Philip Seymour Hoffman Life and Legacy
Philip Seymour Hoffman was an immense talent that was taken too soon. He had so much potential and possibilities ahead of him, and so his unexpected passing comes with a heavy heart. This accomplished actor will forever be remembered for his contribution to numerous notable works in both film and theatre. He was a rare, unique talent that left an immense impact on entertainment. In addition to his professional achievements, those who were close to him adored him, and so accepting his passing comes with immense sadness and pain. Philip Seymour Hoffman has left an incredible legacy behind, having forever altered the course of Hollywood and the stage.
Hoffman has been greatly awarded for his contribution to the film industry throughout his career. After winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 2005 for his work in Capote, he has also received three Academy Awards nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt and The Master. After graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Hoffman began his work in films in 1992. His career spanned nearly twenty-five years, bringing his unique talent to a variety of films. From big-budget installments like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Moneyball to independent films like The Savages, he succeeded in portraying a variety of intriguing characters. His remarkable talent stemmed from his ability to take on diverse roles, enabling him to rise to fame as a unique actor with limitless abilities.
He thrived on the stage as well, gaining recognition as an esteemed theatre actor and director. His work on the stage merited him three Tony Award nominations. Praised for his participation in a number of shows, including True West and a Long Day’s Journey into Night, Hoffman succeeded on Broadway through his admirable portrayal of characters with deep emotions. His most memorable role on stage, however, was Willy Loman in the revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Hoffman’s success on stage contributed to his acclaim as one of the most talented, loved actors of our generation.
Hoffman’s untimely death has brought speculation upon the future of the Hunger Games franchise due to his portrayal of the game-maker Plutarch Heavensbee. The Hunger Games has stated that Hoffman’s death will not affect the release dates for the franchise’s two part
Mockingjay installments. Having completed the bulk of his work for the films, filming will go on as planned and the films will be released as planned, starting with part one November 21st, 2014 and part two following in November 2015. Lionsgate, the franchise’s studio, praises Hoffman as one of the most “gifted actors of our generation,” while also expressing condolences for his family and friends.
The Oscar-winning actor was found dead at his New York apartment around 11:30 on Sunday February 2nd likely due to an overdose of heroin. At the age of 46, the actor has left behind his costume designer and partner Mimi O’Donnell and three children. A number of celebrities have taken to twitter and other methods of social media to express their grief over the actor’s unfortunate passing. Taken at the prime of his career, Hoffman leaves behind a legacy of notable roles in film and theatre, making him one of Hollywood’s most distinguished, respectable actors.
Given his long, prosperous career, Hoffman participated in a number of notable films. His greatest movie roles include:
- George Willis in Scent of a Woman
- Scotty J. in Boogie Nights
- Brandt in The Big Lebowski
- Phil Parma in Magnolia
- Freddie Miles in Talented Mr. Ripley
- Lester Bangs in Almost Famous
- Joseph Turner White in State and Main
- Truman Capote in Capote
- Opposite of Tom Cruise as Owen Davian in Mission Impossible III
- Gust Avrakotos in Charlie Wilson’s War
- Father Brendan Flynn in Doubt
- Lancaster Dodd in The Master
- Plutarch Heavensbee in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
by Joe Alvarez
Police found five empty and 65 full bags of heroin and 20 used syringes in Philip Seymour Hoffman’s New York apartment, indicating that the actor had sunk deeply into drug addiction as troubles mounted in his personal life.
Mimi O’Donnell, his long-time partner before a recent split, told investigators that he appeared to be “high” the day before his body was found in his bathroom from an apparent overdose, a needle still stuck in his arm.
And a witness has said that the Oscar-winner looked “very sweaty” and in grim condition during what may have been his purchase of his final lethal hit on Saturday evening.
The man told police that he saw Hoffman make a large withdrawal from a cash machine near his home and then hand over the money to two men in an apparent drug deal, Fox News reported.
In the months before his death he was said by friends to be spending up to $10,000 (£6,000) a month on heroin and prescription drug Oxycontin – allegedly buying up to 50 bags of the class A drug at a time.
The quantity of heroin littering his Greenwich Village apartment indicate that Mr Hoffman, 46, who admitted taking the drug briefly last year after insisting he had been “clean” for 23 years, was again using the substance heavily.
Police also recovered a variety of prescription drugs that were not issued in his name from the apartment that he recently rented after moving out of the nearby house where he lived with Ms O’Donnell, his partner of 15 years, and their three children.
The fashion designer, also 46, is the last person known to have talked to Hoffman when the two spoke by telephone at about 10pm on Saturday. She told law enforcement that he sounded “high” in the conversation and also looked to be under the influence of drugs when they met earlier in the day.
The couple are understood to have split around Christmas. Although Hoffman was working on new film projects, including a sequel to The Hunger Games, there were reports of increasingly erratic behaviour in recent weeks.
At last month’s Sundance Film Festival, journalists said that he seemed looked ill and “pasty” and declined initially to attend a scheduled party and give interviews before turning up late.
Hoffman was discovered on Sunday morning unconscious in his underwear with a needle in his left arm and still wearing his glasses by David Bar Katz, a screenwriter and close friend, and his own assistant Isabella Wing-Davey.
Ms O’Donnell had been waiting for him at the time in a playground just a few minutes walk away.
Several of the bags found in the fourth-floor apartment were marked ‘Ace of Spades’ and ‘Ace of Hearts’, brand names used by drug dealers for heroin.
Police in New York are investigating whether Hoffman injected himself with a lethal doctored batch of the drug that has been blamed for more than a 100 deaths among heroin users in nearby states in recent weeks.
The heroin has been mixed with fentanyl, an opiate used to ease pain of cancer patients.
But medical experts also noted that the amount of drugs recovered from his apartment could have proved fatal even if it was not mixed with other substances.
A neighbour said that Hoffman, who won the Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the 2005 film about the writer, looked “grey, not good” when she saw him the day before his body was found.
Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead in his Manhattan apartment after an apparent drug overdose.
The Hollywood star, who won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 2005 film Capote, was 46 years old.
The father-of-three was found dead with a needle in his arm, according to law enforcement sources.
Police were called by a friend of the actor to his home in the city’s Greenwich Village area at 11.30am local time, a spokesman for the NYPD said.
The actor John Hurt – who starred with Seymour Hoffman in 2003 film Owning Mahowny – said: “It’s a devastating loss. His contribution was massive.”
Hoffman’s other film credits included The Big Lebowski, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Mission: Impossible III, and The Talented Mr Ripley.
Last year he revealed he was forced to check himself into rehab after taking prescription pills and snorting heroin, having managed to stay clean for 23 years.
He reportedly admitted he “started off taking prescription pills which escalated to snorting heroin”.
The star was apparently concerned he was about to lose control and so checked himself into a detox facility on the East Coast.
On leaving the centre after 10 days, Hoffman credited “a great group of friends and family” for the support and encouragement to get help.
Born in 1967, in Fairport, New York, Hoffman became involved in acting at high school.
He went on to study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated with a degree in Drama in 1989.
He got his first acting role in a 1991 episode of the long-running police drama Law and Order, but his big break came in the 1997 film Boogie Nights.
In addition to his screen work, Hoffman was also a talented stage actor, gaining plaudits for his roles on Broadway.
He leaves behind his long-term partner and costume designer Mimi O’Donnell and their two daughters and son.
RIP Bro.
