Hoffman admits turning down 'Taxi Driver' role

Dustin Hoffman once turned down a role offered to him by Martin Scorsese because he thought the filmmaker was "crazy".

The actor was approached by the director to star in the now classic film 'Taxi Driver' - but rejected the part because he was alarmed by the strange antics of 65-year-old Scorsese.

Hoffman, 71, says: "I remember meeting Martin Scorsese. He had no script and I didn't even know who he was. I hadn't seen any of his films and he talked a mile a minute telling me what the movie would be about.

"I was thinking, 'What is he talking about?' I thought the guy was crazy! The film was 'Taxi Driver'. I made so many dumb mistakes (turning down hit movies). The list is endless."