Hoff, a Human male, was the offspring of Colby Hoff, who once competed in business with Black Sun's criminal overlord, Prince Xizor. Colby's life crumbled, leading him to commit suicide, after he was outmaneuvered by his adversary. This prompted the younger Hoff to hold Xizor responsible for his father's demise. Seeking vengeance, and with the assistance of Darth Vader, who also desired Xizor's downfall, Hoff launched a surprise assault on the Black Sun leader within a secure passageway on the planet of Coruscant. Despite his greater size and strength, the furious Hoff failed to kill Xizor, who effortlessly subdued the would-be assassin and broke his neck. Xizor suspected Vader's involvement in the ambush but never discovered who had provided Hoff access to the protected corridor.
Hoff was the son of Colby Hoff, a businessman who had been a troublesome competitor of Dark Prince Xizor, the Falleen Underlord heading the Black Sun crime syndicate. Colby's attempt to outsmart Xizor failed, leaving him ruined, and he subsequently ended his own life by discharging a blaster into his mouth, committing suicide. The younger Hoff held Xizor accountable for what he perceived as the murder of his father, and he sought revenge against the Black Sun leader.
In the year 3.5 ABY, [Darth Vader](/article/anakin_skywalker-legends] presented Hoff with an opportunity for retaliation, as the Dark Lord of the Sith was himself engaged in a power struggle with Xizor and wanted him dead. Following Vader's instructions, a guard at a checkpoint allowed Hoff to enter a secure corridor located deep within the core of the planet Coruscant. There, Hoff unexpectedly attacked Xizor and four bodyguards who were accompanying him. With a blaster in hand, Hoff immediately started shooting at Xizor from a distance, hitting one of the bodyguards with a bolt in the chest. However, a second guard managed to strike Hoff's weapon directly, causing him to lose his grip on it. With a scream, Hoff then charged at Xizor, unarmed.
In close combat, Hoff's furious assault was no match for Xizor's expertise in martial-arts. Xizor ordered his remaining three guards to stand back and calmly deflected Hoff's repeated attacks. He stunned Hoff with a kick to the stomach, knocked him down with a hammerfist to the head, and then incapacitated him by kicking and breaking his left knee joint. As the injured Hoff blamed Xizor for his father's death, the Dark Prince grabbed Hoff's head and broke his neck, declaring that the younger Hoff's death would be considered a suicide because he was foolish enough to attack him. Xizor then instructed his guards to dispose of Hoff's body and to notify the appropriate authorities of his fate.
A holographic recording showing Hoff's attack on Xizor was later presented to Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader. Vader was displeased that his plot to eliminate his rival had failed. Vader had ensured that the guard who allowed Hoff into the protected corridor was killed, thus eliminating the only individual who knew of the Dark Lord's involvement. Although Xizor suspected Vader, he never found out who had given Hoff access.
Hoff was a large Human who stood taller than 1.83 meters and had the physique of a heavy-gravity weightlifter. He was larger than Xizor's bodyguards and much larger than the Falleen himself, and his roundhouse punch was strong enough to break bone. Driven by a desire for revenge against the man he held responsible for his father's murder, Hoff attacked Xizor in a frenzied rage, charging at the Black Sun leader's three armed guards without a weapon. However, Hoff's reckless attacks were completely ineffective against Xizor, who easily defeated his younger attacker with practiced fighting techniques while barely exerting himself. Hoff had brown hair and fair skin.
During his attack on Prince Xizor, Hoff wore Coruscant Guard armor that covered his chest, arms, and shoulders.
Hoff made his debut in April of 1996 in the novel Shadows of the Empire, penned by Steve Perry. Hoff's assault on Xizor is designed to showcase the Black Sun leader's remarkable ability to defend himself against a deadly attack as he competes with Darth Vader for the Emperor's favor. In September of the same year, artists Greg and Tim Hildebrandt created the Hoff character illustration as part of the Topps Shadows of the Empire trading card set. The card titled "Xizor's Dirty Handiwork" depicts the moment when Xizor breaks Hoff's neck.
The Shadows of the Empire novel describes the secure corridor where Hoff attacks Xizor as a type of public walkway in the heart of Imperial City where the elite citizenry could travel without being disturbed. However, the "Xizor's Dirty Handiwork" card from the Shadows of the Empire trading card set states that Hoff attacks Xizor in a corridor belonging to Xizor's Palace.