackman since 1956.

Was in early consideration for the role of Rick Deckard in Blade Runner (1982). The role eventually went to Harrison Ford.

Brother-in-law of producer Lee Gottsegen.

January 1999: He was awarded $3m in damages and compensation in a case against "Los Angeles" Magazine, because it had printed a digitally altered image of him in a dress (cf. Tootsie (1982)). In July 2001 a federal appeals court overturned the verdict. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that because the photo appeared in an article, not an advertisement, the use of the actor`s likeness did not constitute "commercial speech" and was entitled to the full protection of the 1st Amendment.

His parents named him Dustin after actor Dustin Farnum.

October 1997: Ranked #41 in Empire (UK) magazine`s "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

During the filming of Wag the Dog (1997) Hoffman, his co-star Robert De Niro and director Barry Levinson had an impromptu meeting with President Bill Clinton at a Washington hotel. "So what`s this movie about?" Clinton asked De Niro. De Niro looked over to Levinson, hoping he would answer the question. Levinson, in turn, looked over to Hoffman. Hoffman, realizing there was no one else to pass the buck to, is quoted as saying, "So I just started to tap dance. I can`t even remember what I said."

Was considered for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972).

I wanted to be a jazz pianist, but I wasn`t good enough. I got into city college because I didn`t have the grades to get into university. I took acting because it was a way to get three credits. I just needed three credits and my friend told me to take acting because it was like gym - nobody fails you. I took it and that`s literally how I got involved in acting.

The truth is, the older you get, the less variety of parts you are offered. If you`re a star and you`ve spent most of your career being able to take your pick of the litter, you notice when the offers start to diminish. You`re too old to play leads, so you`re offered the supporting role - but many stars don`t want to make that transition. They see it as a sign of symbolic impotence. And that the audience will no longer regard them as a star. I love acting, and I`m not going to determine what I do based on what I fear other people might think. I do what I want to do.

(2004 quote) I once met Clint Eastwood, and it was remarkable. I studied him as I spoke to him. I looked down, and his pants were a little short -- they showed a bit too much of his socks. There was something so timid and shy and almost gawky about him in real life. I remember thinking to myself, Someone should have cast him in Meet John Doe, the Frank Capra movie, because that`s the real him. There`s not a wisp of aggression about him. That`s the real essence, not the guy who says, "Make my day."

[on Mike Nichols] He makes you feel kind of like a kite. He lets you go ahead and you do your thing. And then when you`re finished he pulls you in by the string. But at least you`ve had the enjoyment of the wind.

[on working with Meryl Streep in "Kramer Vs. Kramer"] She`s an ox when it comes to acting. She eats words for breakfast. Working with her is like playing tennis with Chris Evert -- she keeps trying to hit the perfect ball.

[on he and Gene Hackman as young stage actors and roommates in New York]: Psychologically, Gene/myself, we did not think about making it in the terms that people think about. We fully expected to be failures for our entire life. Meaning that we would always be scrambling to get a part. We were actors. We had no pretensions. There was more dignity in being unsuccessful.

[in 2005] "I became an actor because I believed I was a failure. In acting, because so few of us ever get work, I could feel proud and fail with dignity. I was born into what I now know was a dysfunctional family. I found that out in therapy three weeks ago."

I don`t like the fact that I have to get older so fast, but I like the fact that I`m aging so well.

Euthanasia is legal in Hollywood. They just kill the film if it doesn`t succeed immediately.

I`m sixty-eight, I cry every chance I can.

[About acting] "You get caught of guard during a take. Your mind goes wild and it just comes out `Waaa, you talking to me!` "

[About his new film Stranger Than Fiction (2006)] "I`m really proud of it, and I`ve only said that about three times during my career."

One thing about being successful is that I stopped being afraid of dying. Once you`re a star you`re dead already. You`re embalmed.

[on the administration of President George Bush and its invasion of Iraq] "For me as an American, the most painful aspect of this is that I believe that [this] administration has taken the events of 9/11 and has manipulated the grief of the country and I think that`s reprehensible. I don`t think, like many of us, that the reasons we have been given for going to war are the honest reasons. If they are saying it`s about the fact they have biological weapons and might have nuclear weapons and that gives us the liberty to pre-empt and strike because we think they might hit us, then what prevents Pakistan from attacking India, what prevents India from attacking Pakistan, what prevents us from going into North Korea? I believe--though I may wrong because I am no expert--that this war is about what most wars are about: hegemony, money, power and oil."

A good review from the critics is just another stay of execution.

God knows I`ve done enough crap in my life to grow a few flowers.

I grew up thinking a movie star had to be like Rock Hudson or Tab Hunter, certainly nobody in any way like me.

Stardom equals freedom. It`s the only equation that matters.

You go to the cinema and you realize you`re watching the third act. There is no first or second act. There is this massive film-making where you spend this incredible amount of money and play right to the demographic. You can tell how much money the film is going to make by how it does on the first weekend. The whole culture is in the crap house. It`s not just true in the movies, it`s also true in the theater.

If a lot of dogs are on the beach, the first thing they do is smell each other`s ass. The information that`s gotten somehow makes pacifists out of all of them. I`ve thought, `If only we smelled each other`s asses, there wouldn`t be any war.`

I lived below the official American poverty line until I was 31.

I got into acting so that I could meet girls. Pretty girls came later. First, I wanted to start off with someone with two legs, who`d smile at me and look soft.

We all believe what we read. I read how Tom Cruise and I were two big egos holding up shooting. I know that isn`t true - but if I wasn`t making a movie with him and I just picked up the paper, I`d believe it. That`s interesting, isn`t it?