NEW YORK — Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won the Oscar for best actor in 2006 for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote and created a gallery of other vivid characters, many of them slovenly and somewhat dissipated, was found dead Sunday in his apartment with what officials said was a needle in his arm. He was 46.
NEW YORK — Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won the Oscar for best actor in 2006 for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote and created a gallery of other vivid characters, many of them slovenly and somewhat dissipated, was found dead Sunday in his apartment with what officials said was a needle in his arm. He was 46.
Two law enforcement officials, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the evidence, said the actor apparently died of a drug overdose. Glassine envelopes containing what was thought to be heroin were found with him, they said.
Hoffman — no matinee idol, with his lumpy build and limp blond hair — made his career mostly as a character actor, and was one of the most prolific in the business, plying his craft with a rumpled naturalism.
The stage-trained actor was nominated for Academy Awards four times in all: for “Capote,” ‘’The Master,” ‘’Doubt” and “Charlie Wilson’s War.” He also received three Tony nominations for his work on Broadway, which included an acclaimed turn as the weary and defeated Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman.”
Hoffman spoke candidly about past struggles with drug addiction. After 23 years sober, he admitted in interviews last year to falling off the wagon and developing a heroin problem that led to a stint in rehab.