Hoffman spent his childhood in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, then attended the University of Alberta. During his years in Toronto, he also became a social worker and earned a relevant degree at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. He had originally been slated to play the lead role of The Count in Hilarious House of Frightenstein, as the original character concept had been based on the sight gag of a diminutive count contrasted against the height and weight of Fishka Rais as the Count's assistant Igor; however, as a novice actor Big struggled with the Count's accent, so a new role was written for him as the Midget Count while the role of the main Count was given to Billy Van.[5]
He died aged 32 in Toronto from an unspecified cause, although he was reportedly treated for throat cancer in 1977.[2]
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