Basil Hoffman
Known for Acting · 73 credits
- Born
- 1938-01-18
- Died
- 2021-09-17
- Place of birth
- Houston, Texas, USA
- Also known as
- Basil Harry Hoffman
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.
Known For
TV Shows (26)
Columbo
1971
as Jason Danziger
Seinfeld
1989
as Wig Salesman
The West Wing
1999
as Congressman
Falcon Crest
1981
as Reverend Mustafa
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Milton Overguard
M*A*S*H
1972
as Major Pfiefer
The Practice
1997
as Tucker's Atty. Art Hardiman (uncredited)
The Waltons
1972
as Prof Ranney
Hill Street Blues
1981
as Ed Greenglass (archive footage) (uncredited)
Night Court
1984
as Duane Sedgwick
Matlock
1986
as Gary Springer
The Rockford Files
1974
as Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Barney Miller
1975
as Allen Korbel
The Twilight Zone
1985
as Mr. Steward (segment "Button, Button")
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
1997
as Gerald Stanley (segment "The Dresser")
Kojak
1973
as Charlie Winston
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1985
as Dr. Michaels
Sanford and Son
1972
as Store Owner
Sledge Hammer!
1986
as Sam Steinway
Ellery Queen
1975
as Technical Print Man, Harry
Eerie, Indiana
1991
as Bert (uncredited)
For the People
2002
as Judge Olsen
Kindred: The Embraced
1996
as Charon the Coroner
Out of the Blue
1979
as Herman Donaldson
Maggie
1981
as Dr. Louis Milton
Beauty and the Beast
1987
as Trask
Movies (47)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1977
as Longly (uncredited)
The Artist
2011
as Auctioneer
Hail, Caesar!
2016
as Stu Schwartz (Accounting)
Ordinary People
1980
as Sloan
All the President's Men
1976
as Assistant Metro Editor
Night Shift
1982
as Drollhauser
The Box
2009
as Don Poates
The Last Word
2017
as Christopher Georrge
Switch
1991
as Higgins
Down with Love
2003
as C. W. (uncredited)
Rio, I Love You
2014
as James (segment "La Fortuna")
All of Me
1984
as Court Clerk
Communion
1989
as Dr. Friedman
The Milagro Beanfield War
1988
as In the Governor's Office
Mommy I Didn't Do It
2017
as Otis Pell
Comes a Horseman
1978
as George Bascomb
Lambada
1990
as Superintendent Leland
The Ratings Game
1984
as Frank Friedlander
Love at First Bite
1979
as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Surreal Estate
2011
as Mr. Black
Lady Liberty
1971
as Willett (uncredited)
The Electric Horseman
1979
as Toland
Jennifer: A Woman’s Story
1979
as Neil Turner
At Long Last Love
1975
as Movie Theatre Manager
3 Geezers!
2013
as Victor
My Favorite Year
1982
as Herb Lee
Throwdown
2014
as Judge Eller
The Ice Runner
1992
as J.C. Kruck
Culture
1997
as Editor
Mimi & Me
1991
as Professor Sauer
Welcome Home, Jellybean
1984
as Mr. Rasmussen
Scout's Honor
1980
as Alexander
Games Mother Never Taught You
1982
as Dwayne Hilson
Cage Without a Key
1975
as Judge
Discovering Ella
2023
as Bob Stephens
Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspects
1975
as Fingerprint Expert
Third Act
2022
as Uncle Paul
The Elvira Show
1993
as Dr. Marvin Zislis
The Great Ice Rip-Off
1974
as Richards
Lucky Louie
2023
as Wilbert Moser
Love’s Dark Ride
1978
as Dr. Kanlan
The Pineville Heist
2016
as Principal Parker
Hefner: Unauthorized
1999
as Lawyer
The French American
2015
as Monsieur Tissot
Mr. Roberts
2019
as Mr. Roberts
America on Parade
1976
When Life Gives You Lemons
2010
as Calvin Adams
About Basil Hoffman
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 Ameri… With 73 credits spanning from 1971 to 2023, Basil Hoffman has appeared in 47 films and 26 TV shows.
Fans searching for Basil Hoffman movies, Basil Hoffman filmography, or the latest projects starring Basil Hoffman can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Basil Hoffman Movies
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) — as Longly (uncredited)
- The Artist (2011) — as Auctioneer
- Hail, Caesar! (2016) — as Stu Schwartz (Accounting)
- Ordinary People (1980) — as Sloan
- All the President's Men (1976) — as Assistant Metro Editor
Where to Watch Basil Hoffman Films
Most Basil Hoffman movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Basil Hoffman, check our movies catalogue and browse page.