Philip Seymour Hoffman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Seymour Hoffman
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Hoffman in 2011
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Philip Hoffman
July 23, 1967 Fairport, New York, U.S.
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| Died | February 2, 2014 (aged 46) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
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| Alma mater | New York University |
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| Years active | 1991–2014 |
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Works
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On screen and stage |
| Partner(s) | Mimi O'Donnell (1999–2014) |
| Children | 3, including Cooper |
| Relatives | Gordy Hoffman (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 23, 1967 – February 2, 2014) was a talented American actor. He was famous for playing unique and memorable characters in many films and plays. From the early 1990s until his death in 2014, he took on many roles, including leading ones. He won many awards, like an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was also nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards and three Tony Awards. In 2022, Empire magazine named Hoffman one of the 50 Greatest Actors Of All Time.
Philip Seymour Hoffman studied acting at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He became well-known for his supporting roles in movies like Scent of a Woman (1992) and Twister (1996). He also appeared in Boogie Nights (1997), The Big Lebowski (1998), and Magnolia (1999). He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for playing Truman Capote in Capote (2005). Other movies where he earned Oscar nominations include Charlie Wilson's War (2007) and The Master (2012). He also appeared in Mission: Impossible III (2006) and The Hunger Games series (2013–2015). He even directed a movie called Jack Goes Boating (2010).
Hoffman was also a skilled theater actor and director. He joined the off-Broadway LAByrinth Theater Company in 1995. There, he directed, produced, and acted in many stage shows. He received three Tony Award nominations for his performances in Broadway plays. These included True West in 2000, Long Day's Journey into Night in 2003, and Death of a Salesman in 2012.
People remember Hoffman for being brave in playing challenging characters. He brought deep understanding and human feelings to these roles. His obituary in New York Times called him "perhaps the most ambitious and widely admired American actor of his generation."
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Growing Up: Philip's Early Life
Philip Hoffman was born on July 23, 1967, in Fairport, New York. This town is near Rochester. His mother, Marilyn O'Connor, was an elementary school teacher. She later became a lawyer and a judge. His father, Gordon Stowell Hoffman, worked for the Xerox Corporation. Philip had one brother, Gordy, and two sisters, Jill and Emily. His family had German and Irish roots.
Philip was baptized Catholic and went to Mass as a child. However, his family was not very religious. His parents divorced when he was nine. His mother mainly raised the children. Philip loved sports, especially wrestling and baseball, when he was young. But at age 12, he saw a play called All My Sons by Arthur Miller. This experience changed him forever. He said in 2008, "It was like a miracle to me." Philip then fell in love with theater. He started going to plays regularly with his mother, who also loved theater. He remembered that Quilters and Alms for the Middle Class were also very inspiring. At 14, a neck injury stopped him from playing sports. He then started thinking about acting. His mother encouraged him, and he joined a drama club. He first joined because he liked a girl in the club.
Acting slowly became Philip's true passion. He loved being part of a team and working with other people. At 17, he was chosen to attend the 1984 New York State Summer School of the Arts. There, he met future friends and co-workers Bennett Miller and Dan Futterman. Miller later said Philip was very serious about acting, even back then. Philip applied to several drama programs and was accepted into New York University's (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. Before starting at NYU, he trained at the Circle in the Square Theatre's summer program. Philip enjoyed his time at NYU. He worked as an usher to support himself. With friends, he started an acting group called the Bullstoi Ensemble. He earned his drama degree in 1989.
Philip's Acting Journey
Early Roles: 1991–1995
After college, Philip worked in off-Broadway theater. He also took customer service jobs to earn money. His first TV appearance was in a Law & Order episode in 1991. His first movie role was in 1992 in Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole. He was credited as "Phil Hoffman." After this, he started using his grandfather's name, Seymour, to avoid confusion with another actor. More movie roles quickly followed. He appeared in My New Gun and had a small part in Leap of Faith with Steve Martin.
He gained attention for playing a spoiled student in the Oscar-winning Al Pacino film Scent of a Woman (1992). Philip auditioned five times for this role. This movie helped him show his skill for making unpleasant characters interesting. The film earned $134 million worldwide and was his first big notice. Philip later said, "If I hadn't gotten into that film, I wouldn't be where I am today." After this, he quit his job at a deli to become a full-time actor.
Philip continued to play small roles in the early 1990s. He appeared in Joey Breaker and the teen zombie movie My Boyfriend's Back. He had a more important role as John Cusack's rich friend in Money for Nothing. In 1994, he played a new mobster in The Getaway with Alec Baldwin. He then appeared with Andy García and Meg Ryan in When a Man Loves a Woman. He also played a strict police deputy who gets punched by Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool. Newman was one of Philip's acting heroes.
Philip always believed stage work was important. In 1995, he joined the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York City. He stayed with this group for the rest of his life. He acted in many plays and later became a co-artistic director. He also directed several plays over the years. His only movie in 1995 was a short comedy called The Fifteen Minute Hamlet.
Becoming Well-Known: 1996–1999
In 1996, Philip appeared in a play called The Skriker. After this, based on his work in Scent of a Woman, writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson cast him in his first movie, Hard Eight (1996). Philip had a small role in this crime thriller. But it started a very important partnership in his career.
Before working more with Anderson, Philip appeared in Twister. This was one of the biggest movies of the year. He played a very energetic storm chaser with Helen Hunt. Many people still connect Philip most with Twister. He then worked with Anderson again on Boogie Nights. Critics loved this film, and it became a cult classic. Many say this movie was where Philip first showed his full acting talent.
Philip continued his success, appearing in five movies in 1998. He had supporting roles in Montana and Next Stop Wonderland. Both of these movies did not do well. Then, he worked with the Coen brothers in their comedy The Big Lebowski. Philip had always been a fan of these directors. He enjoyed working with them. He played Brandt, the assistant to the main character. Even though it was a small role, he said it was one he was recognized for the most. The film has a large fan base.
Philip took on a challenging role in Todd Solondz's Happiness (1998). This was a dark comedy about three sisters and their lives. Happiness received much praise, and critics often call Philip's role one of his best. His last movie in 1998 was Patch Adams with Robin Williams. Philip played a medical graduate. The film was not liked by critics, but it was one of the highest-earning movies of Philip's career.
In 1999, Philip starred with Robert De Niro in Flawless. He played a drag queen named Rusty Zimmerman. Philip felt De Niro was the most impressive actor he had worked with. He believed working with him greatly improved his own acting. Critics noticed Philip's ability to play such a sensitive role without using stereotypes. Roger Ebert said it proved he was "one of the best new character actors." He received his first Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for this role.
Philip then worked with Paul Thomas Anderson again in Magnolia. He played a kind nurse who cared for a dying father. Doctors and nurses approved of his performance. Jessica Winter called it Philip's most memorable work, like he was a guardian angel. Magnolia is often listed as one of the greatest films ever. It was also one of Philip's personal favorites.
One of Philip's most successful movies was The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). He played a "preppy bully" who bothered Matt Damon's character. Jeff Simon called his character "the truest upper class twit in all of American movies." Philip's performance caught the eye of Meryl Streep, another of his acting heroes. She said, "My God, this actor is fearless." For his work in Magnolia and The Talented Mr. Ripley, Philip was named Best Supporting Actor by the National Board of Review.
A Recognized Star: 2000–2004
By the early 2000s, Philip had a reputation as a top supporting actor. People knew he would always make a strong impression in his roles. David Kamp said watching him act was like "discovering a prize in a box of cereal." Jerry Mosher noted that Philip seemed to be everywhere and was ready for stardom.
Philip started gaining recognition as a theater actor in 1999. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his role in the play The Author's Voice. This success continued in 2000 with the Broadway play True West. Philip and co-star John C. Reilly switched roles every night. Ben Brantley called it Philip's best stage performance. Philip earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. The next year, he appeared with Meryl Streep in The Seagull. As a stage director, Philip received two Drama Desk Award nominations. He was nominated for Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train in 2001 and Our Lady of 121st Street in 2003. Philip said that switching between acting and directing helped him improve in both.
Philip's first movie in 2000 was State and Main. It was about the challenges of filming in a small town. He had a more important supporting role that year in Almost Famous. This popular movie was about the music industry in the 1970s. Philip played the rock critic Lester Bangs. He worked hard to capture the real person's style and humor. The next year, Philip was the narrator in The Party's Over, a documentary about the 2000 U.S. elections.
In 2002, Philip got his first main role in Love Liza. His brother Gordy wrote the script. Philip thought it was amazing, but critics were not as excited. A review for the BBC said Philip finally had a role that showed "what he's truly capable of." However, few people saw the film as it had a very limited release.
Later in 2002, Philip starred with Adam Sandler in Anderson's movie Punch-Drunk Love. Drew Hunt praised Philip's ability to make small roles into great performances. He also praised Philip's comedic skills. In a very different movie, Philip appeared with Anthony Hopkins in the thriller Red Dragon. He played the nosy journalist Freddy Lounds. His fourth movie in 2002 was Spike Lee's 25th Hour. He played an English teacher who makes a big mistake. Both Spike Lee and the lead actor Edward Norton were excited to work with Philip. Philip thought his character, Jakob, was one of the quietest characters he had ever played. Roger Ebert called 25th Hour one of the best films of the 2000s.
The drama Owning Mahowny (2003) gave Philip his second lead role. He starred with Minnie Driver. The movie was based on the true story of a banker who committed a huge fraud. Philip met with the real banker to prepare for the role. Roger Ebert called Philip's performance "a masterpiece." But the movie did not earn much money.
Philip's second movie in 2003 was a small role in Cold Mountain. He played a complex preacher. The same year, he appeared in a Broadway play called Long Day's Journey into Night. Philip received his second Tony Award nomination for this role. In 2004, he played a funny, old actor friend in the hit movie Along Came Polly. This role showed that "Hoffman could deliver comedic performances with the best of them."
Winning Awards: 2005–2009
A major moment in Philip's career was the movie Capote (2005). This film told the story of writer Truman Capote writing his book In Cold Blood. Philip played the main role and also helped produce the movie. Playing the unique writer was very demanding. He had to lose a lot of weight and spent four months researching Capote. He watched videos to learn the author's voice and mannerisms. Philip said he wanted to show the "vitality and the nuances" of the writer. During filming, he stayed in character all the time. Capote received great praise, especially for Philip's acting. Many critics said the role was perfect for winning awards. Philip won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA. In 2006, Premiere listed his role in Capote as the 35th-greatest movie performance ever. After this film, many people called Philip one of the best actors of his time.
Philip received his only Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role in the TV miniseries Empire Falls (2005). In 2006, he appeared in the big summer movie Mission: Impossible III. He played the bad guy, Owen Davian, against Tom Cruise. A journalist said Philip's performance was "one of the most delicious in a Hollywood film." The movie earned almost $400 million, making Philip known to a wider audience.
Returning to independent films in 2007, Philip starred in The Savages. He and Laura Linney played siblings who put their father in a care home. Jake Coyle said it was "the epitome of a Hoffman film: a mix of comedy and tragedy." Philip received a Golden Globe nomination for this role. He then appeared in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, the last film by director Sidney Lumet. Critics loved this movie.
Mike Nichols's political film Charlie Wilson's War (2007) gave Philip his second Academy Award nomination. He played Gust Avrakotos, a CIA agent who helped Afghani rebels. Todd McCarthy said Philip's performance made the movie "vibrate with conspiratorial electricity." The film was a success. Along with his Oscar nomination, Philip was also nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe Award.
The year 2008 brought two important roles for Philip. In Synecdoche, New York, he played Caden Cotard, a frustrated writer. Philip showed his willingness to play characters with difficult traits. Critics had mixed feelings about this "ambitious and baffling" film. Some found it confusing, while Roger Ebert called it the best film of the decade.
Philip's second role that year was in Doubt, with Meryl Streep. Philip knew the play well and was happy to bring it to the screen. He talked to a priest to prepare for the role. The film received mixed reviews. However, Philip earned his second straight Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes.
In 2009, Philip played Iago in a play called Othello. He also did his first voice role for the claymation film Mary and Max. He voiced Max, a depressed New Yorker. Toni Collette voiced Mary, an Australian girl who becomes his pen pal. Philip also worked on an episode of the children's show Arthur. He received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for this. Later, he played an American disc jockey in the British comedy The Boat That Rocked. He also had a small role as a bartender in The Invention of Lying.
Final Years: 2010–2014
Philip's fame continued to grow in the new decade. He became more recognizable. In 2010, he released his first movie as a director, Jack Goes Boating. He had starred in and directed the play it was based on. He originally only planned to direct the film. But he decided to play the main role of Jack, a lonely limousine driver, when another actor was not available. The film was small and did not earn much money. However, it received many good reviews.
Philip then had important supporting roles in two movies released in 2011. In Moneyball, a sports drama, he played the coach Art Howe. The film was a success. Philip was described as "perfectly cast." His second film was George Clooney's political drama The Ides of March. He played the campaign manager for a presidential candidate. The film was well-received, and Philip's performance was praised. His work on this film earned him his fourth BAFTA Award nomination.
In 2012, Philip made his last stage appearance. He starred as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman on Broadway. The play was very popular. Many critics felt Philip, at 44, was too young for the 62-year-old character. Philip admitted the role was difficult. Still, he earned his third Tony Award nomination.
Philip worked with Paul Thomas Anderson for the fifth time in The Master (2012). Critics called his performance the most memorable of his career. The film was set in the 1950s. Philip played Lancaster Dodd, the leader of a new movement. He helped develop the project for three years. Philip also helped write the script. He suggested making Joaquin Phoenix's character the main one instead of Dodd. Philip was a talented dancer and showed his skills in a unique scene. The Master was praised as a smart and challenging drama. Drew Hunt felt it contained Philip's best work. Philip and Phoenix won an award at the Venice Film Festival. Philip was also nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award, and a SAG Award for this role.
A Late Quartet was Philip's other film in 2012. He played a violinist in a string quartet. The drama received good reviews. Stephen Holden called Philip's performance "exceptional." In 2013, Philip joined the popular Hunger Games series in its second film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. He played gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee. The film was very successful. Philip became known to a new generation of movie fans. In January 2014, shortly before his death, he attended the Sundance Film Festival. He was there to promote two films. In A Most Wanted Man, a thriller, Philip played a German intelligence officer. His performance was highly praised. The other film was God's Pocket, where Philip played a thief. In November 2014, nine months after his death, Philip was seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.
When he passed away, Philip was filming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. He had already finished most of his scenes. His remaining scenes were changed to work without him. The film was released in November 2015. Philip was also getting ready to direct his second movie, Ezekiel Moss. It was planned to star Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. He had also filmed a pilot episode for a TV series called Happyish. Plans for the full season were put on hold after his death.
Philip's Personal Life
Philip rarely talked about his personal life in interviews. He said in 2012 that he preferred not to. He felt his family did not choose to be in the public eye. For 14 years, he was in a relationship with costume designer Mimi O'Donnell. They met in 1999 while working on a play Philip directed. They lived in New York City and had a son, Cooper, and two daughters.
He believed keeping his personal life private helped his career. He thought, "The less you know about me the more interesting it will be to watch me do what I do."
Philip's Passing and Legacy
Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away on February 2, 2014, in his Manhattan apartment. He was 46 years old.
A funeral service was held at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan on February 7, 2014. Many of his close friends and co-stars attended. These included Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, and Joaquin Phoenix. After the ceremony, Philip was cremated. His ashes were given to his wife and children. He left his money to Mimi O'Donnell in his will, trusting her to provide for their children.
Philip's death was a great loss to his fans and the film industry. Many people said it was a big loss to acting. On February 5, 2014, the LAByrinth Theatre Company held a candlelight vigil for him. Broadway theaters dimmed their lights for one minute in his honor. Three weeks after Philip's death, a friend established the American Playwriting Foundation in his memory. This foundation gives an annual prize of $45,000 to a new play. It is called the "Relentless Prize," honoring Philip's dedication to his work. At the 90th Academy Awards, Sam Rockwell dedicated his win for Best Supporting Actor to Philip. Actress Cate Blanchett also dedicated her BAFTA award to Philip.
Filmography, Awards, and Honors
Philip Seymour Hoffman appeared in 55 films and one miniseries during his 22-year career. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Capote (2005). He was nominated three times for Best Supporting Actor. These nominations were for Charlie Wilson's War (2007), Doubt (2008), and The Master (2012). He also received five Golden Globe Award nominations (winning one), five BAFTA Award nominations (winning one), and four Screen Actors Guild Awards (winning one). He also won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival. Philip remained active in theater throughout his career. He starred in ten and directed 19 stage productions, mostly in New York. He received three Tony Award nominations for his Broadway performances. These included two for Best Leading Actor in True West (2000) and Death of a Salesman (2012). He also received one for Best Featured Actor in Long Day's Journey into Night (2003).
In 2022, a statue of Philip was unveiled in his hometown of Fairport, New York. The statue was made by David A. Annand. It was first on loan from a gallery. In 2023, it was permanently placed outside the George Eastman Museum. Philip’s mother, Marilyn O'Connor, called the sculpture "a loving memorial" to her son.
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See also
In Spanish: Philip Seymour Hoffman para niños
