So when I told my parents I wanted to go into acting because I was flunking out of my first year of junior college, they were relieved that I had picked something other than joining the army. But I can't imagine how they had high hopes for me.

Hoffman received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1999 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. and Donald Sutherland. Early life
Hoffman was born in Los Angeles the second son of Lillian (née Gold) and Harry Hoffman.

This was soon followed by his breakthrough 1967 film role as Benjamin Braddock the title character in The Graduate. Hoffman has won two Academy Awards (for his performances in Kramer vs.