Hoffman's first stage role was in the Sarah Lawrence College production of Gertrude Stein's 'Yes If For a Very Young Man.' He made his Broadway debut with a walk-on part in 'A Cook for Mr. General' in 1961.

Hoffman joined the Theatre Company of Boston for one season, then returned to New York to work as an assistant director on Arthur Miller's 'A View From the Bridge.' He continued appearing on stage in such productions as 'Harry, Noon and Night,' 'The Journey of the Fifth Horse,' for which he won an Obie Award as Best Actor, and the farce 'Eh?,' directed by Alan Arkin, for which he won the Theatre World and Drama Desk Awards.

His performance in 'Eh?' brought him to the attention of director Mike Nichols, who cast Hoffman in the title role in 'The Graduate.' His portrayal of young Benjamin Braddock brought him his first Academy Award nomination.

Hoffman returned to Broadway to star in 'Jimmy Shine' by Murray Schisgal; he then co-starred with Jon Voight in John Schlesinger's Academy Award-winning 'Midnight Cowboy.' This brought Hoffman his second Oscar nomination. Subsequent films include 'John and Mary,' 'Little Big Man,' 'Who is Harry Kellerman?,' 'Straw Dogs,' 'Alfredo, Alfredo,' 'Papillon' and 'Lenny,' which earned the actor his third Oscar nomination.

He made his directorial debut on Broadway in 1974 with Murray Schisgal's 'All Over Town.' He returned to the Broadway stage as Willy Loman in the 1984 revival of Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman,' for which he earned the Drama Desk Award for Best Actor. Filmed as a special presentation for television, 'Death of a Salesman' also brought Hoffman an Emmy Award.

In 1989 Hoffman enjoyed a long run on the London stage as Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice' and later reprised the role on Broadway, for which he received a Tony nomination.