Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman Dies at 46

Unfortunately, today the film industry has lost another great actor. Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead this morning in his New York apartment from an apparent drug overdose. An anonymous law official reported that the late actor was “found in his West Village apartment around 11:30 a.m. by a friend who had become concerned at not being able to reach Mr. Hoffman.”

The New York Times included the following in their report:

Investigators found a syringe in his arm and an envelope containing what is believed to be heroin, the official said.

“It’s pretty apparent that it was an overdose,” the official said. “The syringe was in his arm.”

The related drug news has sadly caused the resurfacing of Hoffman’s past drug problems years ago. The actor had already gotten treatment in rehab before. In his early twenties, he had struggled with drugs and alcohol which caused him to get help. Then, after being clean for 23 years, Hoffman’s drug problem relapsed in the form of prescription pills which escalated all the way to heroin. This extreme phase of his problem didn’t last long as he checked himself in to get treatment again. He checked out after 10 days and gave credit and thanks to his family and friends who helped him want to get better.

Fans everywhere are remembering the actor on Facebook and Twitter by relating quotes, listing their favorite roles, and posting images. Hollywood has also been expressing their grief about the tragic turn of events as well. I remember first taking notice of Philip Seymour Hoffman in his early roles in Leap of Faith, Twister, and Boogie Nights. Then after watching Patch Adams – where he played by-the-book, no frills medical student Mitch – I knew that he would be on my radar of actors to look out for in the future. Case in point: he won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2005’s Capote where he portrayed the writer Truman Capote.

“He’s a local. He’s a fixture in this neighborhood,” said Christian McCulloch, 39, who said that he lives nearby. “You see him with his kids in the coffee shops, he is so sweet. It’s desperately sad.”

– The New York Times