The unexpected and sudden death of the uber talented Philip Seymour Hoffman completely floored us. It has been hard to put into words our feelings and connection to Philip Seymour Hoffman. His work is beautifully eclectic and transcendent. It’s a disappointment that we can’t have him marvel us with new performances, but we can’t deny how lucky the world has been to be graced with such an amazing talented human being. — Gabrielle Bondi
Click through the slideshow for The Young Folks’ Tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The thing about Philip Seymour Hoffman is that he would captivate anyone the moment he would be on the screen. One of the most skilled actors of our time, this man knew exactly what great acting was, and delivered every single time. From Red Dragon, Capote, The Ides of March, Pirate Radio (one of my personal favorites), etc., there aren’t enough words that can express what his loss means for Hollywood and fans of cinema. You were gone too soon Philip, too soon. – Luciana Villalba
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I first witnessed the power of Philip Seymour Hoffman in Cameron Crowe’s masterpiece “Almost Famous”, in which he played rock critic Lester Bangs. Even though he was in the film for only a few scenes, his performance is among one of my favorites in the film. He’s utterly captivating with his blunt, down to earth, honesty. He was just… real
Hoffman had a gift that only a few actors are lucky to have. Like a chameleon, he was able to become someone else entirely in his roles. His name did not carry with him. He was Phil Parma, he was Truman Capote, he was Father Brendan Flynn, he was Willy Loman.
It’s very easy to chalk up Hoffman’s power as an actor to the quote-unquote “everyman” quality he had, but in this case that term is an insult. Philip Seymour Hoffman was among the best actors of this generation. He never played the same character twice. Each of them had their own shades that made them feel legitimate. That’s power, that’s talent. That’s something that feels rare in this modern age of film.
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The day Hoffman died, I watched Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master”, a film which contains performances from all involved that are nothing short of Promethean. In Hoffman, as religious leader Lancaster Dodd, I saw a performer just reaching his apex, carrying such a chilling, deep gravitas in every scene he was in, detailing a man who was so lost in his own self-proclaimed brilliance and universal worth. An incredible performance that will stand the test of time among the numerous performances he has graced upon the screen and stage.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman was an actor of the highest caliber. He was legitimate, he was true to his craft, and, by all accounts, a really sweet guy. He taught me that it was cool to be uncool.
May he rest easy, for he will be missed.
Ten Essential Phillip Seymour Hoffman Performances:
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Almost Famous
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Capote
Doubt
Happiness
Magnolia
The Master
Mission: Impossible III
Punch-Drunk Love
The Savages
I was absolutely gutted by Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s death. He was my favorite actor, an tremendous talent and his death is not only tragic but feels like a robbery. There are a multitude of performances that I could name of his that I consider extraordinary: Capote, The Savages, Pirate Radio, The Big Lebowski, Boogie Nights, A Late Quartet, The Master and so many others. But the BIG one to me, the one that forever holds a special place in my heart, is his performance as Lester Bangs in my favorite movie, Almost Famous. He didn’t have very much screen time but with what he had he had me captivated-he full submerged himself in the role-like he did with any role-and became the character rather than playing him. It was the first movie that I fell in love with and his part amplified that adoration. His performance as Lester Bangs played a vital role in how I viewed writing and how a character in a movie can move you-maybe I wouldn’t found my passion for writing about what I was passionate about without it. It’s rare when movies and characters mold you & I am so very lucky that this one did. – Allyson Johnson
As the legendary Lester Bangs in Almost Famous, Philip Seymour Hoffman says, “The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we’re uncool.” This quote/credo/saying has become something of a mantra in the past 14 years, and I can think of no simpler and more effective way to summarize what it was that made Mr. Hoffman so special. Here is an actor that epitomized the truth (“true currency”) in a world so often lacking in it. His versatility, range, and unflinching ability to dig deep into the myriad conditions of the human soul inspired myself since I first discovered his work in 1999’s Magnolia. This legendary actor never gave a bad performance, never faked it, never cashed it in. Even in Along Came Polly, in which he plays a chubby sidekick character typically reserved for the likes of Jack Black, he kills and proves equally as adept at slapstick comedy. That kind of says it all, doesn’t it? In everything he attempted, Mr. Hoffman gave it his all. It is a horrible loss that the film community has suffered; a genuine artist is no longer with us. Yet he will live on through the countless incredible performances he has given over the years (Capote, The Master, Synecdoche, New York, etc.) and he will never be forgotten. –Maxwell Haddad
One of my favorite stories about Philip Seymour Hoffman is from Pirate Radio. Granted it’s not his most notable role or even his best one, but it’s one that I enjoyed immensely from him.
Chris O’Dowd tells the story of this scene, where a stuntman standing in for Philip had to jump from the mast of the ship into the ocean. One of the stuntmen said it was the highest jump he’d ever done in his career. So Philip was there all da shooting his parts for his scene, and the producer told him that he was done for the day and that he could go back to shore while they continued filming the stuntman. His reply was, “I’m not going home until my guy gets out of the water.”
This is the way I choose to remember Philip Seymour Hoffman. He struck me as a real rock star of an actor. Even though he wasn’t known as the leading man type, nor did he fit the bill for a typical leading man, he carried himself in his roles with a confidence and gravitas that more often than not, stole the show. – Arianny Pilarte
As Australia is around 17 hours ahead of US time zones, I awoke to the disbelief on Monday morning that Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead with a needle hanging out of his arm. I literally pondered the situation for what seemed liked an eternity until my subconscious took over and racing through my mind were his movies.
He maintained progressive range with his film selection, comedy, drama or even action was part of the repertoire. Always impressive, Phillip Seymour Hoffman transcended quality into everything, genius actor. You may not often see his face while lurking the corridors of the multiplex inspecting posters, but if his name was in the cast list, I immediately had to see that film.
He spent some time at the Sydney Theatre Company recently directing a local version of the Sam Shepard play, True West. Cate Blanchett is a patron of the iconic company; alongside her husband, she remained close friends with him after appearing together in The Talented Mr. Ripley.
A regular on Bondi Beach in Eastern Sydney, the pesky local media mostly left him alone, but the lifeguards didn’t. He and his family made once prime time news when an over zealous beach patrol unit shuffled him back into the safety swimming zone. Unknown to the patrol was that they were ordering a Hollywood star around.
Various Australian connections include a sleazy turn in Along Came Polly with one of our local legends Bryan Brown, while also lending his voice opposite Toni Collette to the animated comedy, Mary & Max.
As movies are my life, I am always shocked when actors pass away no matter what their status in tinsel-town. It sucks that a thespian as young as Philip, who substantially did something on screen no matter what the character was, is gone.
Lets hope he is looking down from that great silver screen in the sky with Peter O’Toole, having a drink in the company of those never forgotten, celluloid dearly departed. Here are six of his best work, according to ME:
Honorable mentions to Twister and Boogie Nights.
The 25th Hour – That pivotal moment when he kissed Anna Paquin was an unforgettable scene.
The Big Lebowski – Minor but oh so uncomfortably funny. Look at his face when approaching Tara Reid by the pool with Jeff Bridges.
Magnolia – It took me to another place when I first saw that, his desperation was heartbreaking in a movie bursting with emotion.
Nobody’s Fool – Early in his career that brilliant actor was already clearly on show opposite Paul Newman.
The Master – I didn’t particularly like this. It annoyed me, that’s because Hoffman was so good he irritated me; I hated the character.
MI3 – Forget Cruise or the impressive cameo by Keri Russell, PSH brought the ailing franchise back with his nasty Bond -like villain.
Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967 – 2014
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