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Dustin Hoffman on becoming a star

For a previously unknown actor named Dustin Hoffman, the success of The Graduate was a "happy accident," according to CBC interviewer Moses Znaimer. Sudden fame means Hoffman has been careful not to be trapped into playing Benjamin Braddock for the rest of his career. In this conversation with Znaimer, a slightly guarded Hoffman describes his latest role, as Ratso Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy, and ruminates on acting, fame and selling out. 
• Dustin Hoffman was nominated for an Academy Award for both The Graduate and Midnight Cowboy (which, contrary to his fears, did not "bomb" - it won Best Picture in 1969). Hoffman has since won the Best Actor trophy twice, for Kramer Vs. Kramer (1977) and Rain Man (1988).

• This interview was filmed in Hoffman's apartment for the CBC program The Way it Is.  A version of it later appeared on Take 30, but because that episode was not available, this clip is taken from the original interview reel. 

Medium: Television
Program: Take 30
Broadcast Date: Oct. 22, 1968
Guest(s): Dustin Hoffman
Interviewer: Moses Znaimer
Duration: 28:52

Last updated: September 18, 2012

Page consulted on March 25, 2013

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