Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Desert Island Discs Revisited: Oscar Winners 3 - Dustin Hoffman


DESERT ISLAND DISCS REVISITED: OSCAR WINNERS 3 - DUSTIN HOFFMAN (320kbs-m4a/96mb/42mins)

BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 9th March 2026

Hollywood film actor Dustin Hoffman is castaway by Kirsty Young.

In spite of Dustin's Aunt Pearl telling him he wasn't good looking enough to be an actor, for the past 45 years he's been crafting landmark movie performances.

He is that rare and apparently contradictory thing - a character actor and a superstar.

The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Lenny, All The President's Men, Marathon Man, Kramer v Kramer, Tootsie, Rain Man, Wag The Dog, and Last Chance Harvey are just a handful of the movies that contribute to an unparalleled body of work.

Dustin is the only actor in history to have top billing in three films that won Best Picture Oscars.

Now in his mid-70s he is making his directorial debut.

He says "I'm always fighting to break through... I'm trying to show you the part of me that wants to love, wants to kill, that wants to find my way out, that feels there is no way out."

CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Trevor Peacock and David Ryall - Are You Havin' Any Fun?
BOOK CHOICE: The complete works - Charles Dickens
LUXURY CHOICE: An endless bar

Producer: Cathy Drysdale

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012.

Ritchie Valens - La Bamba
Slim Gaillard - Cement Mixer
Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Diana Krall - Frim Fram Sauce
Bette Midler - Shoot The Breeze
Jon Hendricks - How High The Moon
Donnie Brooks - Memphis
Trevor Peacock & David Ryall - Are You Havin' Any Fun?

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