In his family he was considered a loser because they told him he lacked intelligence and that he could barely finish school, unlike his older brother, who was "an outstanding student, captain of the football and baseball team, and I was the comedian," he admitted several years ago.
Also, as a child, he hid his Jewish origin because he was bullied at school, and as he grew up, he disconnected from his roots. But in 2016, he was deeply moved when he learned about the sacrifices of his ancestors on the program Finding Your Roots, where he embraced his identity and declared: "I am Jewish."
After dropping out of medical school, he enrolled in drama school at the Playhouse in Pasadena, where, as he has stated on more than one occasion, he pursued acting to meet beautiful girls.
During his training in 1956, he coincided in class with another aspiring actor, Gene Hackman, with whom he shared an apartment - later joined by Robert Duvall - and maintained a strong friendship until Hackman's death last year. Both had their first big break in 1967, Hoffman with The Graduate, for which he earned $17,000, and Hackman with Bonnie and Clyde.
He is the only actor in history who has starred in eight Oscar-nominated films, three of which won the coveted statuette: Midnight Cowboy, Kramer vs. Kramer, and Rain Man. Despite his success, he does not forget his origins as upon arriving in New York, he worked at a psychiatric hospital, made lei garlands, worked as a toy department clerk at Macy's, and even taught acting classes for years where he charged five dollars per student.
After becoming one of the industry's great promises, he married in 1969 the dancer and actress Anne Byrne, whom he had met six years earlier. Hoffman adopted Karina (60), his wife's daughter from a previous relationship, and together they had a daughter, Jenna (55). The year after the wedding, they narrowly escaped death due to the accidental explosion of a bomb in the house next to theirs, where, unbeknownst to anyone, the domestic radical terrorist group The Weathermen lived.
The marriage ended in divorce in 1980, and just six days after finalizing the divorce, the actor married businesswoman Lisa Gottsegen, with whom he has four children, Jake (45), Rebecca (43), Max (41), and Alexandra (39). "I know it's a fantasy, but I would like to be that kind of father who resembles the ideal director. That is, someone who guides you without you realizing it, without imposing," he told the Washington Post in 1979.
Twenty-five years later, he confessed to The Independent: "(...) I like having a close relationship with my family. I like kissing my children, and I like that my children, even the older ones, kiss me. I don't think my decision to be affectionate with my children was intellectual. I think it was visceral."
Among the numerous awards he has won are two Oscars out of seven nominations, six Golden Globes out of 13 nominations, four Baftas, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Surprisingly, Hoffman frequently battles stage fright and self-doubt about himself and his career, which contrasts with his demeanor up close, as he considers himself sociable, empathetic, warm, witty, and loves sharing anecdotes from his Hollywood experience. During one of his visits to Madrid, he didn't hesitate to hug a journalist at a press conference when he learned that her mother had passed away from cancer.