Dustin Hoffman has been fighting cancer, but recently underwent surgery to remove it. The revelation came from Hoffman’s rep, Jodi Gottlieb, who added that the actor was “surgically cured” of the disease.
Along with surgery, Hoffman will also undergo doctor-recommended preventative treatments to minimize the chance that the cancer could return in the coming years.
While there is no word on what type of cancer the actor had, PEOPLE reports that his rep assured , “It was detected early and he has been surgically cured.”
Gottlieb added that Hoffman “is feeling great and is in good health.” She declined to give any more information about the actor’s cancer, including what his upcoming treatments will be.
Despite the surgery, Dustin Hoffman has continued a busy schedule. The 75-year-old made his directorial debut last year with the film Quartet and also rapped up Chief, which co-stars Robert Downey Jr., Sofia Vergara , and Scarlett Johansson.
He is next expected to appear in Esio Trot with Dame Judy Dench and will also start filming the feature film Boys Choir by the beginning of next year, notes ABC News. He also appeared recently on the small screen for the short-lived, but critically acclaimed, series Luck.
This isn’t the first time a celebrity has hid a cancer diagnosis from the public. Christina Applegate hid her breast cancer diagnosis from her co-stars in the Samantha Who? series. Actres Dame Maggie Smith did the same thing through the Harry Potter films, where she played Professor Minerva McGonagall.
TV show host Robin Roberts disclosed her cancer diagnosis last summer and underwent a bone marrow transplant while taking time off from the show. But the news regarding Hoffman was also surprising, perhaps as surprising as learning of Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy earlier this year.
While there was no word from his publicist on what kind of cancer Dustin Hoffman had, his fans can rest assured that the disease is gone. And with treatment, Hoffman will be able to entertain audiences for many years to come.
[image via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com ]
