14 DAY TRIAL // The film industry is in mourning as news transpired that one of the most talented, appreciated, but also troubled actors of our times was found dead in his New York City apartment. Sir Philip Seymour Hoffman was 46 and he is believed to have died of a drug overdose.
The actor struggled with addiction during his younger years but managed to stay clean for over two decades before relapsing sometime in late 2012. Last summer, he confirmed the relapse and the fact that he’d already been to rehab.
Hoffman was at the Sundance Film Festival to promote “A Most Wanted Man,” his latest movie, and showed no indication that he was in trouble in that regard.
On Sunday, he was supposed to go pick up his kids and, when he failed to do so, one of his friends became very worried because it was unlike him to forget such an assignment. He went to his apartment and he found him dead in the bathroom, TMZ reports.
“Our sources say Hoffman was found in his bathroom in his boxer shorts, with a needle sticking out of his left arm. We're told police found 10 glassine envelopes – 2 of the envelopes had heroin... the others presumably were empty,” the celebrity publication writes.
“One of the envelopes had ‘Ace of Spades’ written on it, and another had an ace of hearts symbol – such symbols and words are often markers from people who make heroin – to brand it,” the report further says.
The police investigation is still underway. An autopsy is scheduled for today, but the exact cause of death won’t be established until the toxicology results come in.
In a statement to the press, Hoffman’s family says, “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support.”
More details are pending but, regardless of the cause of death, there is no doubt that Sir Philip Seymour Hoffman will be missed, both as a man and as an actor.