A star was born, and on Feb. 2, 2014, that star’s life has come to an end. 46 year old “Capote’ star, Philip Seymour Hoffman suffered a fatal overdose in the midst of filming The Hunger Games’ third and final installment: Mockingjay Part One and Two.
Before Hoffman was widely known for his portrayal as The Hunger Games creator, Plutarch Heavensbee, he was known for a variety of roles. Hoffman had once played the eccentric 20th century non-fiction novelist, Truman Capote, in the 2005 film “Capote” which had earned him his first, and only, Academy Award.
Hoffman had been best known, among fans and movie buffs, throughout his career for his supporting roles. In one of his more notable roles Hoffman portrayed the sleek assistant to millionaire, Jeffrey Lebwoski, in the 1998 film “The Big Lebowski.” Others include his work on “Almost Famous”,”‘Boogie Nights”, and more recently, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”
Despite his reputation as a screen actor, Hoffman had earned recognition on the stage, as well. He earned up to three Tony Award nominations throughout his lifetime. One of Hoffman’s best known stage performances include his leading role as William ‘Willy’ Loman in the 2012 Broadway revival production of “Death of a Salesman”. Hoffman’s performance had gained so much notoriety that he would earn his third, and final, Tony award nomination that same year.
With all of the success spanning his career, Hoffman had always remained a very humble individual.
“Success isn’t what makes you happy. It really isn’t. Success is doing what makes you happy and doing good work and hopefully having a fruitful life. If I’ve felt like I’ve done good work, that makes me happy. The success part of it is all gravy.” said Philip Seymour Hoffman quoted on www.imdb.com.
Philip Seymour Hoffman was a native of Rochester, New York and was the second of four children by father Gordon Hoffman and mother Geraldine Stowell. Hoffman had originally participated in sports throughout his youth until a wrestling injury had left him off of the mats, and lead him further towards the stage, and eventually, to the big screen.
At 17 years old, Hoffman’s mother, Geraldine, had taken him to see an off-Broadway production of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons”. From the moment the play had ended to the rest of his life, Hoffman would refer to it as a “life changing experience”. It was then that Philip Seymour Hoffman was determined to become an actor of great talent.
“Philip Seymour Hoffman was a singular talent and one of the most gifted actors of our generation,” said Lionsgate Films via usmagazine.com.
“The great thing about Philip Seymour Hoffman was his ability to convey the inner pain of a character through the hesitations in his speech. In essence, he embodies the character externally and internally,” says Lewis and Clark Community College professor, Jim Price.
Hoffman’s final productions are “God’s Pocket”,” A Most Wanted Man”, and the highly anticipated 2014 release of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1”. Philly.com has recently confirmed that Lionsgate has determined to make Hoffman return in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2”, with editors using CGI effects to digitally resurrect the Magnolia actor for what is left of the shooting process of the film. It’s safe to say that “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” will be Philip Seymour Hoffman’s final production, but it will certainly not be the only one he will be remembered for.
