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, …
Movies & TV Shows
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) — Longly (uncredited)
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Hail, Caesar! (2016) — Stu Schwartz (Accounting)
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The Artist (2011) — Auctioneer
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Seinfeld (1989) — Wig Salesman
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All the President's Men (1976) — Assistant Metro Editor
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The Box (2009) — Don Poates
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Columbo (1971) — Jason Danziger
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Down with Love (2003) — C. W. (uncredited)
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M*A*S*H (1972) — Major Pfiefer
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Ordinary People (1980) — Sloan
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The West Wing (1999) — Congressman
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Murder, She Wrote (1984) — Milton Overguard
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All of Me (1984) — Court Clerk
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The Last Word (2017) — Christopher Georrge
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Beauty and the Beast (1987) — Trask
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Switch (1991) — Higgins
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The Twilight Zone (1985) — Mr. Steward (segment "Button, Button")
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Night Shift (1982) — Drollhauser
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Communion (1989) — Dr. Friedman
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Sledge Hammer! (1986) — Sam Steinway
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The Electric Horseman (1979) — Toland
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Kojak (1973) — Charlie Winston
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Night Court (1984) — Duane Sedgwick
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Matlock (1986) — Gary Springer
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The Rockford Files (1974) — Desk Clerk (uncredited)
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Hill Street Blues (1981) — Ed Greenglass (archive footage) (uncredited)
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My Favorite Year (1982) — Herb Lee
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Love at First Bite (1979) — Hotel Manager (uncredited)
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The Practice (1997) — Tucker's Atty. Art Hardiman (uncredited)
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The Waltons (1972) — Prof Ranney
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Sanford and Son (1972) — Store Owner
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The Milagro Beanfield War (1988) — In the Governor's Office
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Eerie, Indiana (1991) — Bert (uncredited)
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Comes a Horseman (1978) — George Bascomb
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Falcon Crest (1981) — Reverend Mustafa
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The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) — Dr. Michaels
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Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997) — Gerald Stanley (segment "The Dresser")
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Barney Miller (1975) — Allen Korbel
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Rio, I Love You (2014) — James (segment "La Fortuna")
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Ellery Queen (1975) — Technical Print Man, Harry