Hoffman's Wife Forced Him Back To Work

DUSTIN HOFFMAN is grateful to his wife LISA for helping to give his stalled acting career a jumpstart - because she was the first to notice he was beginning to behave like a retiree.

The 70-year-old had plans to ease into his golden years and enjoy being out of work - until his wife urged him to return to Hollywood, reports the New York Post's gossip column Page Six.

He says, "One morning, my wife noticed I was wearing a cardigan, and the next day, too, followed by slippers.

"So one day she just told me that, instead of dressing like a retired actor, I should go back to work - so that's what I did."

But despite being a working actor, the Rain Man star insists he has always been a homebody: "I'm in bed before 10... I prepare breakfast and take it to my wife. I've been doing that for almost 30 years."

Hoffman has been married to second wife Lisa Gottsegen for 27 years.