Actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead in his New York apartment. Early reports suggest the acclaimed actor died from a drug overdose. He was 46 years old.
Hoffman had previously shared his long battle with alcohol and drug addiction and recently sought treatment after a fifteen year period of sobriety.
The actor was discovered in the bathroom of his Greenwich Village by playwright David Katz and another person after Hoffman failed to show up to collect his children on Sunday morning. Police attending the scene said they discovered a substance in the bathroom which they believe to be heroin.
Hoffman first gained attention playing a range of supporting roles in films including ‘Scent of a Woman’, ‘Twister’ and a memorable role as a gay character in Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘Boogie Nights’. Notably he appeared in five out of six of Anderson’s feature films. The actor worked with many of Hollywood’s biggest directors including Todd Solondz, The Coen Brothers, Spike Lee, Cammeron Crowe, David Mamet and Anthony Minghella.
In 2005 Hoffman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of gay author Truman Capote in the film ‘Capote’. The actor also received acclaim on Broadway where he regularly performed. He received a best actor nomination at the Tony Awards for his portrayal of Willy Loman in ‘Death of Salesman’ in 2012 – it was his third nomination.
Hoffman also had success as a director. He directed ‘Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train’ written by Stephen Adly Guirgis in 2000, it was one of many plays he directed.
Hoffman is survived by his partner Mimi O’Donnell and their three children.
