Who

The doughy Hoffman made his name as a quintessential actor's actor in a slew of indies, although of late he's spent more of his time cashing in on his cred with roles in mainstream Hollywood productions.

Backstory

With a degree from NYU's Tisch School and a stint in rehab already under his belt, the young Hoffman was stocking shelves in a deli when he got his first major role alongside Al Pacino in 1992's Scent of a Woman. He didn't truly break out, though, until the late '90s, when he landed a string of roles in critical favorites like Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights, Todd Solondz's Happiness, and the Coen brothers' The Big Lebowski. (His resume ain't flawless, though: He also appeared in the abominable Robin Williams vehicle Patch Adams in 1998.) Parts followed in films like Magnolia in 1999, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Spike Lee's 25th Hour, and 2003's Cold Mountain, and he won a Best Actor Oscar for his flamboyant title turn in Bennett Miller's 2005 biopic Capote. His recent credits include Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Tamara Jenkins' The Savages, and Mike Nichols' Charlie Wilson's War.

Of note

Sure, Hoffman plays supporting roles while the Ben Afflecks and Colin Farrells of the world make star turns wearing artfully ripped t-shirts. But although Hoffman's pasty, pudgy appearance has kept him off the cover of Tiger Beat, it also forced him to earn his keep the honest way: by actually learning how to act. His dramatic chops have made him a darling of both critics and directors, and like fellow quirky critical faves John Turturro and Steve Buscemi, he does get a few mainstream roles from directors looking to inject a little gravitas into their latest big-budget mediocrity. So please forgive Hoffman when you spot him in blockbuster stinkers like Along Came Polly or Mission Impossible; the man needs to eat, too.

Upcoming

Hoffman's movies in the pipeline include Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York and John Patrick Shanley's movie adaptation of Doubt, in which he'll star opposite Meryl Streep.

Vice

While studying at Tisch, it appears Hoffman became a little too infatuated with what the city had to offer—he entered rehab immediately after graduating, at age 22. What was his particular poison? "Anything I could get my hands on … I liked it all."

Family ties

Brother Gordy Hoffman wrote 2002's Love, Liza, in which Hoffman starred as a severely depressed website designer.

Personal

Hoffman and his longtime girlfriend, costume designer Mimi O'Donnell, have two kids, son Cooper and daughter Tallulah. They live on Jane Street.

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