Willy Loman first one he ever read and predated his interest in becoming an actor. He noted that the play resonated with him because his father was a travelling salesman and he had an older brother. Hoffman eventually played the role in a high-school production. In 1965, Hoffman served as the assistant director in an off-Broadway revival of "A View from the Bridge" at the Sheridan Square Playhouse with a cast that included Robert Duvall and Jon Voight. The show's director Ulu Grosbard suggested to Miller that Hoffman had the potential to make a great Willy Loman. Miller was unimpressed and later
Doug Loman first eight seasons, Loman went to Japan to play in their professional baseball league. During his playing career, Loman was listed at a height of and a weight of . He batted and threw left-handed. During the January phase of the 1978 Major League Baseball draft, Loman was selected in the second round (33 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers out of Bakersfield Junior College. He began his professional career that season in Milwaukee's minor league organization with the Class-A Burlington Bees of the Midwest League. With the Bees, Loman batted .244 with 100 hits, 23 doubles, four triples, 63 runs