When Dustin Hoffman Refused to " Soften" His Character - To Tell the Truth While preparing for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Dustin Hoffman was offered a chance to play a the father as a gentle, idealized man - to make the audience sympathize. • But Hoffman refused. He believed the truth was more important - than likability. He made the character flawed, impulsive, even selfish at times - but real. He said: "I wanted people to see the mess. Because parenting is messy." That choice brought rawness to

Purely History on Instagram: "In Rain Man (1988), the phone booth scene where Dustin Hoffman’s character farts was unscripted. Hoffman really did it during filming, and Tom Cruise’s reaction — laughing and teasing him — was completely improvised. Director Barry Levinson decided to keep it in the final cut because the exchange felt natural and added to the authenticity of the brothers’ relationship. It’s now remembered as one of the film’s most charming improvised moments."

Prime Movies on Instagram: "Dustin Hoffman spent a year working with autistic men and their families to prepare for Rain Man (1988). The authenticity of that research comes through in moments like this."

Dustin Hoffman’s 13 Best Film Performances: From ‘The Graduate’ to ‘Tootsie’