Samuel Hoffenstein

Date of Birth: October 8, 1890

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: October 6, 1947

Biography

Samuel Hoffenstein was an American writer, screenwriter, and poet, known for his wit and sharp humor. Born in 1890 in Kovno, then part of the Russian Empire (now Kaunas, Lithuania), he emigrated to the United States at a young age. Hoffenstein made a significant impact in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s, contributing to numerous popular films as a screenwriter. His poetry, while less widely known, is appreciated for its cleverness and playfulness. He worked on scripts for films such as “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1931), “Phantom of the Opera” (1943), and contributed to several Marx Brothers movies. Samuel Hoffenstein passed away on October 6, 1947, but his legacy in both literature and film endures.

5 Interesting Facts about Samuel Hoffenstein

1. Samuel Hoffenstein co-wrote the script for the 1931 film adaptation of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” which won an Academy Award.

2. He was known for his cynical and humorous poetry, with one of his most famous collections being “Poems in Praise of Practically Nothing.”

3. Hoffenstein was a frequent collaborator with the Marx Brothers, contributing to the comedic scripts for their films.

4. He moved to Hollywood in the mid-1920s and quickly became a sought-after screenwriter.

5. Despite his success in film, Hoffenstein considered himself primarily a poet and often expressed a preference for his literary work over his screenwriting.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Samuel Hoffenstein

1. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”

2. “Babies haven’t any hair; Old men’s heads are just as bare; Between the cradle and the grave, Lies a haircut and a shave.”

3. “Love is the delusion that one woman differs from another.”

4. “The dead look so terribly dead when they’re dead.”

5. “A poem is never finished, only abandoned.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Samuel Hoffenstein’s net worth was estimated to be around $500,000, a significant sum at the time, reflecting his success and demand in Hollywood.