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Ten years after Capote, Philip Seymour Hoffman is still remembered as a master: (Link)
A look back at Philip Seymour Hoffman’s career: (Link)
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(Agata Marszale/ The Dissolve)
As an avid fan of film, big-budget and indie alike, I look to the actors for consistency, range and passion for the craft. It should be no surprise when Philip Seymour Hoffman is mentioned as an actor that personifies these qualities.
This September marks the 10th anniversary of his role as the great American author Truman Capote in Capote, for which he received the Academy Award for Best Actor. While Capote was his most acclaimed role, fans know him not for just one role, but for his wide variety of colorful characters across his career: the radical music critic Lester Bangs in Almost Famous, the awkward pornographic-film crew member Scotty J. in Boogie Nights, the zealous religious leader Lancaster Dodd in The Master, rebellion leader Plutarch Heavensbee in the Hunger Games series and countless other roles that fall across the spectrum.
(Simón Prades / New Republic)
His unorthodox stature drove him to truly appreciate and perfect his craft as an actor. Often overlooked and disregarded, he proved his envied spot, time and time again by developing the ability to act in an extremely varied range of roles: the bully, the oddball, the villain, the anti-hero, etc. Unlike many of his peers, he was able to evade the typecast.
From Along Came Polly, Doubt, Mission Impossible 3, Scent of a Woman, Almost Famous, Hoffman had the gift of making the most of the unlikable, callous characters and allowing the audience to feel a sympathy for them, more so perhaps a connection. Already aware of his role as an underdog, Hoffman worked that much harder to secure the attention he deserved.
Sadly, his ascending career ended on Feb. 2, 2014, due to a drug overdose. Regarded as one the hardest working actors of his generation, the film industry regarded his death as an immense loss.
“This is a horrible day for those who worked with Philip. He was a giant talent,” his Charlie Wilson’s War co-star Tom Hanks told Entertainment Weekly in the wake of his death. “Our hearts are open for his family.”
“I am genuinely shocked, saddened and speechless. A truly wonderful man, with a magical touch. My hero. Thoughts are with his family,” Hunger Games co-star Sam Claflin tweeted.
“I’m so shocked, and so sad hearing of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death,” Jeff Bridges shared in a Facebook post. I enjoyed playing with him on the Big Lebowski. He was such a wonderful guy, and so damn talented, a real treasure. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
With Hoffman gone, America has lost one of the greatest actors of our generation. While we will never see him bring life to a character like no other could, at least we have over 20 years of classic performances to laugh, cry and connect with.
Additional source: IMDB
John Connor Coulston 