Philip Seymour Hoffman, possibly the one of the most widely admired and unforgettable American actors of this or any generation, died on Sunday in his apartment in Greenwich Village he was using as an office. He was 46.
Hoffman gave depth to a vast array of sidekicks, villains and lead roles on screen and TV. He embraced some of the theater’s most cumbersome roles on Broadway as well.
His death was from an apparent drug overdose, which has been confirmed by police. Mr. Hoffman was found in the office by a friend, screenwriter David Katz, who had become concerned after not being able to reach him. Hoffman had recently been working on a project with Katz. Detectives found a syringe in his arm and a nearby envelope containing what seemed to be heroin.
Hoffman has been long known to struggle with addiction. In 2006, he mentioned in an interview with “60 Minutes” that he had stopped using drugs and alcohol years earlier, when he was 22. Last year he checked into a rehab for about a week and a half after a addiction to prescription pills. This may have resulted in his briefly turning again to heroin.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone,” says Hoffman’s family. “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.”
Here is a link to a touching tribute by The A.V. Club
——->http://www.avclub.com/article/rip-philip-seymour-hoffman-201004