A third woman accuses Dustin Hoffman of sexual harassment
Another woman has written a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter accusing Dustin Hoffman of sexual improprieties.
Kathryn Rossetter, who co-starred with Hoffman in both the 1984 Broadway revival and 1985 TV movie production of “Death of a Salesman,” alleges that Hoffman touched her inappropriately in front of an audience on almost a nightly basis, repeatedly cupped her breasts as they posed for pictures and once pulled up her costume to expose her breasts to the backstage crew.
“How could the same man who fought to get me the job, who complimented my work, who essentially launched my career, who gave me the benefit of his wisdom as an actor, how could he also be this sexual power abuser? Was I doing something? Was it my fault?” wrote Rossetter, who said Hoffman started off as a “hero” and “one of my acting idols.”
The Hollywood Reporter said Hoffman’s representatives refused comment on Rossetter’s allegations, but his attorneys referred the publication to a number of people involved in the theater production, including some co-stars. None corroborated Rossetter’s accounts, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“It just doesn’t ring true,” said production stage manager Tom Kelly. “Given my position, it’s insulting to say this kind of activity would go on to the extent of sexual violation.”
In the play, Rossetter played Willy Loman’s mistress and acted opposite him wearing only a “vintage slip.” She said Hoffman made a habit of putting his hand under the slip and onto her inner thighs — and once touched her genitals — during their scenes together. One time as she stood backstage waiting for a cue, she said Hoffman pulled her slip over her head in front of stagehands.
“Dustin had spread the word to the crew to come backstage at that time for a surprise,” Rossetter wrote. “What a jokester. Mr. Fun. It was sickening.”
Rossetter also claims that Hoffman made a habit of cupping her breast as they posed for photos, only to pull his hand away as the picture was snapped. Her guest column included a photo of Hoffman with his hand on her chest.
Two other women, writer Anna Graham Hunter and playwright Wendy Riss Gatsiounis, have accused Hoffman of sexual harassment.