Basil Harry Hoffman (January 18, 1938 – September 17, 2021) was an American actor and acting teacher. Originally from Houston, he began to study acting after graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans with a degree in economics. He was best known for Ordinary People, My Favorite Year, and The Artist.
Hoffman wrote the books Cold Reading and How to Be Good At It and Acting and How to Be Good At It. He was married to Christine Elizabeth Reed from 1988 until her death in 2006.
Works with Basil Hoffman:
Film
- 1971 Lady Liberty: Willett (Uncredited Role)
- 1974 The Great Ice Rip Off: Richards (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1975 At Long Last Love: Theatre Manager
- 1975 Cage Without A Key: Judge (TV Movie)
- 1975 Lucky Lady: Auctioneer’s Assistant
- 1976 All the President's Men: Assistant Metro Editor
- 1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Longly (Uncredited)
- 1977 American Raspberry: Presidential Advisor
- 1978 Comes A Horseman: George Bascomb
- 1979 Love at First Bite: Hotel Manager (uncredited)
- 1979 The Electric Horseman: Toland
- 1980 Ordinary People: Sloan
- 1980 Scouts Honor: Alexander (TV Movie)
- 1982 Night Shift: Drollhauser
- 1982 My Favorite Year: Herb Lee
- 1984 Kidco: Sid Fein
- 1984 All of Me: Court Clerk
- 1984 The Ratings Game: Frank Friedlander (TV Movie)
- 1988 The Milagro Beanfield War: In the Governor’s Office
- 1989 Communion: Dr. Friedman
- 1990 Lambada: Supt. Leland
- 1991 Switch (1991): Higgins
- 1994 Pontiac Moon: Car Buyer (Uncredited)
- 1999 Hefner Unauthorized: Lawyer
- 2003 Down with Love: C. W. (Uncredited)
- 2009 Old Dogs: Zeke
- 2009 The Box: Don Poates
- 2010 One Wish: Headmaster Ludwig
- 2011 The Artist: Auctioneer
- 2013 Three Geezers: Victor
- 2014 Rio I Love You: James
- 2016 Hail, Caesar!: Stu Schwartz – Accounting
- 2016 The Pineville Heist: Principal Parker
- 2017 The Last Word: Nervous Older Man
Television
- 1964 The Defenders (1961): Juror (1 episode)
- 1968 Thats Life 1968: Commuter (1 episode)
- 1974 Kung Fu: Telegrapher (1 episode)
- 1974 Police Woman: Desk Clerk #2 (1 episode)
- 1974-77 Sanford and Son: Store Owner/Maitre d’ (2 episodes)
- 1974-79 M*A*S*H: Major Pfiefer/Major Bartruff (2 episodes)
- 1975 The Waltons: Prof. Ranney (1 episode)
- 1975 Ellery Queen: Fingerprint Expert – Harry (2 episodes)
- 1975 Kate Mc Shane: Stanley Miller (1 episode)
- 1976 Marcus Welby, M.D.: (2 episodes)
- 1976 Afterschool Special: Photographer (1 episode)
- 1976 Good Heavens: (1 episode)
- 1976 The Moneychangers: Stanley Inchbeck
- 1977 Columbo: Jason Danziger (1 episode)
- 1978 Kojak: Charlie Winston (1 episode)
- 1978 Barney Miller: Allen Korbel (1 episode)
- 1979 Out Of The Blue: Herman Donaldson (1 episode)
- 1980 Park Place: (1 episode)
- 1980 CHiPs: Stan West (1 episode)
- 1980 Enos: Dr. Bloomberg (1 episode)
- 1981 Heres Boomer: Sloan Meadows (1 episode)
- 1982 Maggie: Dr. Louis Milton (1 episode)
- 1982-83 Square Pegs: Principal Dingleman (5 episodes)
- 1983 Ace Crawford Private Eye: Gentleman Bandit (1 episode)
- 1984 Gimme a Break!: Mr. Fuller (1 episode)
- 1984-85 Hill Street Blues: Ed Greenglass (4 episodes)
- 1984 CBS Schoolbreak Special: Mr. Rasmussen (1 episode)
- 1984 Night Court: Duane Sedgwick (1 episode)
- 1984 Cagney & Lacey: Lt. Palmer (1 episode)
- 1984 Dynasty: Judge Drew Mayfield (2 episodes)
- 1985 Too Close for Comfort: Dr. Norman Biggs (1 episode)
- 1985 Santa Barbara: Joshua Friendly (5 episodes)
- 1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Dr. Michaels (1 episode)
- 1986 It's a Living: Dr. Bickley (1 episode)
- 1986 The Twilight Zone (1985): Mr. Steward (1 episode)
- 1986 Falcon Crest: Reverend Mustafa (1 episode)
- 1986 You Again: Dean (1 episode)
- 1986 Sledge Hammer!: Sam Steinway (1 episode)
- 1986 Small Wonder: Mr. Beck (1 episode)
- 1986 Outlaws: Driving Instructor (1 episode)
- 1987 Valerie: Howard Morgan (1 episode)
- 1987 L.A. Law: Baldred Townsend (1 episode)
- 1987 227: J. Boswell Premington (1 episode)
- 1988 Beauty and the Beast (1987): Trask (1 episode)
- 1988 Matlock: Gary Springer (1 episode)
- 1989 Murder, She Wrote: Milton Overguard (1 episode)
- 1990 Equal Justice: Curtis Caldwell (1 episode)
- 1990 Babes: Ralph/Neighbor Bob (2 episodes)
- 1992 Eerie, Indiana: Bert (1 episode)
- 1995 Seinfeld: Salesman (1 episode)
- 1996 Kindred: The Embraced: Charon the Coroner (1 episode)
- 1997-99 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction: Paramedic/Gerald Stanley (2 episodes)
- 1999 Cousin Skeeter: Principal Ezemins (1 episode)
- 2001 Citizen Baines: James McClintock (1 episode)
- 2002 The Practice: Tucker’s Atty. Art Hardiman (1 episode)
- 2002 The West Wing: Congressman (1 episode)
- 2002 For The People 2002: Judge Olsen (1 episode)
- 2011-12 Courage New Hampshire: Simeon Trapp (3 episodes)
Tropes Associated with Basil Hoffman:
- Remake Cameo: The Box, in which Hoffman appeared, was adapted from the same Richard Matheson story as the The Twilight Zone (1985) segment "The Box", in which he co-starred, playing the equivalent of the character played in the film by Frank Langella.
