Dustin Hoffman, who once dressed in drag for Tootsie thirty years ago, is no stranger to hiding. He once wrapped himself in secrecy to hide a deadly illness that came dangerously close to taking his life.
The Rain Man actor, who was 75 years old at the time, disclosed in 2013 that he had treatment for throat cancer in secret; the illness was “surgically cured,” but he never mentioned it again. To find out more about the Oscar-winning actor’s battle with cancer, continue reading.
Thirty-year-old Dustin Hoffman made his big screen debut in the romantic comedy The Graduate in 1967. The picture brought him his first Oscar nomination. Hoffman acted in legendary films during the next few years, including Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and All the President’s Men (1976).
The man, who was born in California, went on to star in the movie Tootsie in 1983, where he portrays a dried-out actor who poses as a woman in order to get a part in a soap opera.
He claimed that the popular movie, in which he was referred to as a “nottie” rather than a “hottie” while dressed in drag, made him cry. They told me that’s as nice as it gets, so if I were going to be a woman, I would want to be as attractive as possible.
That’s as lovely as we can get you, Hoffman reminisced in a conversation. The now 86-year-old man had an epiphany and changed his attitude towards women permanently after learning that he wasn’t particularly attractive.
Hoffman says, “I went home and started crying.” “I think I make an interesting woman when I see myself on screen, but I also know that if I saw myself at a party, I would never approach that character because she doesn’t physically meet the expectations that society has for women in order for us to approach them about dating.”
Hoffman didn’t find the comedy humorous, even though it was the second-highest grossing movie of the year (E.T. the Extraterrestrial took the top place). “That was never a comedy for me,” he continues.
However, Hoffman rose to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand performers. Following the 1988 release of Rain Man, he won his second Oscar and went on to win six Golden Globes and one Primetime Emmy.
The man, who has a busy job, went silent in 2013.
Hoffman’s representative revealed to the public the reason behind the beloved’s disappearance just a few months after Hoffman made his directing debut in the British comedy Quartet (2012) and shortly after Chef (2014), in which he co-starred with Jon Favreau and Sofia Vergara, came to an end.
Publicist Jodi Gottlieb told People (via ABC News) that the celebrity had undergone effective treatment for cancer, which he had kept a secret. Gottlieb stated, “It was found early, and he has been surgically cured.” “Dustin is in excellent health and is feeling great.” The 75-year-old Tony Award nominee would reportedly undergo preventative therapy to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence in the future. Gottlieb did not specify the sort of cancer, but it has been said that he has throat cancer.
Reminding us to be resilient, Meet the Fockers continued to go strong even after the heartbreaking news was announced over ten years ago. Since then, he has provided the voice of Master Shifu for two more Kung Fu Panda films (from 2008 to 2024) and has starred in a number of other films, including the ensemble cast sci-fi thriller Megalopolis (2024) and Sam and Kate (2022).
Hoffman was photographed wandering through London with his wife Lisa Gottsegen, whom he married in 1980, in early March 2024, according to Hello!. The couple appeared to be sharing some endearing public shows of affection. Hoffman’s brood of two children, which he began with his ex-wife Anne Byrne, grew by four when he married Gottsegen. “The Hollywood legend looked years younger than 86 as he smiled and waved at the cameras,” the outlet reports. He and his 43-year-old wife were strolling through the city and popping into boutiques when he looked tanned and carefree.
Hoffman has never discussed his fight with cancer in public, but it seems like he’s doing great.
