View Full Version : Philip Seymour Hoffman died of an overdose of heroine.
I think I have to turn in my Pop Culture 101 certificate of completion. I took a quick look at Wikipedia and I don't believe I've seen a single movie this guy has made. In fact, when I first heard the news, I thought it was the guy who played Tubbs on "Miami Vice" (turns out that's Philip Michael Thomas). *sigh*
iris lilies
2-2-14, 5:20pm
I am shocked and sad, sad, sad. He is a giant in character roles, a seriously uber talented man. I will say this for Hollywood: he worked regularly, so Hollywood did recognize his talent.
The last film I saw him in was A Late Quartet with Catherine Keener as his wife, the one where they were musicians in a famous string quartet. She kicked him out of their apartment after he had a 1 night affair (because she had kicked him out!) and I practically cried, she was such a bitch and he was so sweet. A nice enough film and he was, as usual, the best thing in it.
I'll come back later with my favorite PS Hoffman roles. I love this guy.
Damn, Gandolfini and now PS Hoffman within the same 12 month span. I am bummed. I like my teddy bear men.
It sounds like he struggled with addiction in the past. I wonder if he shot up too big a dose, and he wasn't used to it. The last movie I saw him in was The Master ...which I didn't like at all......but he was a great actor. Very sad.
rodeosweetheart
2-2-14, 6:59pm
He was extraordinary in The Savages, with Laura Linney. Also in Capote--amazing.
What a terrible, terrible shame-
ToomuchStuff
2-2-14, 10:44pm
Steve, I feel I am just barely one up on you. I know him from some Mission Impossible movie my mom rented and put on when she had me over for dinner.
Hope his family can deal with his suicide.
Thanks, Steve, I didn't recognize him either.
iris lilies
2-3-14, 1:14am
I didn't watch The Master on purpose, same for Capote. I did watch him in YouTube clips as Truman Capote, however. My favorite PS Hoffman roles have been these three films because I really liked the films as well as him in them:
1) The Savages (a brother and sister fetch their elderly father and place him in a nursing home. He plays the brother.)
2) Flawless. He plays a drag queen. This is a wonderful character study film, about a strong, macho policeman (Robert Dinero) who suffers a stroke, and Hoffman plays his next door neighbor who looks after DiNero. Hoffman is simply great.
3) Happiness where Hoffman has a small supporting role as a sad, lonely young man who wants a girlfriend. Happiness is a film that many people will not like since it has a strong theme of inappropriate sex including pedophilia. But I really liked it.
He had a supporting role in Charlie Wilson's War that with any other actor would have been forgettable. He was perfect and brought it to life. I thought that film was just ok but it's an example of how a highly skilled actor in a small role can make it memorable.
Now that he's dead I'm going to go back and watch Almost Famous and maybe Big Lewbowski. I just can't stand Lebowski, but maybe I will see the light this time, I keep trying to grok the fabulousness of The Dude (Jeff Bridges) and haven't been successful.
I've only seen 2 Philip Seymour Hoffman movies, "Twister" and "Capote". He was my favorite character in "Twister" (not a movie to watch in tornado season). I didn't care for "Capote" the movie but though Hoffman's performance was excellent.
I am also quite saddened over this---I guess he's been fighting this addiction for some time. Truly tragic; he was quite talented. The first thing I thought of was his role in Love Liza http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282698/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_34
I always admired his work.
Teacher Terry
2-3-14, 4:48pm
I also loved his work! Cathy, you are right that often when people stop using drugs and then go back they start with the same dose they used to take without realizing they have to build up to it. This is responsible for many drug deaths. It is always so sad when this happens.
Every day ~100 people die from drug overdoses in the USA. Most of them aren't famous actors.
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/overdose/facts.html
So sad. It really makes me think about, well, about how we all struggle with the stuff in our lives that test our vulnerabilities. Me, my clients, heck, everyone.
I have seen all of his films, but one of my 30 favorites is Capote. Kenner was in that one, too, playing Capote's friend Harper Lee.
I always felt as though he helped characters that were difficult to understand easier to connect with. His quiet way of acting draws me in.
Bae, no one would want any other person to use drugs, much less die as a result, but this death is an opportunity for me, maybe for others as well, to perhaps pay more attention to those around us, the people who struggle and scatter and when there is no one to notice or help in a way that actually helps, resort to self-medicating with drugs.
ApatheticNoMore
2-3-14, 6:53pm
I really just took this thread as a reflection on PSH's career more than his death, but definitely agree on the HUGE toll taken by hard drugs in general! And I have long since given up trying to fix drug addicts other than being verbally supportive of treatment. Sometimes if one is lucky they fix themselves (and sometimes they end up dead).
I too was sad to hear this. He had such talent, and who knows what great works he would have done. There aren't too many American actors I consider 'great', (many called great are just celebrities), but he was becoming one of my favorites. He reminded me a bit of one of my faves, Jack Lemmon. Not really a romantic lead, but a sort of everyman who could play any sort of character with believability.
I haven't seen The Master yet, but I enjoyed The Savages and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. Oh, and Doubt too.
Every day ~100 people die from drug overdoses in the USA. Most of them aren't famous actors.
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/overdose/facts.html
Hopefully, as with other celebrity illnesses, his death will bring some much needed sunlight and change to the epidemic of addictions across our communities.
Don't forget Magnolia.
I'm real sad about his death. I haven't gone to the nth degree reading about him, but I did see a snippet that he had 23 yrs. clean & sober (I'm not sure if that's correct?) But if so... wow, just wow
In aa they say that just because you quit doesn't mean that your disease takes a break, it's out there doing push-ups waiting for you.
Being selfish, I'm sad for me - I love movies and he was always in worthwhile projects that brought me so much pleasure.
I like actors that look like real people. Not perfect.
Edit to add: Those of you that aren't familiar with his work, his bio alone would keep you busy for a long time on Netflix watching really solid movies
ToomuchStuff
2-4-14, 5:45pm
Bae, no one would want any other person to use drugs, much less die as a result, but this death is an opportunity for me, maybe for others as well, to perhaps pay more attention to those around us, the people who struggle and scatter and when there is no one to notice or help in a way that actually helps, resort to self-medicating with drugs.
You may have missed a few opportunities to notice then: Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison, John Belushi, etc. etc. etc.
And I have long since given up trying to fix drug addicts other than being verbally supportive of treatment. Sometimes if one is lucky they fix themselves (and sometimes they end up dead).
and this. Addiction is a couple of parts, if you can find a way to solve the chemical/habit part, then go for it. You can't force people to make the choices you want them to make, though.
Now for wanting the no other person to use drugs or die as a result, wouldn't that tend to be a different discussion, on capital punishment?
[QUOTE=ToomuchStuff;168454]You may have missed a few opportunities to notice then: Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison, John Belushi, etc. etc. etc.
Ummm, O.K.
He was in mostly movies where he played a very quirky,eccentric type of person, but hey--- I guess that is what entertains people, myself included. I think I only saw just 2 maybe 3, of the movies he was featured in, and they were really pretty good. I say that--2 or maybe 3--- because he kind of morphed identities to suit the role he took. He was doing very well in life, better than a lot of folks---except for that heroin addiction of his. Sad, really sad.
I think I have to turn in my Pop Culture 101 certificate of completion. I took a quick look at Wikipedia and I don't believe I've seen a single movie this guy has made. In fact, when I first heard the news, I thought it was the guy who played Tubbs on "Miami Vice" (turns out that's Philip Michael Thomas). *sigh*
My dd came in during the Super Bowl and told my dw and I...they both could not believe it. I asked, who is he? They rattled off a bunch of movies he was in (it didn't help). DD pulled up his picture on the net. Hmmm still did not know who the heck he was. ditto on the *sigh*
This is what I found on wikipedia, what a body of work:
(And that's just the film, there's another list of his theater work)
Film
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1991
Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole
Klutch
1992
Szuler
Martin
1992
My New Gun
Chris
1992
Leap of Faith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_of_Faith_(film))
Matt
1992
Scent of a Woman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scent_of_a_Woman_(1992_film))
George Willis, Jr.
Credited as Philip S. Hoffman
1993
Joey Breaker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Breaker)
Wiley McCall
1993
My Boyfriend's Back (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Boyfriend%27s_Back_(film))
Chuck Bronski
1993
Money for Nothing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Nothing_(1993_film))
Cochran
1994
The Getaway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Getaway_(1994_film))
Frank Hansen
1994
The Yearling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yearling_(1994_film))
Buck
Television film
1994
When a Man Loves a Woman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_a_Man_Loves_a_Woman_(film))
Gary
1994
Nobody's Fool (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobody%27s_Fool_(1994_film))
Officer Raymer
1995
The Fifteen Minute Hamlet
Bernardo, Horatio, Laertes
1996
Hard Eight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Eight_(film))
Young Craps Player
1996
Twister (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twister_(1996_film))
Dustin "Dusty" Davis
1997
Boogie Nights (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Nights)
Scotty J.
1997
Liberty! The American Revolution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty!_The_American_Revolution)
Joseph Plumb Martin
1998
Culture
Bill
1998
Montana (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_(1998_film))
Duncan
1998
Next Stop Wonderland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Stop_Wonderland)
Sean
1998
The Big Lebowski (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Lebowski)
Brandt
1998
Happiness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness_(1998_film))
Allen
1998
Patch Adams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patch_Adams_(film))
Mitch Roman
1999
Flawless (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flawless_(1999_film))
Rusty Zimmerman
1999
Magnolia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_(film))
Phil Parma
1999
The Talented Mr. Ripley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talented_Mr._Ripley_(film))
Freddie Miles
2000
Titanic 2000
Himself
2000
State and Main (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_and_Main)
Joseph Turner White
2000
Almost Famous (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almost_Famous)
Lester Bangs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Bangs)
2001
The Party's Over (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Party%27s_Over_(2001_film))
Himself
Also known as Last Party 2000
2002
Love Liza (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Liza)
Wilson Joel
2002
Punch-Drunk Love (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Drunk_Love)
Dean Trumbell
2002
Red Dragon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dragon_(film))
Freddy Lounds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddy_Lounds)
2002
25th Hour (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25th_Hour)
Jacob Elinsky
2003
Owning Mahowny (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owning_Mahowny)
Dan Mahowny
2003
Cold Mountain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Mountain_(film))
Reverend Veasey
2004
Along Came Polly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Along_Came_Polly)
Sandy Lyle
2005
Strangers with Candy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangers_with_Candy_(film))
Henry
2005
Capote (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capote_(film))
Truman Capote (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_Capote)
2006
Mission: Impossible III (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_III)
Owen Davian
2007
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_the_Devil_Knows_You%27re_Dead)
Andy Hanson
2007
The Savages (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Savages_(film))
Jon Savage
2007
Charlie Wilson's War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Wilson%27s_War)
Gust Avrakotos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gust_Avrakotos)
2008
Synecdoche, New York (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche,_New_York)
Caden Cotard
2008
Doubt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doubt_(2008_film))
Father Brendan Flynn
2009
Mary and Max (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_and_Max)
Max Jerry Horowitz
Voice only
2009
The Boat That Rocked (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boat_That_Rocked)
The Count
Also known as Pirate Radio[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Seymour_Hoffman#cite_note-29)
2009
The Invention of Lying (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invention_of_Lying)
Jim the Bartender
2010
Jack Goes Boating (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Goes_Boating_(film))
Jack
Director, executive producer
2011
Moneyball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyball_(film))
Art Howe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Howe)
2011
The Ides of March (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ides_of_March_(film))
Paul Zara
2012
The Master (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_(2012_film))
Lancaster Dodd
2012
A Late Quartet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Late_Quartet)
Robert Gelbart
2013
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games:_Catching_Fire)
Plutarch Heavensbee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch_Heavensbee)
2014
A Most Wanted Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Most_Wanted_Man_(film))
Günther Bachmann
2014
God's Pocket (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God%27s_Pocket_(film))
Mickey Scarpato
Producer
2014
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games:_Mockingjay_%E2%80%93_Part_1)
Plutarch Heavensbee
2015
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunger_Games:_Mockingjay_%E2%80%93_Part_2)
Plutarch Heavensbee
The Storyteller
2-6-14, 11:42am
I am always saddened when actors I really like die. It is bad enough when it is natural causes, but worse when it is something that could have been prevented. Gandolfini was bad enough when he died of a heart attack. But this is all the more tragic for me.
And I don't feel guilty about those feelings one bit.
I've only seen 4 or 5 of the movies on mtnlaurel's list, but did think the guy was talented. I like quirky characters. That said, his death is no more or less tragic that that of anyone else who succumbs to addition. We keep saying that the publicity surrounding celebrity deaths will help raise the awareness and bring about change. So far it hasn't and my guess is that this case won't either.
ApatheticNoMore
2-6-14, 12:49pm
He was doing very well in life, better than a lot of folks---except for that heroin addiction of his
Was he doing well? I guess in staying off drugs for awhile, probably financially -
But fame doesn't take away the pain
It just pays the bills
And you wind up on alcohol and pills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMuIXzZj7YY
That said, his death is no more or less tragic that that of anyone else who succumbs to addition.
sure.
We keep saying that the publicity surrounding celebrity deaths will help raise the awareness and bring about change. So far it hasn't and my guess is that this case won't either.
People think raising awareness is enough to bring change. Well maybe on littering or something ... maybe :). But the treatment of addiction is so primitive. The treatments offered to those with even money to spend (and I've talked about how expensive such things can be - now covered by insurance I guess - it will max your "out of pocket maximum" though :)), are like throwing darts at the wall (and without good aim). Maybe someday that will change.
We keep saying that the publicity surrounding celebrity deaths will help raise the awareness and bring about change. So far it hasn't and my guess is that this case won't either.
Of course it won't. As a society we no longer judge people by their actions, we feel sorry for them because we view them as victims.
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