Philip Seymour Hoffman Biography

Introduction, Early Life, and Education

Philip Seymour Hoffman, an American director, producer as well as an actor was born in Rochester suburb of Fairport, New York to mother Marilyn O’Connor and father Gordon Stowell Hoffman. He grew up with a brother Gordon Jr. and two sisters Jill and Emily. His parents got divorced when he was 9 years old and was raised by his mother. Philip was interested in sports, mainly baseball and wrestling since his childhood days.

At the age of 14, he suffered a neck injury and stopped every kind of sports. Philip used to visit theatre regularly with his mother and he changed his interest to acting after watching Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. He completed his high school studies from Fairport High School and then went to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and graduated with a drama degree.

Career

Philip joined a  drama club with his mother’s encouragement. He met Dan Futterman and Bennett Miller after being selected for 1984 New York State Summer School of the Arts in Saratoga Springs at the age of 17. Philip made his Broadway theatre debut in a Law & Order episode The Violence of Summer in 1991. Later, he played Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole which was his first film. Afterward, Philip worked in a comedy film Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin. He is known for his work in the  Oscar-winning movie Scent of a Woman. His other works include Joey Breaker, My Boyfriend’s Back, Money for Nothing, The Getaway, When a Man Loves a Woman and Nobody’s Fool. In 1995, Philip joined Labyrinth Theatre Company along with John Ortiz and directed several plays. Philip worked in the movie Twister alongside Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton which was a blockbuster. Afterward, he worked in Golden Age of Pornography Boogie Nights, Montana, Next Stop Wonderland, and The Big Lebowski. Philip made 30 appearances on stage at the New York Theatre Workshop between March and April 1998. He played in Todd Solondz’s Happiness and also appeared in comedy movie Patch Adams directed by Robin Williams. Philip was also a lead actor in the drama Flawless. He was nominated for Screen Actors Guild Award for the first time for the work. 

Achievements

National Board of Review awarded Philip with Best Supporting Actor award. Later, he won the Drama Desk Award for his work in the play The Author’s Voice with co-star John C. Reilly making 154 appearances in the months of 2000. Philip won a Tony Award for Best Actor and began his work as a film director.

Personal Life and Facts

Philip was married to Mimi O’Donnell and had three children with her, two daughters, and a son. His daughters are Tallulah Hoffman and Willa Hoffman and his son are Cooper Alexander Hoffman. Philip died in 2014 due to a drug overdose. 

• actor
• director
• producer