Philip Seymour Hoffman: The Life and Work

Product Description

Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967-2014) was an American film, television and stage actor, film producer, and film and stage director, best known for his memorable supporting roles in independent films. Considered one of the best actors of his generation, he died of a drug overdose at age 46 after years of sobriety. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his titular role in
Capote (2005), and Best Supporting nominations for
Doubt (2008) and
The Master (2012). This biography covers his life and career and provides an appendix listing his film, television and stage appearances.

From the Author

When the news came that Philip Seymour Hoffman had died on February 2, 2014 it was shocking. It wasn’t just that we had lost another movie star to a drug overdose. The actor’s past of addiction was known and there had been reports that he had slipped back in the months prior to his death which made the cause of his demise less surprising. The shock of it was more that Hoffman had suddenly left us. He had been visible in movies and on the stage for more than 2 decades. In commercial films and arthouse fare,Hoffman was always there, but now he was gone. The actor left behind a body of work that Rolling Stone said was a tribute to his struggle for excellence and a restless need to create and work.He had 55 theatrical and television movies to his credit, which was an astonishing number for someone who had been in the business for only 23 years.The word genius was used by some to describe Hoffman. One of his friends called him so because he committed without prejudice, believed wholeheartedly and toiled tirelessly and without restraint, and was always pushing, pushing,pushing toward the edge, wherever that was.

About the Author

Peter Shelley is a playwright, screenwriter and author of several film books. He lives in Gosford, Australia.