Ironically, his jittery nerves may have helped Philip Seymour Hoffman land his pivotal role in Happiness. "When I shook hands with him," director Todd Solondz later recalled of their first meeting, "his palms were very sweaty -- and I think I liked that."

The role? A lonely masturbating phone stalker (Alan Melanome) who finds comfort in the arms of a homicidal rape victim.

[Hoffman auditioned twice and bulked up to 235 pounds to play the role.]

[PSH adopted his middle name in accord with Equity union rules (they already had a Phil Hoffman). "So if you ever think it's because of pretentiousness," PSH once remarked, "it might be... but it might not be."]