Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman "was found dead in his bathroom of an apparent drug overdose" in his New York City home, a New York Police Department official told Mashable. He was 46. An official cause of death has not been confirmed by NYC's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Hoffman's family reportedly released this statement: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone. This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grieving. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.”
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Hoffman won Best Actor at the the 78th Academy Awards in 2006 for his portrayal of author Truman Capote in Capote, and his big break came in 1997's Boogie Nights. Hoffman plays a prominent role in The Hunger Games movie franchise as gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, but there is no word on how his character will be handled in Liongate's two forthcoming Hunger Games films.
"Plutarch" and "#PhilipSeymourHoffman" are currently worldwide trending topics on Twitter.
Lionsgate could look to Universal Studios, which handled the future of Fast and Furious 7 after actor Paul Walker's death in 2013, as an example of how to move forward with a film franchise after the tragic loss of a pivotal cast member.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Hoffman's apartment was "at 35 Bethune St. in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan."
Celebrities and fans quickly reacted to news of Hoffman's death on Twitter:
PSH - I am genuinely shocked, saddened and speechless. A truly wonderful man, with a magical touch. My hero. Thoughts are with his family.— Sam Claflin (@samclaflin) February 2, 2014
Beautiful beautiful man. We have lost so much joy to something so joyless. RIP PSH.— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) February 2, 2014
RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. So sad. Such a great talent.— Jon Favreau (@Jon_Favreau) February 2, 2014
Just hearing about Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Devastating. What an amazingly gifted actor. RIP— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) February 2, 2014
I don't have words for this. I am heartbroken. A phenomenal talent lost to us. Goodbye, sir. #RIPPhilipSeymourHoffman— Wes Craven (@wescraven) February 2, 2014
WTF!!!!philip-seymour-hoffman-found-dead-in-his-apartment, a truly great actor... Gone.. I hope someone says hey whoop it's a hoax.. R.I.P— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) February 2, 2014
OH NO!!!!! Philip Seymour Hoffman has died. A truly kind, wonderful man and one of our greatest actors - ever— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) February 2, 2014
At a loss of words.R.I.P Philip Seymour Hoffman.love&condolences2 his family&friends.Terribly sad loss-incredibly talented & inspiring man❤️— Emilie de Ravin (@emiliederavin) February 2, 2014
An unimaginable loss. Panem will not be the same. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. http://t.co/jAqncwpFK8— Hunger-Games.Net (@hungergamesnet) February 2, 2014
The great thing about Philip Seymour Hoffman? Thirty people could name thirty different scenes as his best scene. And they'd all be right.— Russell Hainline (@RussellHFilm) February 2, 2014
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