Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman Dead at 46

Oscar-winning Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead on Sunday morning. Law enforcement officials believe the cause of death was a drug overdose due to packages of heroin found near his body. 46-years-old at the time of his death, his body was found by a friend in a Greenwich Village apartment after attempts to reach him went unanswered. A syringe was in his left arm, empty plastic packages were found in a nearby garbage can, and over 50 bags of heroin were inside his apartment.

It’s a sad ending for a revered talent. Hoffman, known for roles in such films as Charlie Wilson’s War, Boogie Nights, Money Ball, Doubt and The Hunger Games, had been drug free since he was 22-years-old. Open about his struggles with drugs, he relapsed and was admitted to a rehab program for 10 days in 2005.  Hoffman was slated to star in Happyish, his first television show for Showtime about a middle-aged man seeking happiness. Showtime gave the project a green light for 10 episodes last month for a planned premiere later this year. Production had not yet began. Since wrapping Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1, he was filming Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2 at the time of his death and according to Lionsgate, had only seven days left of filming. There’s no word on what will be done to deal with his passing.

Nominated for an Academy Award three times for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, Hoffman won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2005 for the biographical film Capote.  He was nominated for three Tony Awards for his theatrical work, having made his feature film directorial debut in 2010 with Jack Goes Boating.