Dustin Hoffman, famous for his role in Tootsie where he dressed in drag, once hid a secret that nearly cost him his life. In 2013, the legendary actor revealed he had been treated for throat cancer in secret. Although the cancer was “surgically cured,” Hoffman never spoke about it again.
Hoffman made his film debut in 1967 with The Graduate, earning his first Oscar nomination. He went on to star in classics like Kramer vs. Kramer and All the President’s Men. In 1983, he played a struggling actor posing as a woman in Tootsie. The film made him cry because he realized he wasn’t considered attractive as a woman. “I went home and started crying,” Hoffman recalled. He had an epiphany about society’s expectations for women and changed his attitude towards them permanently.
Despite finding Tootsie personally impactful, Hoffman became one of Hollywood’s top actors. He won his second Oscar for Rain Man in 1988, along with six Golden Globes and one Primetime Emmy.
In 2013, after directing Quartet and co-starring in Chef, Hoffman disappeared from the public eye. His publicist, Jodi Gottlieb, revealed he had been treated for cancer. “It was found early, and he has been surgically cured,” she told People. Hoffman was in excellent health and feeling great, though he would undergo preventative therapy. The specific type of cancer wasn’t disclosed, but it was believed to be throat cancer.
Even after this difficult time, Hoffman continued working. He voiced Master Shifu in Kung Fu Panda sequels and starred in movies like Megalopolis and Sam and Kate.
In March 2024, Hoffman was seen in London with his wife, Lisa Gottsegen, looking much younger than his 86 years. The couple, married since 1980, shared affectionate moments in public. Hoffman has six children, two from his first marriage to Anne Byrne and four with Gottsegen.
Though Hoffman has never publicly discussed his cancer battle, it’s clear he is doing well. His story reminds us of his resilience and the quiet strength with which he faced his illness.
Please SHARE this story with family and friends!
