Dustin Hoffman, Hollywood's Anti-Hero

by Jeff Lenburg

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312222688
• ISBN13: 9780312222680
• Release Date: January 1983
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 172 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

********Dustin Hoffman*********

On August 8, 1937 a second son was born to Harry and LillianHoffman. A son who would change many peoples lives through his humorand wits. In 1952 Dustin took up classical piano, dreaming aboutmaking it some day as a professional classical pianist. He was alsocalled on to play in school assemblies whenever the scheduled speakersfailed to show, even though he knew only one song, "BumbleBoogie." Besides piano Dustin was very industrious. As a memberof his high school's tennis team and also track team, where he wasspecialized in marathon running. In the book there is a passage, thatHoffman explains: "I was the Bumble Boogie ace in the hole. Atparties, the first thing I did was find the piano. I would sit on theedge of the bench, leaving room for the right girl to sit down next tome, and say, 'Boy, do you have sensitive hands.' She never did."Hoffman also explains his earlier years as: "a kid who was alwaystoo short, wore braces on his teeth, and had one of the worst cases ofacne in Los Angeles." In early 1957, Dustin again had a change ofheart because he came to realize acting was his greatest joy. Lateron while Hoffman got into acting and got some off-broadway roles, healso got some side jobs. His first being a psychiatric attendant in amental hospital. On his first day there, he explained: "I wasscared silly! Charging down the hall was a middle-aged guy. He saidto me, 'I'm getting out next Sunday...my wife's an old Dutchcleanser... you got nice teeth, sonny boy, are they yours?' Ramblingon senselessly, the man, without warning, suddenly started making thenoise of an electric razor, unnerving Hoffman considerably. Thispassage shows Hoffman's great sense of humor... To say more aboutthis book would be too much. Jeff Lenburg includes many of thedetails that you want to know about Dustin Hoffman. I liked this bookbecause you can follow a great comedian through his hardships, andvictories in his life.