Philip Seymour Hoffman, 1967-2014

Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the most talented stage and screen actors of his generation, was found dead in his Greenwich Village apartment today, at the age of 46.

Update: The lights of Broadway will dim at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5th in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Labyrinth Theater will hold a community prayer and candlelight vigil Wednesday, February 5th at 6:30pm in the courtyard of the Bank Street Theater (located at 155 Bank Street). The prayer will be lead by Labyrinth Company member Fr. Jim Martin.
The cause of death is apparently a drug overdose: The Daily News reports that “Hoffman was found alone with a needle in his arm in the bathroom of his apartment.”
Although known nationally as a movie actor — he won an Oscar for his starring role in “Capote” in 2005 — he was active in New York theater. He appeared on Broadway three times: in Sam Shepard’s True West (2000), Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2003), and Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (2012.)
He was active Off-Broadway and even Off-Off Broadway as both an actor and a director, especially with the Labyrinth Theater Company, which he served as co-artistic director. There he directed productions of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Jesus Hopped the A Train, Our Lady of 121st Street, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and The Little Flower of East Orange, and also starred in and directed Jack Goes Boating.
His Off-Broadway credits also include The Seagull at the Delacorte Theatre, Othello, The Merchant of Venice, Shopping and Fucking, Defying Gravity and The Author’s Voice.
His film credits also include Boogie Nights, Happiness, Magnolia, The Talented Mr. Ripley, State and Main, Almost Famous, Cold Mountain, Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt (Academy Award nomination), Jack Goes Boating, Moneyball, The Ides of March, The Master and, the Hunger Games He is survived by his long-time partner costume designer Mimi O’Donne and three young children, ages five to 11.

“I didn’t go out looking for negative characters; I went looking for people who have a struggle and a fight to tackle.”

Statement from Labyrinth Theater: “We are heartbroken by the loss of our beloved friend, Company Member, and former Artistic Director, Philip Seymour Hoffman. His contributions to the Labyrinth family as an artist and mentor are immeasurable. We join everyone in mourning the passing of one of the great lights of our generation.”

Obituaries and Appreciations:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Actor of Depth, Dies at 46, by Bruce Weber, New York Times

“For Hoffman, acting didn’t come easy, but it did come true” by Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune.

Philip Seymour Hoffman became one of the greatest actors of his generation, by Joe Neumaier, Daily News

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Great Gift: Understatement, by Christopher Orr, The Atlantic

Cameron Crowe on Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs in Almost, Famous:

When the scene was over, I realized that Hoffman had pulled off a magic trick…The crew and I will always be grateful for that front row seat to his genius.