Bacon thought Hoffman a tramp after Cowboy role
21/04/2005 - 15:07:49Actor Kevin Bacon was convinced Dustin Hoffman was a genuine down-and-out after seeing his performance in Midnight Cowboy.
The 46-year-old Mystic River star was shocked to learn Hoffman, who played hustler Rico "Ratzo" Rizzo in the 1969 movie, was actually an actor.
He admits: "I was so blown away by this bum they got. I thought how did they get this bum to come and learn lines?"
Bacon only realised Hoffman was an actor after seeing him playing an equally convincing character in The Graduate and Hoffman quickly became a role model for the budding star.
