Oscar-Winning Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman Dead at 46
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Francois Guillot/AFP/Getty Images (NEW YORK) — Philip Seymour Hoffman is dead, ABC News has confirmed. The 46-year-old actor, an Oscar winner for the 2005 movie Capote, was found dead in his Manhattan home on Sunday. The NYPD confirms that Hoffman’s body was found at his apartment in Manhattan’s West Village. So far, no cause of death has been released, though a law enforcement official tells ABC News that heroin was found at the scene, and a needle was sticking out of Hoffman’s arm.
Screenwriter David Katz and a friend found Hoffman at 11:15 a.m. and called 911. He was pronounced dead on the scene by EMS.
Last May, Hoffman entered rehab after admitting to snorting heroin; prior to that, he said he had been clean for 23 years.
In addition to his Best Actor win for Capote, Hoffman was also Oscar-nominated three times for Best Supporting Actor, for the 2012 film The Master, the 2008 film Doubt, and the 2007 film Charlie Wilson’s War. He also appeared in Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski, Magnolia, Moneyball, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Almost Famous and Cold Mountain. He was most recently seen as Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee in the smash hit Hunger Games and sequel Catching Fire.
Hoffman was also active in the theater, appearing in plays like Death of a Salesman; he also directed plays, and was nominated for Tony Awards three times.
The actor is the father of three children with costume designer Mimi O’Donnell.
A statement from Hoffman’s family reads, “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone. This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grieving. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.”
Lionsgate, the studio that releases the Hunger Games films, issued a statement saying, “”Philip Seymour Hoffman was a singular talent and one of the most gifted actors of our generation. We’re very fortunate that he graced our Hunger Games family. Losing him in his prime is a tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Philip’s family.”
While Hoffman’s Hunger Games character figures prominently in the next two films in the series, his work on the one due to be released next, Mockingjay Part 1, was nearly complete and he only had a few days’ worth of shooting left on its sequel, Mockingjay Part 2. His death isn’t expected to affect the release dates of the two movies, which are due to hit theaters this November, and November of 2015.
Reaction immediately flooded Twitter once the news of Hoffman’s death became public. Here are a few comments:
Albert Brooks: R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of the greats of his generation.
Ricky Gervais: Such shocking & sad news. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of the greatest actors of a generation and a sweet, funny & humble man.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio: Saddened by Philip Seymour Hoffman’s tragic and untimely passing. Today New York mourns the loss of one of stage and screen’s greats.
Steve Martin: Shocked to hear of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s death. If you missed him [in Death of a Salesman] as Willy Loman, you missed a Willy Loman for all time.
Anna Kendrick: Philip Seymour Hoffman. Unbearably, shockingly, deeply sad. Words fail to describe his life and our loss.
Jim Carrey: Dear Philip, a beautiful beautiful soul. For the most sensitive among us the noise can be too much. Bless your heart. ;^{
KevinSmith: This truly blows. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN has died…First noticed him in SCENT OF A WOMAN. Brilliant actor. So sad…
Rainn Wilson: R.I.P. Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of the greatest, kindest actors who ever lived.
Joel McHale: Rest in peace Philip Seymour Hoffman. You were one of the best. You’re gone way too soon. #RIPPhilipSeymourHoffman
Sean Astin:Phillip Seymour Hoffman worked & lived with truth above all. I will desperately miss his talent.
Aaron Paul: We lost one of the greats today. Philip Seymour Hoffman RIP my friend. You will be missed always and forever.
Mia Farrow: OH NO!!!!! Philip Seymour Hoffman has died. A truly kind, wonderful man and one of our greatest actors – ever
Cher: Devastated About Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’sDeath He was an Actors Actor! Life Seems 2B Like The BREATH,We Use 2 Blow The Candles Out.
Justin Timberlake: Just hearing about Philip Seymour Hoffman. Devastating. What an amazingly gifted actor. RIP
OneRepublic: R.I.P Philip Seymour Hoffman.. U were honestly one of our favorite actors and stole every scene you were in. You will be missed, God bless. Philip’s amazing- the kind of actor that gets u to watch a movie based solely on the fact he is in it.
Sheryl Crow: So sad to hear the news of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Such a great & talented man. My thoughts & prayers go out to his family.
Josh Groban: Oh no no no. Not PSH. We needed so much more from him. What a talent. RIP.
Rob Thomas: R.I.P. Phillip Seymour Hoffman. One of our generations finest actors. Too sad. Gonna go watch synecdoche, ny again.
Chris Daughtry: What!!??? Phillip Seymour Hoffman died!!?? So flippin sad!!!
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