Philip Seymour Hoffman

When someone as talented as Philip Seymour Hoffman dies, in such a tragic way, at only 46 years of age, it makes us want to do something to express our shock and sadness. This is my way. I am truly moved by the death of a man who gave us his art and who we knew would continue to delight us with his acting, play writing and directing. I am truly saddened for his family. We all feel his loss.

As an actor he had tremendous range and a passion that made him stand out in any movie he was in, whether he was lead or not.  He was a quintessential American actor. When he was the lead, in movies such as Capote, The Master, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead or Synecdoche, New York, he was the embodiment of the character, to the last voice modulation or facial expression.

He won the Oscar in 2005 for Capote, very much deserved. But even when he wasn't holding the leading role, he stood out and it is no wonder he was nominated for so many awards in his supporting roles, such as for Doubt (2008), Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), The Savages (2007), Empire Falls (2005) or  The Ides of March (2011).

As much as I admired him in those movies, I also loved him in The Talented Mr. Ripley, in Magnolia or the Big Lebowski or Almost Famous; and I wouldn't be surprised if many people (myself included) went to see The Hunger Games: Catching Fire or Mission Impossible III in part because they knew it couldn't be a bad film because an actor of the caliber of Phillip Seymour Hoffman was in it. He was truly great as the evil Owen Davian in MI III.

There are thousands of posts, texts and feeds being written about this man today, all around the world, which is a tribute to someone who was able to contribute and share his art with so many, enriching us all in the process.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, you will be truly missed!