Lots was special about John Schlesinger's 1969 film, the only X-rated picture to ever win an Oscar for Best Film. From Jon Voight's leading role to Harry Nillson's mesmerising theme song (Everybody's talkin 'bout me), this adaptation of James Leo Herlihy's novel was full of highlights.

But Ratso Rizzo was the standout, a spineless and sick aspiring pimp with a poor portfolio and no prospects.

Hoffman magically limped his way through the difficult, complex character, playing the subtext with effortless subtlety, his every nuance seemingly between the lines, and created a distasteful, horrid character none of us could resist.