Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead Sunday in his New York City apartment of an apparent drug overdose. He was 46.
A law enforcement official told the Wall Street Journal that Hoffman was discovered in the bathroom of his fourth floor apartment with a needle in his arm.
Hoffman, who spent 10 days in rehab last May for heroin abuse, was set to star in the new Showtime dramedy Happyish (fka Trending Down), playing an ad man who is sent adrift when his ad agency is taken over (see photo, above). The project — which screened a strong preview reel at last month’s Television Critics Association winter press tour — had been described as a “blistering attack on our youth-obsessed culture and a darkly comic examination of what it means to matter. Or matter not.”
RELATED STORIES
In a statement, Showtime called Hoffman “one of our generation’s finest and most brilliant actors,” adding, “He was also a gifted comedic talent. It was a great privilege and pleasure to work with him and we are all absolutely devastated by this sudden loss. Our thoughts go out to his family at this very difficult time.”
Hoffman earned four Oscar nominations in his career, winning in 2006 for playing iconic author Truman Capote in Capote. Additional credits included Boogie Nights, Almost Famous, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Mission Impossible III and Moneyball. He appeared in last summer’s blockbuster The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. He was in the midst of shooting The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (production on Mockingjay Part 1 wrapped last year).
He is survived by his partner, Mimi O’Donnell, and their three children, daughters Willa and Tallulah, and son Cooper.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone,” said his family in a statement. “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.”
