Hoffman recalls leaner days with Hackman

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman are movie legends now, but they told reporters in New Orleans they remember what it was like to be poor.

While promoting their recent courtroom thriller "Runaway Jury," Hoffman recalled a time 40 years ago when he and Hackman were roommates in New York.

"He was the worst. We had to hose the rooms down then instead of sweeping them out," Hackman quipped.

Recalling how he slept on the floor of Hackman's apartment, Hoffman also confessed he occasionally took baths in the kitchen while his friend and his wife made breakfast.

"He's held that against me for 40 years," Hoffman said.

Hoffman said Hackman, who was working for a moving company while trying to get work as an actor, introduced him to Robert Duvall, who was then working at the post office, and they all became good friends.

"We were coming off the days of Tab Hunter, Rock Hudson and Troy Donahue, good-looking guys, (the stars of) 'Bonanza,' and we were character types, which means we were ugly," Hoffman laughed.