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Philip Seymour Hoffman: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Philip Seymour Hoffman? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Georges Biard via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 23, 1967 – February 2, 2014) was an American actor. He was known for his distinctive supporting character roles and his memorable leading roles in many films and theatrical productions from the early 1990s until his death in 2014. He was voted the greatest actor of the 21st century in a 2024 ranking by The Independent. Hoffman studied acting at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He gained recognition for his supporting work, notably in Scent of a Woman (1992), Boogie Nights (1997), Happiness (1998), The Big Lebowski (1998), Magnolia (1999), and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). Hoffman began to occasionally play leading roles, and he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Truman Capote in Capote (2005). He was also nominated for Academy Awards for his performances in Charlie Wilson's War (2007), Doubt (2008), and The Master (2012). While he mainly worked in independent films, Hoffman also appeared in Hollywood blockbusters such as Twister (1996) and Mission: Impossible III (2006). In one of his final roles before his death, he played Plutarch Heavensbee in the Hunger Games series (2013–2015). The feature film Jack Goes Boating (2010) marked Hoffman's debut as a filmmaker. Hoffman was also an accomplished theater actor and director. He joined the off-Broadway LAByrinth Theater Company in 1995; while there, he directed, produced, and appeared in numerous stage productions. Hoffman received Tony Award nominations for his performances in the Broadway revivals of 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). Hoffman was known to have struggled with drug addiction. On February 2, 2014, Hoffman died from "acute mixed drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine". Remembered for the nuance, depth, and humanity he brought to his diverse roles, Hoffman was described in his obituary in The New York Times as "perhaps the most ambitious and widely admired American actor of his generation".

Quick facts about Philip Seymour Hoffman

  • Full name: Philip Seymour Hoffman
  • Born: 1967-07-23
  • Nationality: United States
  • Known as: Actor
  • Wikidata ID: Q180560

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Philip Seymour Hoffman?

Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 23, 1967 – February 2, 2014) was an American actor.

What nationality is Philip Seymour Hoffman?

Philip Seymour Hoffman is United States.

When was Philip Seymour Hoffman born?

Philip Seymour Hoffman was born on 1967-07-23.

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