 Hoffman was baptized a Roman Catholic and attended mass as a child , but did not have a heavily religious upbringing . His parents divorced when he was nine , leaving the children to be raised primarily by their mother . Hoffman 's childhood passion was sports , particularly wrestling and baseball , but at age 12 he saw a stage production of Arthur Miller 's All My Sons and was transfixed . He recalled in 2008 , " I was changed – permanently changed – by that experience . It was like a miracle to me " . Hoffman developed a love for the theater , and proceeded to attend regularly with his mother , who was a lifelong enthusiast . He remembered that productions of <unk> and Alms for the Middle Class , the latter starring a teenage Robert Downey , Jr . , were also particularly inspirational . At the age of 14 , Hoffman suffered a neck injury that ended his sporting activity , and he began to consider acting . Encouraged by his mother , he joined a drama club , and initially committed to it because he was attracted to a female member . 
