Cooper Hoffman Reflects on Legacy, Identity, and New Roles: Insights from "The Long Walk"

Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, has emerged as one of the most compelling young actors of his generation, marked by his breakout role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s "Licorice Pizza" and the recent dystopian thriller "The Long Walk," an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. In a series of interviews coinciding with the release of "The Long Walk," Hoffman spoke candidly about the emotional complexities of following in his father’s footsteps and how his experiences intersect with broader themes of identity and resilience valued by the LGBTQ+ community .

Hoffman’s reflections begin with a sense of profound loss and admiration for his father, who passed away when Cooper was just ten. “The only person I really wanted to talk to was my dad,” Hoffman stated, underscoring the duality of his father as both a parental figure and a celebrated artist . He described the unique challenge of idolizing a parent’s work while also seeking personal validation, noting, “It’s a different thing to idolize your parent because you love their art. So as much as I would love him to be here and talk to him about acting, I also would be terrified to have him see my stuff and judge my stuff. Not that he would judge it, because he was a very empathetic person, and he would probably — hopefully— hold my hand through all of it.”

This sense of vulnerability and longing is familiar to many queer individuals, who often must negotiate complex relationships with family and community while forging their own paths. Hoffman’s openness about his fears and hopes offers a model of emotional honesty and self-compassion, qualities that resonate deeply with audiences seeking authentic representation in media.

Initially, Hoffman resisted entering the acting world, considering alternative creative careers such as fashion design before being urged by family friend Paul Thomas Anderson to audition for "Licorice Pizza" at age 17 . The film, a coming-of-age story set in 1970s Southern California, centers on themes of self-discovery, first love, and belonging—narratives that have particular resonance for queer and trans youth who often find themselves at the margins of mainstream stories.

In interviews, Hoffman has spoken about how acting became his “own version of college,” providing experiences and lessons that shaped his adulthood. He acknowledges the weight of his father’s legacy, noting, “We have an Oscar at the house, and that’s not something everyone can say, but it is something that’s looking at you your whole life and you don’t want to step into something and not do it as well as that person did” .

Hoffman’s latest project, "The Long Walk," demanded both physical endurance and emotional depth. The film, based on Stephen King’s dystopian novel, follows fifty teenage boys in a brutal walking competition where falling behind can be fatal. “We ended up walking close to 400 miles in total. We were walking like 15 miles a day in 100-degree heat in concrete, no shade,” Hoffman recounted, highlighting the extreme conditions and camaraderie among cast members .