Basil Hoffman

Actor

Born January 18, 1938 in Houston, Texas, USA

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.

Filmography

Discovering Ella

Bob Stephens

Lucky Louie

Wilbert Moser

Third Act

Uncle Paul

Mr. Roberts

The Last Word

Christopher Georrge

Mommy I Didn't Do It

Otis Pell

The Pineville Heist

Principal Parker

Hail, Caesar!

Stu Schwartz (Accounting)

Throwdown

Judge Eller

Rio, I Love You

James (segment "La Fortuna")

3 Geezers!

Victor

The Artist

Auctioneer

The Box

Don Poates

Down with Love

C. W. (uncredited)

Hefner: Unauthorized

Lawyer

The West Wing

Congressman

Culture

Editor

Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

Gerald Stanley (segment "The Dresser")

The Practice

Tucker's Atty. Art Hardiman (uncredited)

Kindred: The Embraced

Charon the Coroner

The Elvira Show

Dr. Marvin Zislis

The Ice Runner

J.C. Kruck

Eerie, Indiana

Bert (uncredited)

Switch

Higgins

Lambada

Superintendent Leland

Communion

Dr. Friedman

Seinfeld

Wig Salesman

The Milagro Beanfield War

In the Governor's Office

Beauty and the Beast

Trask

Sledge Hammer!

Sam Steinway

Matlock

Gary Springer

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Dr. Michaels

The Twilight Zone

Mr. Steward (segment "Button, Button")

The Ratings Game

Frank Friedlander

Murder, She Wrote

Milton Overguard

All of Me

Court Clerk

Welcome Home, Jellybean

Mr. Rasmussen

Night Court

Duane Sedgwick

Ace Crawford, Private Eye

Gentleman Bandit

Games Mother Never Taught You

Dwayne Hilson

My Favorite Year

Herb Lee

Night Shift

Drollhauser

Falcon Crest

Reverend Mustafa

Maggie

Dr. Louis Milton

Hill Street Blues

Ed Greenglass (archive footage) (uncredited)

Scout's Honor

Alexander

Ordinary People

Sloan

The Electric Horseman

Toland

Out of the Blue

Herman Donaldson

Love at First Bite

Hotel Manager (uncredited)

Jennifer: A Woman’s Story

Neil Turner

Comes a Horseman

George Bascomb

Love’s Dark Ride

Dr. Kanlan

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Longly (uncredited)

All the President's Men

Assistant Metro Editor

America on Parade

Ellery Queen

Technical Print Man, Harry

Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspects

Fingerprint Expert

Cage Without a Key

Judge

At Long Last Love

Movie Theatre Manager

Barney Miller

Allen Korbel

The Great Ice Rip-Off

Richards

The Rockford Files

Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Kojak

Charlie Winston

M*A*S*H

Major Pfiefer

The Waltons

Prof Ranney

Sanford and Son

Store Owner

Lady Liberty

Willett (uncredited)

Columbo

Jason Danziger