One of my favorite actors, and certainly one of the best of the last 20 years died on Sunday in NYC from an apparent heroin overdose according to to NY Times (see article below). I always liked this actor, no matter what part he played Hoffman played each role very different and with real style and charisma. I first remember him in the film Scent of a Woman (1992) which starred Al Pacino as a blind old army vet - in that film Hoffman played a smart-ass rich kid and he pulled it off so well he plays a similar role in The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) among other films. He could play any role though and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger won that year) for the film Doubt (2008) in which he plays a Catholic priest who seems to be abusing children. His best role was in Capote (2005) where he nails down Truman Capote's annoying mannerisms and speech perfectly. Hoffman was really good in Before the Devil Knows your Dead (2007) where he reminds me of the character Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment, who is torn apart in making immoral decisions. Finally the 2012 film The Master, where Philip plays an L. Ron Hubbard-type cult leader was an awesome display of his talents in so many ways. He had a tremendous range of ability, but could really shine in eccentric weird morally compromised roles. He'll certainly be missed.
NY Times Obituary:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/movies/philip-seymour-hoffman-actor-dies-at-46.html?_r=0
His many roles:
Winning Best Actor 2008:
A.O. Scott Article on Hoffman:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/movies/a-o-scott-on-philip-seymour-hoffman.html?ref=arts&_r=0
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