Modern Leading Men & Women Codexery

Philip Seymour Hoffman

American actor acclaimed for nuanced roles in film and theater.

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Born in Fairport, New York on July 23, 1967, Philip Seymour Hoffman was an American actor.[1][2] From the early 1990s until his 2014 death, Hoffman was recognized for both his memorable leading roles and his distinctive supporting character parts in films and theater.[1] The Independent's 2024 ranking placed Hoffman as the top actor of the 21st century.[1]

Last updated 2026-10-01 from the source article.

Key facts and history

Hoffman's mother, Marilyn O'Connor, was a civil rights activist and lawyer who raised him after his parents divorced when he was nine.[3][4] He joined the LAByrinth Theater Company in 1995 and later became its co-artistic director.[5] Hoffman won an Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA for his lead role in Capote (2005).[6] He received three Tony Award nominations for his stage work.[7][8][9]

Hoffman died on February 2, 2014, from acute mixed drug intoxication.[10][11] His funeral Mass was held at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan on February 7, 2014.[12] In 1989, Hoffman completed a drama degree at New York University.[3][13] To differentiate himself from another performer, Hoffman started using his grandfather's name, Seymour.[14]

Playing a spoiled private school student in the 1992 film Scent of a Woman brought Hoffman early notice.[15][16]

What the cited sources add

The Independent interview by Mottram reports that Hoffman voted for Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election.[17] Mottram also writes that Hoffman had three children with costume designer Mimi O'Donnell.[17] The Guardian interview by Hattenstone states that Hoffman said he "drank too much, so I stopped".[3]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "The 60 best actors of 21st-century cinema, ranked", The Independent, December 28, 2024 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Weber, "Philip Seymour Hoffman, Actor of Depth, Dies at 46", The New York Times, February 2, 2014; Shaw, "Oscar-Winner's Mother Was Born in Waterloo", Syracuse Post Standard, March 7, 2006, p. 78; Weber, "Philip Seymour Hoffman, Actor of Depth, Dies at 46", The New York Times, February 2, 2014; Hattenstone, "Philip Seymour Hoffman: 'I was moody, mercurial... it was all or nothing'", The Guardian, October 28, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Hattenstone, "Philip Seymour Hoffman: 'I was moody, mercurial... it was all or nothing'", The Guardian, October 28, 2011. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
  4. Gilbey, "Philip Seymour Hoffman obituary", The Guardian, February 3, 2014. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
  5. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mosher 2011, p. 110; McNulty, "Philip Seymour Hoffman, a theatrically charged talent", Los Angeles Times, February 5, 2014; Fear, "Philip Seymour Hoffman, 1967–2014", February 2, 2014; McNulty, "Philip Seymour Hoffman, a theatrically charged talent", Los Angeles Times, February 5, 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Interview: Philip Seymour Hoffman discusses his "Capote" obsession", NPR, September 26, 2005; Mosher 2011, p. 110; Mosher 2011, p. 110; "Capote", Rotten Tomatoes, September 30, 2005; Mosher 2011, p. 110; "Philip Seymour Hoffman awards", The New York Times, 2016; "Premiere Magazine's Top 100 Greatest Performances", Empire, March 20, 2006; Mosher 2011, p. 110 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Philip Seymour Hoffman", Internet Broadway Database; Urbaniak, "What I Learned from Losing a Role to Philip Seymour Hoffman", Slate (magazine), February 3, 2014; "Philip Seymour Hoffman's Movie Career: A Streak of Genius, Stopped Too Soon", February 2, 2014; Mosher 2011, p. 110; "American Dreamer, Ambushed by the Territory 'Death of a Salesman,' With Philip Seymour Hoffman", The New York Times, March 15, 2012; "Philip Seymour Hoffman", Internet Broadway Database; "Theater review; Streep Meets Chekhov, Up in Central Park", The Ne en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Philip Seymour Hoffman dead: Theater world recalls a 'great light'", Los Angeles Times, February 2, 2014; "Philip Seymour Hoffman", Internet Broadway Database; Horton Rapf 2012, p. 228; "5 Times Philip Seymour Hoffman Was Better Than the Movie", People, February 2, 2014 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Industry Insight: Weekly Grosses Analysis – 6/4; Once & Salesman Have Record Weeks", Broadway World; Weber, "Philip Seymour Hoffman, Actor of Depth, Dies at 46", The New York Times, February 2, 2014; Jones, "Feeling the absence of an everyman in 'Death of a Salesman' on Broadway", Chicago Tribune, March 15, 2012; "Philip Seymour Hoffman: The Actor Talks about the Master, Paul Thomas Anderson, Weight Loss, Anonymity, and Kids", Esquire, November 1, 2012; "Philip Seymour Hoffman", Internet Broadway Database (we also read that en.wikipedia.org
  10. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Philip Seymour Hoffman death ruled an accidental drug overdose", Fox News, February 2014; Weber, "Philip Seymour Hoffman, Actor of Depth, Dies at 46", The New York Times, February 2, 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  11. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Selby, "Philip Seymour Hoffman: David Bar Katz, who found Hoffman dead, condemns media for painting 'false picture' of star in first video interview", Independent, February 26, 2014; "Piecing together Philip Seymour Hoffman's final hours", CNN, February 4, 2014; Selby, "Philip Seymour Hoffman dead: Last months of actor's life paint a private struggle to cope with the breakdown of his personal life", The Independent, February 3, 2014; Goodman, "Four People Arrested as Part of Inquiry into Hoffman's Death", The New York Times, Febr en.wikipedia.org
  12. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Adato, "Priest at Philip Seymour Hoffman's Funeral: 'I Learned About Humility from Him'", People, February 7, 2014; "Philip Seymour Hoffman's funeral", CBS News, February 7, 2014; "Family, actors mourn Philip Seymour Hoffman at private funeral", Reuters, February 8, 2014; "Philip Seymour Hoffman didn't want 'trust fund' kids, filing says", Los Angeles Times, July 21, 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  13. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Whitty, "The talented Mr. Hoffman", The Star-Ledger, December 6, 2008; Hattenstone, "Philip Seymour Hoffman: 'I was moody, mercurial... it was all or nothing'", The Guardian, October 28, 2011 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  14. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mottram, "Interview: Philip Seymour Hoffman: Tales of Hoffman", Scotland on Sunday, January 26, 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  15. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Oliver, "Timeline: The life of Philip Seymour Hoffman", USA Today, February 2, 2014; Webber, "Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman dies from apparent drug overdose", The Dallas Morning News, February 2, 2014 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  16. Wikipedia, "Philip Seymour Hoffman" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gilbey, "Philip Seymour Hoffman obituary", The Guardian, February 3, 2014; "Scent of a Woman", Box Office Mojo; Mosher 2011, p. 110; Vallance, "Philip Seymour Hoffman obituary: Oscar-winner for 'Capote' acclaimed for an indelible succession of haunting, enigmatic performances", The Independent, February 4, 2014; Mottram, "Interview: Philip Seymour Hoffman: Tales of Hoffman", Scotland on Sunday, January 26, 2003; Palmer, "Philip Seymour Hoffman: behind the spin", Radio Times, February 3, 2014 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  17. Mottram, "Philip Seymour Hoffman: 'You're not going to watch The Master and find a lot out about Scientology'", The Independent, October 28, 2012. facts only, no text reused. independent.co.uk

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Philip Seymour Hoffman (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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