Dustin Hoffman has lived an eventful life. Unfortunately, not all of those events were clean-cut. The Oscar-winning actor previously had a strong affinity for cocaine, which had the potential to develop into a serious issue. However, one side effect ensured that Hoffman avoided the pitfalls that come with consistent drug use.
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The Meet The Fockers star detailed what led him to quit the highly addictive drug in his new memoir "Look at Me."
"God, did I love it," Hoffman explained before admitting that it "stuffed me up terribly. The day after I did coke, I could barely breathe."
Hoffman then shared a blunt admission.
"If it weren't for the congestion," he admitted, "I'd be dead right now. That's how much I love cocaine."
It was 1976 when Hoffman was first introduced to cocaine. He was on the set of Marathon Man, where his friend Bob Evans had recently introduced him to the drug. Shockingly, Evans was convicted of smuggling cocaine just four years later, and sadly passed away in 2019.
The risk of encountering such drugs in Hollywood is likely high. There's money, parties and power, three things that, when combined, can often lead to a string of bad decisions. Fortunately, Hoffman was able to steer himself away from the edge, leading him to carve out a legendary career on the big screen.
Dustin Hoffman Also Thought He Would Die When Caught Sleeping With a Married Woman
Hoffman may believe that cocaine could have killed him, but that isn't the only time in his life when he had the fear of death coursing through him. Speaking on a November 9 episode of Conan O'Brien's podcast, recalled a time when he was found in bed with a married woman.
"I was having an affair with a married woman," Hoffman recalled. "And she thought that once her husband went to sleep, he stayed asleep...And there we are having a festival of sorts, and he walked in with a gun. He pointed at me. And he said, I remember what he says, 'Get out, get out.'"
Hoffman certainly has some entertaining stories. The best part is, he's likely shared more of them in his new memoir, which is exciting to think about.
