Dustin Hoffman names the only actor comparable to Marlon Brando: “He was that good”
Dustin Hoffman is renowned for his sensitive and devastatingly human performances in films like The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, All The President’s Men and Kramer vs Kramer, adding a tender vulnerability to characters who are lost and on a fraught journey of self-discovery.
Whether it be his portrayal of Ben Braddock in Mike Nichols’ coming-of-age masterpiece about oppressive values and the struggle for freedom or the devastating French toast scene as Ted Kramer, Hoffman has established himself as one of the most moving everyman performers. He adds depth to stories that resonate with global audiences and touches on complex experiences that speak to universal struggles.
While the actor has been labelled as one of the greats, with the likes of Robert De Niro singing his praises, his career has been inspired by many other actors, describing the influence of one performer who he compares to the likes of Marlon Brando.
Being compared to Brando has become the ultimate compliment for anyone in show business, with the intimidating actor being hailed as the cream of the crop and praised for his iconic performances in films like The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and On The Waterfront.
For anyone in Hollywood, it is a privilege to be lumped into the same category of greatness as Brando. It is not a compliment that is thrown around very often, but Hoffman compared the late Gene Hackman to his towering achievements.
Hackman was one of the most unconventional movie stars of all time, known for his stoic and deeply serious on-screen persona that led him to beautifully embody tortured souls and deeply conflicted characters. From his performance in The Conversation, The French Connection and Bonnie and Clyde, the actor defined a new generation of performance through his fierce devotion to the craft and intensely analytical approach, adding a new profound level of depth to each character.
When describing Hackman’s legacy and career, Hoffman mentioned their early work together at school, saying, “I met Gene in acting school, at the Pasadena Playhouse, when he was 27 and I was 19. We used to play congas together on the roof, trying to be like our hero Marlon Brando. And Gene was like Brando, in that he brought something unprecedented to our craft, something people didn’t immediately understand as genius. He was expelled from our school after three months for ‘not having talent.’ It was the first time they ever did that. He was that good. Powerful, subtle, brilliant. A giant among actors. I miss him already.”
His influence on cinema cannot be understated, becoming a key player within the New Hollywood movement and changing audiences perception of what constituted a movie star, with Hackman becoming the face of a new era in which less glamourised performers were sweeping through cinema and changing the game. Hoffman was a truly one-of-a-kind performer, and his impact on the medium will continue to be felt over the years as Hollywood expands on his pioneering work and uses his creative power to continue sharing strange and risky stories.
