Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Lee Hoffman is an American actor and director with a career in film, television, and theatre since 1960. He has been known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1980 and 1988 .

Hoffman was born on August 8, 1937 in Los Angeles, the second son of Lillian and Harry Hoffman . His father worked as a prop supervisor at Columbia Pictures before becoming a furniture salesman. Hoffman was named after stage and silent screen actor Dustin Farnum. His older brother, Ronald, is a lawyer and economist. Hoffman is Jewish, from an Ashkenazi family of immigrants from the Russian Empire, Poland, and Romania . His upbringing was nonreligious he has said, I dont have any memory of celebrating holidays growing up that were Jewish, and that he had realized he was Jewish at around age 10. He graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1955 and enrolled at Santa Monica College with the intention of studying medicine. Hoffman left after a year to join the Pasadena Playhouse, although when he told his family about his career goal, his Aunt Pearl warned him You cant be an actor. You are not goodlooking enough. He also took classes at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

Source: Wikipedia