No stranger to transformation, Dustin Hoffman—who famously donned drag for Tootsie 30 years ago—once cloaked himself in secrecy to battle a life-threatening illness.
In 2013, the Rain Man actor, then 75, quietly underwent treatment for throat cancer, which was successfully “surgically cured.” Despite his recovery, Hoffman chose to keep the ordeal private, rarely speaking about it publicly.
To learn more about the Oscar-winning actor’s battle with cancer and his storied career, keep reading.
Hoffman’s rise to fame began in 1967 when, at just 30 years old, he starred in the romantic comedy The Graduate. The role earned him his first Oscar nomination and catapulted him to stardom.
In the years that followed, Hoffman became a household name, starring in classics like All the President’s Men (1976) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), the latter of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
In 1983, Hoffman delivered another iconic performance in Tootsie, where he played a struggling actor who disguises himself as a woman to land a role on a soap opera. This role not only showcased his versatility but cemented his legacy as one of Hollywood’s most transformative talents.