Dustin Hoffman Overview

Born in Los Angeles, Dustin Hoffman was named after actor Dustin Farnum. His father was in the entertainment business, but worked behind the scenes as a set dresser and prop supervisor at Columbia Studios. When the Depression hit, the Russian Jew was forced to work as a furniture salesman. Hoffman's mother also left her theatrical aspirations to raise Hoffman and his older brother. Performing came naturally to Hoffman, who remembers clowning around for the benefit of his elementary school... See All