Gangly and rugged stage and screen character star Otto Hoffman was born in New York in 1879. Began as a stage performer in the 1890's. Made his movie debut under the direction of Stuart Paton in 1915's 'The White Terror' starring Hobart Henley for the IMP Film Company. Otto directed only one film 'Secret of Black Mountain' made in 1917 starring Vola Vale, afterwards he just concentrated on acting he was much better at it. He most often played cadaverous, crafty, menacing characters in more than 200 movies, such as 'The Triple Cross' (18) 'The Eagle' (25) 'The Valley of the Giants' (27) The Terror' (28) and Noah's Ark' (29). His ethnic range in many talkies include 'Desert Song' (29) Abraham Lincoln' (30) 'Camarron' (31) Eddie Cantor's 'Kid Millions' (34) 'Girl Loves Boy' (37) W.C. Fields 'My Little Chickadee' and his last film just before he died was as Oscar in 'This Is the Life' (44). married Laura King and as a daughter Eugenie Hoffman.