Dustin Hoffman, who famously dressed in drag for *Tootsie* 30 years ago, kept a different kind of secret—a serious illness that nearly took his life.
In 2013, when he was 75, the *Rain Man* actor revealed that he had undergone treatment for throat cancer, which was successfully treated with surgery. However, he didn’t talk about it again.
To learn more about the Oscar-winning actor’s battle with cancer, keep reading.
In 1967, a 30-year-old Dustin Hoffman had his big break in the romantic comedy *The Graduate,* a role that earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Over the years, Hoffman starred in classic films like *All the President’s Men* (1976) and *Kramer vs. Kramer* (1979), where he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 1983, Hoffman took on a memorable role in *Tootsie,* where he played a struggling actor who dresses as a woman to land a part on a soap opera.
In *Tootsie*, where he played a woman, Dustin Hoffman was upset when he was told he wasn’t very attractive. He remembered being told, “That’s as beautiful as we can get you,” which made him cry.
Hoffman said, “If I were going to be a woman, I’d want to be as beautiful as possible. Hearing that was a shock.”
This experience had a big impact on him. The now 86-year-old actor realized it changed how he views and treats women.
He said, “I went home and started crying. When I see myself on screen, I think I’m an interesting woman, but if I met that character at a party, I wouldn’t talk to her because she doesn’t fit the beauty standards we’re taught to expect.”
Even though *Tootsie* was the second highest-grossing film of the year, after *E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial*, Dustin Hoffman didn’t find it funny. He said, “That was never a comedy for me.”
Despite this, Hoffman became one of Hollywood’s most popular actors. He won his second Oscar for the 1988 film *Rain Man* and went on to earn six Golden Globes and one Primetime Emmy.
By 2013, despite staying active in his career, Hoffman became more reserved.
A few months after Dustin Hoffman made his directorial debut with the British comedy *Quartet* (2012) and finished working on *Chef* (2014) with Jon Favreau and Sofia Vergara, his publicist shared why he had been keeping a low profile.
Publicist Jodi Gottlieb told People (via ABC News) that Hoffman had been privately treated for cancer. She said, “It was detected early, and he has been successfully treated. Dustin is feeling great and is in good health.”
At the time, Hoffman was 75 and would continue with preventative treatments to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Although Gottlieb didn’t specify the type of cancer, it’s been suggested it was throat cancer.
Despite this challenge, Hoffman didn’t slow down. He continued to work, lending his voice to Master Shifu in *Kung Fu Panda* movies, and appearing in films like *Sam and Kate* (2022) and the sci-fi drama *Megalopolis* (2024).
In early March 2024, Hello! reported that Dustin Hoffman and his wife, Lisa Gottsegen—whom he married in 1980—were seen walking around London, showing affection for each other.
Hoffman and Gottsegen, who have been married for 43 years, have four children together. Hoffman also has two children from his previous marriage to Anne Byrne.
The article mentioned that Hoffman, who is 86, looked much younger as he smiled and waved at the cameras. He appeared relaxed and happy while exploring the city and visiting shops with his wife.
Although Hoffman hasn’t talked publicly about his cancer battle, it seems he’s doing well.
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