Parting Ways with Philip Seymour Hoffman

Transcendent artist

Final rest, oh Boogie Nights

Goodbye paragon.

A fragment of commemoration to one of the finest actors of our time. For everything that Philip Seymour Hoffman contributed to film, I wish him a peaceful end to years of battling and suffering. RIP, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was born in a suburb of Rochester, NY in July of 1967. His acting career began in high school, when an unfortunate wrestling injury forced him out of athletic competition. He pursued drama instead, and was actively involved in theatrical performances as well as extracurricular summer programs, all of which fostered his supernatural gift for acting. After high school, Hoffman earned a B.F.A in drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. During the next three years, he appeared in several character roles on various independent movies and television dramas such as Law and Order in 1991.

In 1992, Hoffman began booking roles in larger projects, such as Scent of a Woman, My New Gun and Leap of Faith, which afforded him critical attention and greater opportunities. Arguably his most important role, Hoffman’s performance as Scotty in P.T. Anderson’s Boogie Nights deservedly earned his iconic status in indie cinema and his critical praise as a supreme character actor. Hoffman has since acted in five of Anderson’s films. After Boogie Nights, Hoffman established renown as an intelligent, artful actor who could consummate any role. He took on greater and greater roles; his most recent accolade comes from his performance as Plutarch Heavensbee in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. One of Hoffman’s most praised and memorable performance is his dedicated portrayal of Truman Capote in Capote, his only Oscar-awarded performance.

In addition to film work, Hoffman was a star in theater. He wrote and directed several award-winning plays and gave many award winning performances on and off-Broadway.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was, and continues to be an inspiration for his mastery of acting and soulful, dedicated performances. His legacy of sophisticated, commanding drama will certainly endure.

Only 46 years old, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman was found deceased in his apartment on Sunday, February 2^nd, 2014. As of February 3^rd, his death was ruled an apparent overdose – whether or not accidental may never be determined. Hoffman struggled with drug addiction in his youth, but willingly abandoned his dependencies at age 22. He allegedly struggled with addiction since, and attended a drug rehabilitation program for 10 days in 2013 after a relapse with prescription narcotics.

Additional information about the investigative findings in the scene of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death is easily found, internet-wide. My admiration for the icon makes me reluctant to elaborate on gruesome details criminalizing his death and debasing his addiction. I only hope that his legacy sets the bar for dramatic artistry in our time and moving forward.