Saying goodbye to a legend

Photo by Wolf Gang, via flickr 

Jennipher Schafer/Staff Writer 

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. With the topic trending on Twitter, it is easy to find actors who are expressing their grief.  Tom Hiddleston tweeted, “Philip Seymour Hoffman. This is so unbearably sad.” Some of his most recent co-stars in the “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” film also tweeted in his memory. Sam Claflin, who played Finnick Odair, said, “PSH – I am genuinely shocked, saddened and speechless. A truly wonderful man, with a magical touch. My hero. Thoughts are with his family.” Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss Everdeen, and Josh Hutcherson, Peeta Mellark in the film, haven’t spoken out publicly yet, but are expected to do so soon.

Hoffman was by many measures an actor of extraordinary talents. Over his career he won many awards including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors’ Guild Award, and a Golden Globe for his role in “Capote.”  He had a range that made the audience love him or hate him as he filled his role.  He was quite skilled at making people believe his role and not see him in its place.  Some of his other memorable performances were in “Twister”, “Almost Famous,” “Mission Impossible III,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,”  “Doubt,” “The Master,”  and most recently “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” He also spent some time on Broadway in several shows including a 2012 revival of “Death of a Salesman.”  What his roles had in common were characters that seemed to have a deeply unique and troubled soul.

Hoffman was found Sunday morning with a needle still stuck in his vein and several bags of heroin in his apartment. The number of bags is unconfirmed and varies between news sources, ranging from two, according to early CNN reports, nine, according to NBC, and a mind-blowing 70, according to the New York Post.  Last year, after 23 years of sobriety, Hoffman spent time in a drug rehabilitation facility for an addiction to prescription pain pills and heroin. Police did confirm that at least five empty pre-sorted envelopes of the lethal drug were found in his Manhattan apartment. The envelopes were labeled “Ace of Spades” and “Ace of Hearts” which are popular street names for heroin.

Hoffman was born on July 23, 1967. At 47, his life was cut short by his addiction. Sources told the New York Post that Hoffman and his common-law wife were not living together. In fact, the discovery of his body happened when he was late in picking up his three children for a visit. It is unconfirmed whether this had to do with his drug relapse or not, though there were no public announcements about a divorce pending.

Hoffman is survived by his wife Mimi O’Donnell and their three children whose names are not publicly disclosed; a son and two daughters. His family requests privacy and prayers for the moment, as they try to pick up the pieces scattered by his loss.

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jennipher.schafer@fiusm.com