Who is Rick Hoffman?
Rick is an American actor, probably best recognized for his role as Louis Litt in the hit legal drama series “Suits”, gaining attention for his complex portrayal of the character from 2011 to 2019. Rick began his acting career in the late 1990s, and has appeared in various other TV series and films, including “The Mentalist”, “CSI: Miami”, and “Hostel”.
Early Life and Education
Rick was born on 12 June 1970, in New York City, and grew up in the Roslyn Heights, New York, alongside his brother Jeff. His mother, Gail Hoffman, and father, Charlie Hoffman, were instrumental in nurturing Rick’s creative side from a young age. While his father was a well-respected businessman, it was his mother who first recognized Rick’s natural ability to entertain.
After matriculating from The Wheatley School in Old Westbury, Rick began to further pursue his passion for acting, enrolling at the University of Arizona. There, he majored in Theatre Arts and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1991. Rick moved to Los Angeles, California in the early 2000s, to pursue more acting opportunities.
Roles in Movies
Rick made his movie debut in 1990, with a supporting role in the TV family comedy “Just Perfect”. His next role was in the 1997 political thriller, “Conspiracy Theory”, directed by Richard Donner and which starred Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts.
In the following year, Rick appeared alongside Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, and Joe Pesci in another action-packed Hollywood thriller, “Lethal Weapon 4”, the fourth installment in the hit movie franchise.
In 2002, Rick expanded his repertoire with a role in the detective drama “Blood Work”, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. His solid performance as a medical examiner provided the film with several memorable scenes.
In 2004, he appeared in the sci-fi disaster film “The Day After Tomorrow”, directed by Roland Emmerich. Again, his role was minor, but the blockbuster’s massive success helped increase his visibility, and added a popular title to his expanding resume. In the same year, he played the role of a lawyer in the action thriller “Cellular”, directed by David R. Ellis, and which follows a young man who is trying to track down a woman who called him on the cellphone claiming to have been kidnapped.
In the following year, Rick starred in the horror “Hostel” – directed by Eli Roth, the film saw Rick in the role of an American businessman with a morally ambiguous nature. In 2007, he appeared in the comedy “Smiley Face”, thriller “The Condemned”, and the action comedy “Postal”, before taking a break from film to focus on his TV series roles.
New–Locker 13 (Ricky Schroder, Rick Hoffman, Krista Allen) R1 pic.twitter.com/4G57XhONu8
— Nadyta Movie Series (@nadytamovie) May 2, 2014
Rick briefly returned to film with a role in the horror “Locker 13” (2014), which also starred Ricky Schroder, Jon Polito and Steve Eastin.
In 2023, he’s set to star in another horror, “Thanksgiving”, written and directed by Eli Roth, based on a fake movie trailer which went viral on the Internet in the early 2000s.
Roles in TV Series
After graduating university, Rick began to find roles in a variety of television series, starting with minor parts in popular shows of the time, such as “Masked Rider”, “The Pretender” and “Alright Already”. His breakthrough role came in 2002, when he was cast as Jerry Best in “The Bernie Mac Show”, receiving positive reviews from critics and viewers alike.
He continued to build his television resume with the recurring role of Terry Loomis in the legal drama “Philly” (2001-2002). The show is set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is also the inspiration for the title. It stars Kim Delaney, who plays a recently divorced defense attorney named Kathleen Maguire. The series centers on Maguire’s personal and professional life, navigating her work in the justice system while also juggling her roles as a single mother. Although the series didn’t have a long run and was canceled after one season, it was well-received by critics. It showcased the challenges faced by defense attorneys and provided Rick with an opportunity to play a character in the legal world, which likely prepared him for his later role in “Suits”.
In the following years, Rick made appearances in numerous popular shows, including “Monk”, “CSI: New York”, and “American Dad”.
Another significant role came with the romantic comedy “Samantha Who?” (2007-2009) in which Rick portrayed Chase Chapman, a character displaying a mix of charm and villainy.
The role that truly launched Rick to stardom and solidified his position in the world of television was in the legal drama “Suits”, created and produced by Aaron Korsh. The show premiered on USA Network in June 2011 and concluded in September 2019 after nine seasons.
The storyline of the series unfolds within a fictional New York City law firm, and centers on college dropout Mike Ross (portrayed by Patrick J. Adams). Despite having no formal legal education, he begins to work as a legal assistant for Harvey Specter (played by Gabriel Macht). The narrative of the show concentrates on Harvey and Mike’s attempts to resolve legal cases, while at the same time hiding Mike’s status of not actually being a law school graduate.
Rick’s character, Louis Litt, is a talented but eccentric lawyer who works at the same firm. Initially, Louis is seen as a comedic character with unconventional methods and an obsessive focus on regulations. As the series progresses, Louis reveals layers of emotion and vulnerability that add depth to his initial persona. Louis Litt quickly became one of the most memorable and beloved aspects of the series. His catchphrase, ‘You just got Litt up!’, combined with quirky habits and mannerisms, and his often tumultuous emotional journey all contributed to making him a standout character..
Post “Suits”, Rick took on a guest role in the popular Showtime drama “Billions” in 2020, as the character Dr. Swerlow.
Love Life and Relationships
Rick has always been relatively private about his personal life, choosing to keep his relationships out of the public eye. However, he’s recently acknowledged that he has a son, born in December 2014, whom he often refers to as the light of his life. The identity of his son’s mother has also been kept under wraps, respecting their mutual desire for privacy.
In interviews, Rick has made it clear that he’s a dedicated father, often sharing anecdotes about his parenting experiences. He’s even expressed how becoming a father has affected his approach to his roles, lending him a new perspective on certain characters.
Hobbies and Interesting Facts
Beyond his acting career, Rick is a man of varied interests. He has a passion for basketball, being a dedicated fan of the New York Knicks, and enjoys playing the game in his free time. He’s also an avid lover of music, with a diverse taste spanning across multiple genres.
Rick is close friends with Gabriel Macht, his co-star from “Suits” – the two actors formed a bond while filming the series that extended beyond their professional lives. Macht is even the godfather to Rick’s son, a testament to the strength of their bond.
Rick is also close with another one of his “Suits” co-stars, the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle; he was a guest at her wedding with Prince Harry in 2018, and the video of him and the rest if the “Suits” main cast having fun at the royal wedding went viral on the Internet.
He has revealed that he loves animals, particularly dogs and cats, even though he has an allergy to their fur.
Rick loves to watch TV series in his spare time, with his all-time favorite show being “Breaking Bad”.
Net Worth
With a successful career spanning over two decades, Rick Hoffman has built a modest fortune. As of July 2023, his net worth has been estimated at more than $1 million.
