Basil Hoffman

Basil Hoffman

Deceased · Born: Jan 18, 1938 · Died: Sep 17, 2021

Personal Details

BornJan 18, 1938 Houston, Texas, USA

Biography

Basil Harry Hoffman (January 18, 1938 — September 17, 2021) was an American actor with a film and television career spanning five decades, mostly in supporting roles. He starred in films with many award-winning directors, including Alan Pakula and Robert Redford. He has also authored two books about acting, including Acting and How to Be Good at It. Hoffman was born in Houston, Texas in January 1938, the son of Beulah (née Novoselsky) and David Hoffman, an antique dealer. He graduated from Tulane University; and he spent two years at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, receiving a scholarship for the second, graduating year. His thirteen years of work in New York included many plays, some roles in episodic television, a recurring character on One Life to Live on ABC, hundreds of commercials and a film role in Lady Liberty with Sophia Loren, directed by Mario Monicelli. He made his first trip to Los Angeles in 1974. In that season, he filmed a theatrical feature, At Long Last Love, for Peter Bogdanovich. In the years that followed he appeared in two television movies, television episodes of Kung Fu, The Rockford Files, Sanford and Son (2 roles),Police Woman, Columbo, Kojak, M*A*S*H (2 roles),Barney Miller and several TV commercials. He had recurring roles as the fingerprint technician on Ellery Queen and as Principal Dingleman on Square Pegs. Although most of his work was in film and television, he made a few stage appearances, most notably in Sand Mountain, by Romulus Linney, for which he won a Drama-Logue Award, the first staged reading of Martin E. Brooks’ Joe and Flo at the Actors Studio, and the world premiere of William Blinn's Walking Peoria. He was best known for his work with distinguished film directors, including Peter Bogdanovich, Mario Monicelli, Richard Benjamin, Carl Reiner (twice),Peter Medak (six times) and Alan J. Pakula (twice); Academy Award winners Joel and Ethan Coen, Paolo Sorrentino, Michel Hazanavicius, Steven Spielberg, Delbert Mann, Blake Edwards, Stanley Donen, Sydney Pollack, Ron Howard and Robert Redford (twice as director); and others. His films include: All the President's Men, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, My Favorite Year, The Box, The Electric Horseman, Night Shift, Lucky Lady, Switch, The Milagro Beanfield War, Rio, I Love You, The Pineville Heist, and the Academy Award-winning Best Pictures Ordinary People and The Artist, among many others. A long-time private acting teacher and coach, he was also a frequent guest lecturer and teacher at prestigious professional and academic institutions, including the American Film Institute, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Emerson College, the University of Southern California, Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and the Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts in Beirut, Lebanon. In 2008, he returned to Beirut as a U.S. State Department Cultural Envoy to Lebanon to teach acting and directing at the University of Balamand's Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts, Lebanese University, Notre Dame University and St. Joseph University's Institut D'Etude Sceniques Audiovisuelles et Cinematographiques. ... Source: Article "Basil Hoffman" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Career

{"id":232640,"title":"Lucky Louie","year":"2023","character":"Wilbert Moser","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/lucky-louie","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_232640.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_232640.jpg"},"released":1}
2023
Lucky Louie
Lucky Louie as Wilbert Moser
{"id":273897,"title":"Discovering Ella","year":"2023","character":"Bob Stephens","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/discovering-ella","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_273897.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_273897.jpg"},"released":1}
Discovering Ella
Discovering Ella as Bob Stephens
{"id":243825,"title":"Third Act","year":"2022","character":"Uncle Paul","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/third-act","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_243825.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_243825.jpg"},"released":1}
2022
Third Act
Third Act as Uncle Paul
{"id":189553,"title":"Project: Puppies for Christmas","year":"2019","character":"Fred","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/project-puppies-for-christmas","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_189553.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_189553.jpg"},"released":1}
2019
{"id":110975,"title":"The Last Word","year":"2017","character":"Christopher Georrge","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-last-word-2017","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/440e3fi93ea0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/440e3fi93ea0.jpg"},"released":1}
2017
The Last Word
The Last Word as Christopher Georrge
{"id":103248,"title":"The Pineville Heist","year":"2016","character":"Principal Parker","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-pineville-heist","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_103248.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_103248.jpg"},"released":1}
2016
The Pineville Heist
The Pineville Heist as Principal Parker
{"id":89732,"title":"Hail, Caesar!","year":"2016","character":"Stu Schwartz (Accounting)","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/hail-caesar-2016","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/35in113b2ngg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/35in113b2ngg.jpg"},"released":1}
Hail, Caesar!
Hail, Caesar! as Stu Schwartz (Accounting)
{"id":16147,"title":"Beyond Justice","year":"2014","character":"Judge Eller","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/beyond-justice","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_16147.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_16147.jpg"},"released":1}
2014
Beyond Justice
Beyond Justice as Judge Eller
{"id":20591,"title":"Rio, I Love You","year":"2014","character":"James (segment \"La Fortuna\")","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/rio-i-love-you","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_20591.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_20591.jpg"},"released":1}
Rio, I Love You
Rio, I Love You as James (segment "La Fortuna")
{"id":9762,"title":"3 Geezers!","year":"2013","character":"Victor","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/3-geezers","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_9762.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_9762.jpg"},"released":1}
2013
3 Geezers!
3 Geezers! as Victor
{"id":415,"title":"The Artist","year":"2011","character":"Auctioneer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-artist","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/rau58ili7ho0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/rau58ili7ho0.jpg"},"released":1}
2011
The Artist
The Artist as Auctioneer
{"id":1226,"title":"The Box","year":"2009","character":"Don Poates","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-box","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/54bh9id4s6v0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/54bh9id4s6v0.jpg"},"released":1}
2009
The Box
The Box as Don Poates
{"id":6500,"title":"Down with Love","year":"2003","character":"C. W. (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/down-with-love","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_6500.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_6500.jpg"},"released":1}
2003
Down with Love
Down with Love as C. W. (uncredited)
{"id":79,"title":"Seinfeld","year":1994,"character":"Wig Salesman","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/seinfeld","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/131frpdlojrg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/131frpdlojrg.jpg"},"released":1}
1994
Seinfeld
Seinfeld as Wig Salesman
{"id":158964,"title":"The Ice Runner","year":"1992","character":"J.C. Kruck","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-ice-runner","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_158964.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_158964.jpg"},"released":1}
1992
The Ice Runner
The Ice Runner as J.C. Kruck
{"id":18334,"title":"The Double 0 Kid","year":"1992","character":"Trout","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-double-0-kid","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_18334.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_18334.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":5009,"title":"Switch","year":"1991","character":"Higgins","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/switch","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_5009.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_5009.jpg"},"released":1}
1991
Switch
Switch as Higgins
{"id":7774,"title":"Lambada","year":"1990","character":"Superintendent Leland","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/lambada","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_7774.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_7774.jpg"},"released":1}
1990
Lambada
Lambada as Superintendent Leland
{"id":8204,"title":"Communion","year":"1989","character":"Dr. Friedman","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/communion","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_8204.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_8204.jpg"},"released":1}
1989
Communion
Communion as Dr. Friedman
{"id":6803,"title":"The Milagro Beanfield War","year":"1988","character":"In the Governor's Office","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-milagro-beanfield-war","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_6803.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_6803.jpg"},"released":1}
1988
The Milagro Beanfield War
The Milagro Beanfield War as In the Governor's Office
{"id":62809,"title":"The Ratings Game","year":"1984","character":"Frank Friedlander","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-ratings-game","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_62809.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_62809.jpg"},"released":1}
1984
The Ratings Game
The Ratings Game as Frank Friedlander
{"id":6212,"title":"All of Me","year":"1984","character":"Court Clerk","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/all-of-me","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_6212.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_6212.jpg"},"released":1}
All of Me
All of Me as Court Clerk
{"id":6509,"title":"My Favorite Year","year":"1982","character":"Herb Lee","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/my-favorite-year","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_6509.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_6509.jpg"},"released":1}
1982
{"id":6476,"title":"Night Shift","year":"1982","character":"Drollhauser","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/night-shift","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/b60ucufcse20.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/b60ucufcse20.jpg"},"released":1}
Night Shift
Night Shift as Drollhauser
{"id":1215,"title":"Ordinary People","year":"1980","character":"Sloan","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/ordinary-people","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7453fb8h8tm0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7453fb8h8tm0.jpg"},"released":1}
1980
{"id":80793,"title":"Scout's Honor","year":"1980","character":"Alexander","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/scouts-honor-1980-1","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_80793.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_80793.jpg"},"released":1}
Scout's Honor
Scout's Honor as Alexander
{"id":5988,"title":"The Electric Horseman","year":"1979","character":"Toland","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-electric-horseman","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_5988.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_5988.jpg"},"released":1}
1979
{"id":6070,"title":"Love at First Bite","year":"1979","character":"Hotel Manager (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/love-at-first-bite","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_6070.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_6070.jpg"},"released":1}
Love at First Bite
Love at First Bite as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
{"id":7139,"title":"Comes a Horseman","year":"1978","character":"George Bascomb","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/comes-a-horseman","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_7139.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_7139.jpg"},"released":1}
1978
Comes a Horseman
Comes a Horseman as George Bascomb
{"id":5893,"title":"Close Encounters of the Third Kind","year":"1977","character":"Longly (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/72dfqq7hpm00.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/72dfqq7hpm00.jpg"},"released":1}
1977
{"id":10207,"title":"Barney Miller","year":1977,"character":"Allen Korbel","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/barney-miller","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10207.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10207.jpg"},"released":1}
Barney Miller
Barney Miller as Allen Korbel
{"id":5970,"title":"All the President's Men","year":"1976","character":"Assistant Metro Editor","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/all-the-presidents-men","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7ncp5ulmpjm0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7ncp5ulmpjm0.jpg"},"released":1}
1976
All the President's Men
All the President's Men as Assistant Metro Editor
{"id":1070,"title":"Columbo","year":1976,"character":"Jason Danziger","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/columbo","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/5206ngri7lg0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/5206ngri7lg0.jpg"},"released":1}
Columbo
Columbo as Jason Danziger
{"id":86232,"title":"Cage Without a Key","year":"1975","character":"Judge","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/cage-without-a-key","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_86232.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_86232.jpg"},"released":1}
1975
{"id":11707,"title":"At Long Last Love","year":"1975","character":"Movie Theatre Manager","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/at-long-last-love","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_11707.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_11707.jpg"},"released":1}
At Long Last Love
At Long Last Love as Movie Theatre Manager
{"id":81640,"title":"The Great Ice Rip-Off","year":"1974","character":"Richards","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/the-great-ice-rip-off","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_81640.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_81640.jpg"},"released":1}
1974
{"id":218,"title":"M*A*S*H","year":1974,"character":"Major Pfiefer","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/show\/mash","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/532mtj55l080.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/532mtj55l080.jpg"},"released":1}
M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H as Major Pfiefer
{"id":87465,"title":"Blonde on a Bum Trip","year":"1968","character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streamtheatre.com\/us\/movie\/blonde-on-a-bum-trip","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_87465.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamtheatre.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_87465.jpg"},"released":1}
1968