Phillip Seymour Hoffman (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

drugs are for the weak is like saying having fun is for the stupid. neither makes much sense.

 

[Two Deep]

Terrible news. Why do so many celebrities, particularly rock stars and movie stars, succumb to this? What is it in the culture of these professions that brings on such death seeking behavior? Never understood it.

Just a guess but I imagine they're trying to re-create the high they get from performing

One of the things that makes a great actor or writer or songwriter or artist is the ability to tap into every human emotion time and time again. They're able to expose all of those things that most of us regular people try to suppress.

That's the driving force behind a great song or poem or acting performance. It also means these artists are more prone to drink or use drugs etc.

So that might explain LSD, pot, coke, etc. Doubt that anyone would say that drinking or doing heroin "expands the mind". Though I've never done heroin, so I don't know. Looks like they just nod off into a stupor - not the most creative place.

Heroin is the best, most overwhelmingly gratifying orgasm there is. "Expands the mind?" Sure, yes it does, but unfortunately everything after that experience becomes about getting it again. It gets in your kitchen and your ####ed. From a creative standpoint, yes, it is creative, but only on it's terms. But yeah, Bird, Ray, Miles, Jimi, Jerry...all junkies.

Maybe to a junkie. Heroin and drugs in general are for the weak. Let me correct my statement drug addicts are weak

And sweeping judgments of strangers is for the ######ed.

I'm no prude and can drink with the best of them, but jeezus I can't even fathom pushing the gas pedal to the floor all the way to heroin.. By your comments I would assume you have done heroin. Maybe instead of calling it the best most gratifying orgasm you had, maybe you should call it what it really must be.....the biggest most horrifying mistake you can make.

 

[omally]

He was one of my favorite character actors. His light went out too soon. RIP

wat

are you not aware he played characters? duh

I think that term is generally used for actors who play smaller roles that aren't as well known.

I'd say PSH started out as a great character actor but became way too famous and had enough leading roles to break out of that classification.

either way, he had the range to do it all. lead, supporting role, cameo, character, whatever.

A character actor doesn't necessarily mean it's a small role for example Kathy Bates in Misery. I've read several articles that reference PSH as the character actor who became a star. He was great at playing a wide variety of eccentric and odd characters, and that is what made him such a great character actor.

 

[Apple Jack]

I'm no prude and can drink with the best of them, but jeezus I can't even fathom pushing the gas pedal to the floor all the way to heroin.. By your comments I would assume you have done heroin. Maybe instead of calling it the best most gratifying orgasm you had, maybe you should call it what it really must be.....the biggest most horrifying mistake you can make.

Because I'm talking about my experiences, not yours, Gomer. Although, in spite of this wicked awesome drinking prowess you seem proud of, you don't appear to have any experience with the subject. So, thanks for sharing, I guess?

 

[shadyridr]

Did anyone mention he played a great villain in MI3?

 

[Mr. Mojo]

Watched the Talented Mr. Ripley Monday night, Hard Eight last night, and I've got Owning Mahowney on the way from Netflix. Next in my queue:

Charlie Wilson's War

Doubt

Magnolia

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Jack Goes Boating

I've seen most of these already but just want to see his performances again. :(

Skip Magnolia and Before The DKYD and go straight to Almost Famous. It's a much better film than those 2!

oh god, no.

almost famous is severely overrated. psh is about the only redeeming thing about that movie. used to like it, but find it unwatchable now.

I love Almost Famous. Magnolia was unwatchable the first time.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Several different boards I keep an eye on but don't actively participate like here, I have seen more anti-PSH posts and sweeping generalizations based on people's own perception of drugs. It's sad that people have this attitude that the addicts get what's coming to them.

It just seems like ancient thinking like before gay marriage was more widely accepted. When are we going to realize that the end results are a reflection of all of us in this world?

(Sigh)

At least the Lego's Movie is coming out this week

 

[Daywalker]

Watched the Talented Mr. Ripley Monday night, Hard Eight last night, and I've got Owning Mahowney on the way from Netflix. Next in my queue:

Charlie Wilson's War

Doubt

Magnolia

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Jack Goes Boating

I've seen most of these already but just want to see his performances again. :(

Skip Magnolia and Before The DKYD and go straight to Almost Famous. It's a much better film than those 2!

oh god, no.

almost famous is severely overrated. psh is about the only redeeming thing about that movie. used to like it, but find it unwatchable now.

I love Almost Famous. Magnolia was unwatchable the first time.

PSH also has several hilarious scenes in Along Came Polly. The clearing of the throat/boardroom scene is epic. Required viewing if you are a fan. It's a good flick.

 

[Guest]

Awe hell, I forgot about PSH in The Invention of Lying.

Part 1

Part 2

 

[Kenny Powers]

Played a very realistic heroin addict in "Before the devil knows your dead". Great actor. RIP.

IMO this was his best performance and probably my favorite film of his as Boogie Nights wasnt really PSH's movie. His character felt ridiculously realistic, as did the emotion he brought to it in Before The Devil Knows Youre Dead.

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead is great. Honestly, the only role I've ever seen him in that I thought was a throwaway was Art Howe. One. That's it.

I actually forgot he was even in Moneyball (maybe he also had very little screen time?), so you may very well be correct with this statement.

 

[Kenny Powers]

R.I.P.

He was brilliant at receding into and inhabiting the personalities and characters of others.

More difficult was the role of a lifetime - himself.

Mr. Magaw, this is easily the most succinct post Ive ever seen from you, and arguably your most eloquent. I suggest sticking to these types of posts (or at least as close as possible)

 

[Kenny Powers]

Watched the Talented Mr. Ripley Monday night, Hard Eight last night, and I've got Owning Mahowney on the way from Netflix. Next in my queue:

Charlie Wilson's War

Doubt

Magnolia

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Jack Goes Boating

I've seen most of these already but just want to see his performances again. :(

Charlie Wilson's War, Almost Famous, or strangely, in a small seemingly inconsequential park, Scent of a Woman are my favorite performances of his. But I should watch the Devil again.

Definitely. Certainly I never suspected PSH being anything more than an alcoholic (which I recall him admitting before seeing this), but there are so many other nuances and storylines to his character in Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead that felt so realistic - considering the circumstances or how it was shown, where basically the H was his relief or other life, not a high perse. Id guess its like that with many addicts, but the "addict" PSH in that film is almost like a totally different character to the "real life, family s###" problems" PSH in that one. Like I said, its a different world for that character. Maybe the same in real life, but who knows.

I hope his death doesnt detract from how people see that role for him though.

 

[Kenny Powers]

PSH, Hank Azaria, and Alec Baldwin are all hilarious in Along Came Polly.

Yeah, that movie had no business being entertaining, or maybe even watchable, but those performances make it so.

I was pretty shocked to hear Bill Simmons doing a podcast mostly about PSH, and he had never even heard of this movie. I could understand not rushing out to see it, but for a guy that watches so much reality TV and wrestling, I wouldn't think romantic comedies would be beneath him.

Didnt listen to his podcast (is that the BS Report?!), but I did listen to ATH, PTI, Lebatard, most of SVP & Russillo on monday and heard no mention from any of them on monday. I realize it was the day after the Super Bowl, but I seriously expected pretty much all of them to mention him at least. Maybe most of America does just consider him a character actor?!

 

[Kenny Powers]

Watched the Talented Mr. Ripley Monday night, Hard Eight last night, and I've got Owning Mahowney on the way from Netflix. Next in my queue:

Charlie Wilson's War

Doubt

Magnolia

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Jack Goes Boating

I've seen most of these already but just want to see his performances again. :(

doing the same thing this week. the film version of pouring a 40 out.

realized there are a few roles I haven't seen yet: happiness, jack goes boating, owning mahowney, and late quartet. trying to get my hands on them. watched Doubt and Boogie Nights last night.

Hoping to do the same during this next week or so. ours40:

The other night I was actually trying to decide which film of his to watch. Of those youve listed, Ive only seen Boogie Nights. I know he has larger roles in the handful of indies you mentioned, but when trying to decide what film of his to pick that Id already seen, it became apparent to me that despite so many memorable roles, his lead or co-leading roles were very few and far between. He truly was a character actor as much as I hate to say it, just one so great that he was more than you could ever expect as a viewer, and not quite enough for Hollywood to consistently give him a juicy role. Im guessing most of those nominated and recognized roles of PSH were because he was who the director wanted specifically for that role.

 

[Eephus]

He was one of my favorite character actors. His light went out too soon. RIP

wat

are you not aware he played characters? duh

I think that term is generally used for actors who play smaller roles that aren't as well known.

I'd say PSH started out as a great character actor but became way too famous and had enough leading roles to break out of that classification.

either way, he had the range to do it all. lead, supporting role, cameo, character, whatever.

A character actor doesn't necessarily mean it's a small role for example Kathy Bates in Misery. I've read several articles that reference PSH as the character actor who became a star. He was great at playing a wide variety of eccentric and odd characters, and that is what made him such a great character actor.

Robert Duvall and Gene Hackman are other points of reference. All carried plenty of films in both lead and supporting roles.

Hoffman had tremendous range and wasn't tied to playing romantic or action movie star roles. It would have been fascinating to see his work continue into old age. Unfortunately, we won't be able to enjoy that.

 

[Eephus]

Terrible news. Why do so many celebrities, particularly rock stars and movie stars, succumb to this? What is it in the culture of these professions that brings on such death seeking behavior? Never understood it.

Just a guess but I imagine they're trying to re-create the high they get from performing

One of the things that makes a great actor or writer or songwriter or artist is the ability to tap into every human emotion time and time again. They're able to expose all of those things that most of us regular people try to suppress.

That's the driving force behind a great song or poem or acting performance. It also means these artists are more prone to drink or use drugs etc.

So that might explain LSD, pot, coke, etc. Doubt that anyone would say that drinking or doing heroin "expands the mind". Though I've never done heroin, so I don't know. Looks like they just nod off into a stupor - not the most creative place.

Heroin is the best, most overwhelmingly gratifying orgasm there is. "Expands the mind?" Sure, yes it does, but unfortunately everything after that experience becomes about getting it again. It gets in your kitchen and your ####ed. From a creative standpoint, yes, it is creative, but only on it's terms. But yeah, Bird, Ray, Miles, Jimi, Jerry...all junkies.

Maybe to a junkie. Heroin and drugs in general are for the weak. Let me correct my statement drug addicts are weak

And sweeping judgments of strangers is for the ######ed.

I'm no prude and can drink with the best of them, but jeezus I can't even fathom pushing the gas pedal to the floor all the way to heroin.. By your comments I would assume you have done heroin. Maybe instead of calling it the best most gratifying orgasm you had, maybe you should call it what it really must be.....the biggest most horrifying mistake you can make.

Nobody sets out to be an addict

 

[Kenny Powers]

He was one of my favorite character actors. His light went out too soon. RIP

wat

are you not aware he played characters? duh

I think that term is generally used for actors who play smaller roles that aren't as well known.

I'd say PSH started out as a great character actor but became way too famous and had enough leading roles to break out of that classification.

either way, he had the range to do it all. lead, supporting role, cameo, character, whatever.

This was my thought at first, but as my last post says, his leading roles were a lot fewer than I wouldve expected. Now I havent seen his entire 63 filmography according to IMDB, but Id say his only leading/co-leading roles were:

The Master, Jack Goes Boating, Pirate Radio, Doubt, Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead, The Savages, Capote, Owning Mahowny.

Now based on that list/timeframe, clearly he was getting more worthy roles than 15 years ago, but for someone with 63 film credits, and with all the acclaim he's received over the past decade, he really wasnt getting the chances, roles, publicity he deserved.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human. Furthermore, I'm really pleased that some of us are so happy and content that we never feel the need to lose control. That's cool. But you don't know a man until you've walked in his shoes. And until you do, don't judge him for succumbing to drugs.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

One of the great gambling scenes in movie history:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw-EYWlbyow

 

[Christo]

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human. Furthermore, I'm really pleased that some of us are so happy and content that we never feel the need to lose control. That's cool. But you don't know a man until you've walked in his shoes. And until you do, don't judge him for succumbing to drugs.

Oh, come on. There's a tipping point and you know it. Making a decision to lose control every now and then is a lot different than not being able to control your use.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

One of the great gambling scenes in movie history:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw-EYWlbyow

This of all the scenes you could pull for PSH might have just been a microcosm of his heroin use. I mean despite being a drug user for most of his life he still managed to have a budding acting career, he won an Oscar, he was sober for a period of time, woman that loved him, 3 kids, he had it all and it gave it all away including his life.

That scene in the movie which I wish folks would watch the entire film not just these 10 minutes but in the movie he shows the same pattern. He has it all, the bell hop or whatever behind him imploring him to stop and walk away…he could have had enough money for the rest of his life but instead...

This was an awesome post.

 

[simey]

Maybe most of America does just consider him a character actor?!

I'm the one who said Hoffman was one of my favorite character actors, and it certainly wasn't meant as an insult. He was one of the best, and there are numerous articles on his talent. Here is one: A movie great that mastered the art of character acting.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

 

[Apple Juice]

Always elite, became a legend when he crushed Capote. Couldn't disagree with an argument that says he's the best actor of his generation. His diversity, natural presence in every role and consistency for elevating films is hard to top. No matter what his demons were, he is the kind of rare special talent that actually represents humanity in a positive light.

 

[Eephus]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

I asked the same question a few pages back TU, agree with you. I can't think of an Oscar winner like this struck down in their prime from a drug overdose. We have lost some great actors and actresses in their primes for lots of reasons but not many with as dark a story here.

If he was a guitar player in a band this would fade in a day or two but he was in so many good films it is hard to grasp this. Look at the list of the films he was in and the critic's reviews of them on RT.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/philip_seymour_hoffman/

Just not a lot of stinkers on there and he really was a role player until about 2000 with State and Main where he started getting bigger roles with the good films. You would be hard pressed to find a stronger resume.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

James Dean came to mind, but he was younger and hadn't reached that level of stature

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Heath Ledger was younger and less accomplished but obviously on a strong trajectory

 

[simey]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

James Dean came to mind, but he was younger and hadn't reached that level of stature

Marilyn Monroe, who died at 36, had won a Golden Globe for "World Film Favorite:Female" just five months before she overdosed. She was unraveling some the year she died, and her death has always been a mystery.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

Heath Ledger was younger and less accomplished but obviously on a strong trajectory

Also a nominee (like PSH, who won) in 06

Terence Howard, Joaquin Phoenix and David Straithairn better watch out

 

[simey]

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

Judy Garland was a big star too, but she was a mess the last few years of her life, and overdosed at age 46.

 

[LittleLarry]

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human.

You are so right! Human beings have desired to alter their chemistry since the beginning of time. This is universal among race, class, or global position.

But it's not just humans who desire to alter their chemistry. There are many examples of other animals aiming to do the same thing - such as birds and bears purposely eating fermented berries.

 

[Daywalker]

PSH, Hank Azaria, and Alec Baldwin are all hilarious in Along Came Polly.

Yeah, that movie had no business being entertaining, or maybe even watchable, but those performances make it so.

I was pretty shocked to hear Bill Simmons doing a podcast mostly about PSH, and he had never even heard of this movie. I could understand not rushing out to see it, but for a guy that watches so much reality TV and wrestling, I wouldn't think romantic comedies would be beneath him.

It thought the same thing hearing the Simmons podcast. It's a movie right up his alley especially with the classic playground basketball scene.

Sharted

Playground scene

"I'm going to be playing both Jesus and Judas." "I'm going to take a solo right now."

Throat clearing/Volcano luging boardroom scene. "Sexually active in the community."

Lot of PSH classic lines in that one.

 

[pollardsvision]

He was one of my favorite character actors. His light went out too soon. RIP

wat

are you not aware he played characters? duh

I think that term is generally used for actors who play smaller roles that aren't as well known.I'd say PSH started out as a great character actor but became way too famous and had enough leading roles to break out of that classification.

either way, he had the range to do it all. lead, supporting role, cameo, character, whatever.

This was my thought at first, but as my last post says, his leading roles were a lot fewer than I wouldve expected. Now I havent seen his entire 63 filmography according to IMDB, but Id say his only leading/co-leading roles were:

The Master, Jack Goes Boating, Pirate Radio, Doubt, Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead, The Savages, Capote, Owning Mahowny.

Now based on that list/timeframe, clearly he was getting more worthy roles than 15 years ago, but for someone with 63 film credits, and with all the acclaim he's received over the past decade, he really wasnt getting the chances, roles, publicity he deserved.

I don't know if that's the case. I think it's just clear to everyone involved (PSH himself, producers, and fans) that PSH isn't your classic leading man.

Everyone understands that PSH is one of the most talented actors of our time, but making a movie with PSH as the lead isn't the best way to make money. Those movies in which he led, I think, ranged from decent to terrible in box office success.

There's no disrespect in that. It's just the way it is. Outside of Leo and Streep, PSH is a far better actor than all the actors you'd tap for a box office giant.

Even then, 7 leading roles by age 46 isn't too shabby (plus all the time he spent headlining Broadway plays). He was getting chances. It just seems like a small amount given his insane number of films.

It seems like PSH just loved acting and didn't care much about being the lead.

Though, I'm sure there were some really fantastic movies with him as the lead still to be made. He still had a couple decades worth of movies to make.

 

[cstu]

"Phil Hoffman and I had two things in common," writes Aaron Sorkin, the creator of West Wing and Newsroom, in a short piece in Time. "We were both fathers of young children, and we were both recovering drug addicts."

Sorkin goes on to say he first met Hoffman on the set of the 2007 movie Charlie Wilson's War, for which Sorkin had written the screenplay.

"On breaks during rehearsals, we would sometimes slip outside our soundstage on the Paramount lot and get to swapping stories. It's not unusual to have these mini-AA meetings — people like us are the only ones to whom tales of insanity don't sound insane. 'Yeah, I used to do that.' I told him I felt lucky because I'm squeamish and can't handle needles. He told me to stay squeamish. And he said this: 'If one of us dies of an overdose, probably 10 people who were about to won't.' He meant that our deaths would make news and maybe scare someone clean."

Sorkin adds that Hoffman, a 'kind, decent, magnificent, thunderous actor," did not die from an "overdose of heroin — he died from heroin. We should stop implying that if he'd just taken the proper amount then everything would have been fine."

And finally Sorkin notes: "He didn't die because he was partying too hard or because he was depressed — he died because he was an addict on a day of the week with a y in it. ... Let's add to that 10 people who were about to die who won't now."

 

[jdoggydogg]

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human. Furthermore, I'm really pleased that some of us are so happy and content that we never feel the need to lose control. That's cool. But you don't know a man until you've walked in his shoes. And until you do, don't judge him for succumbing to drugs.

Oh, come on. There's a tipping point and you know it. Making a decision to lose control every now and then is a lot different than not being able to control your use.

Look, we have big brains that can make rational decisions. This is certain. But as Huxley says, "What we feel and think and are is to a great extent determined by the state of our ductless glands and viscera.” As someone who struggled with addiction years ago, I know the slippery slope of drug use. I'm not saying that drug abusers have no control and they should get a free pass. I'm saying that the idea of freewill is somewhat of an illusion.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human.

You are so right! Human beings have desired to alter their chemistry since the beginning of time. This is universal among race, class, or global position.

But it's not just humans who desire to alter their chemistry. There are many examples of other animals aiming to do the same thing - such as birds and bears purposely eating fermented berries.

Yes. And to clarify, I know that drug users are sometimes untrustworthy and can ruin families. I'm not saying they deserve total autonomy to wreck those around them.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human. Furthermore, I'm really pleased that some of us are so happy and content that we never feel the need to lose control. That's cool. But you don't know a man until you've walked in his shoes. And until you do, don't judge him for succumbing to drugs.

Oh, come on. There's a tipping point and you know it. Making a decision to lose control every now and then is a lot different than not being able to control your use.

Look, we have big brains that can make rational decisions. This is certain. But as Huxley says, "What we feel and think and are is to a great extent determined by the state of our ductless glands and viscera.” As someone who struggled with addiction years ago, I know the slippery slope of drug use. I'm not saying that drug abusers have no control and they should get a free pass. I'm saying that the idea of freewill is somewhat of an illusion.

Oh come on. Unless you're pinned down and someone jabs a needle in your arm, the first time you put that substance in your body it is 100% your choosing.

 

[JAMES!]

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human. Furthermore, I'm really pleased that some of us are so happy and content that we never feel the need to lose control. That's cool. But you don't know a man until you've walked in his shoes. And until you do, don't judge him for succumbing to drugs.

Oh, come on. There's a tipping point and you know it. Making a decision to lose control every now and then is a lot different than not being able to control your use.

Look, we have big brains that can make rational decisions. This is certain. But as Huxley says, "What we feel and think and are is to a great extent determined by the state of our ductless glands and viscera.” As someone who struggled with addiction years ago, I know the slippery slope of drug use. I'm not saying that drug abusers have no control and they should get a free pass. I'm saying that the idea of freewill is somewhat of an illusion.

Oh come on. Unless you're pinned down and someone jabs a needle in your arm, the first time you put that substance in your body it is 100% your choosing.

Drug addicts aren't weak. This shows a total lack of understanding of human nature. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years. It's innately human. Furthermore, I'm really pleased that some of us are so happy and content that we never feel the need to lose control. That's cool. But you don't know a man until you've walked in his shoes. And until you do, don't judge him for succumbing to drugs.

Oh, come on. There's a tipping point and you know it. Making a decision to lose control every now and then is a lot different than not being able to control your use.

The analogy i've heard is it's the best sex you could possibly have with the absolute worst girl you could ever know, on top of that you're the horniest person in the world. You know the sex will be mind-blowing but afterwards she'll turn your life completely upside-down but you just can't help it and give in. Everyone saying addicts are weak just can't imagine what the temptation is really like. Not everyone is exactly like you.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

James Dean came to mind, but he was younger and hadn't reached that level of stature

Not really anyone at the top of their craft. Young guys like Dean or Joaquin Phoenix, or declining stars. Tons of musicians, a few celebs, but I really can't think of another actor as universally acknowledged and accomplished

 

[Psychopav]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

James Dean came to mind, but he was younger and hadn't reached that level of stature

Not really anyone at the top of their craft. Young guys like Dean or Joaquin Phoenix, or declining stars. Tons of musicians, a few celebs, but I really can't think of another actor as universally acknowledged and accomplished

Is Joaquin Phoenix dead? Why do people keep bringing up Joaquin Phoenix?

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

He was one of my favorite character actors. His light went out too soon. RIP

wat

are you not aware he played characters? duh

I think that term is generally used for actors who play smaller roles that aren't as well known.I'd say PSH started out as a great character actor but became way too famous and had enough leading roles to break out of that classification.

either way, he had the range to do it all. lead, supporting role, cameo, character, whatever.

This was my thought at first, but as my last post says, his leading roles were a lot fewer than I wouldve expected. Now I havent seen his entire 63 filmography according to IMDB, but Id say his only leading/co-leading roles were:

The Master, Jack Goes Boating, Pirate Radio, Doubt, Before the Devil Knows Youre Dead, The Savages, Capote, Owning Mahowny.

Now based on that list/timeframe, clearly he was getting more worthy roles than 15 years ago, but for someone with 63 film credits, and with all the acclaim he's received over the past decade, he really wasnt getting the chances, roles, publicity he deserved.

Love Liza.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

James Dean came to mind, but he was younger and hadn't reached that level of stature

Not really anyone at the top of their craft. Young guys like Dean or Joaquin Phoenix, or declining stars. Tons of musicians, a few celebs, but I really can't think of another actor as universally acknowledged and accomplished

Is Joaquin Phoenix dead? Why do people keep bringing up Joaquin Phoenix?

Well, he's dead to me!!

 

[cstu]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

James Dean came to mind, but he was younger and hadn't reached that level of stature

Not really anyone at the top of their craft. Young guys like Dean or Joaquin Phoenix, or declining stars. Tons of musicians, a few celebs, but I really can't think of another actor as universally acknowledged and accomplished

Is Joaquin Phoenix dead? Why do people keep bringing up Joaquin Phoenix?

They mean River.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Is there a corollary or comparison I am forgetting? An actor as well respected/awarded dying via drugs/booze at that stage of their career?

Tough to think of one. There are too many actors who overdosed in their 20s and 30s and many others who died prematurely from the accumulated damage from hard living.

Chris Penn maybe but he was nowhere as successful as Hoffman.

Going way back, Errol Flynn was a big star but clearly in decline as a leading man before he died at the age of 50.

James Dean came to mind, but he was younger and hadn't reached that level of stature

Not really anyone at the top of their craft. Young guys like Dean or Joaquin Phoenix, or declining stars. Tons of musicians, a few celebs, but I really can't think of another actor as universally acknowledged and accomplished

Is Joaquin Phoenix dead? Why do people keep bringing up Joaquin Phoenix?

They mean River.

He'll rise again.

 

[cstu]

Someone should have told me he was a full blown addict and I would have kidnapped him and locked him in room, only giving him a dose of heroin after he read 100 timschochet threads. Soon he would have been completely clean.

 

[DSP]

The notion that drug addicts are suicidal is not entirely accurate. Usually addicts lose the will to live beforehand and drugs make life bearable. Drugs have saved my life on a few occasions

Some addicts are people who just dont care about anything too

 

[cstu]

The notion that drug addicts are suicidal is not entirely accurate. Usually addicts lose the will to live beforehand and drugs make life bearable. Drugs have saved my life on a few occasions

Some addicts are people who just dont care about anything too

If drugs are an alternative to suicide that sounds like slow suicide to me.

 

[cstu]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2014/02/philip-seymour-hoffman-and-heroin

Switzerland and the Netherlands pioneered this "Heroin Assisted Treatment" (HAT) approach in the 1990s, and both countries adopted it as national policy in the 2000s. Heroin use has steadily declined since; by the 2000s the Dutch incidence of new heroin users had fallen to essentially zero, and the aging population of addicts from the 1970s and '80s continues to shrink. The average age of Dutch heroin users rose from 34 in 1997 to 45 in 2009.

Heroin assisted treatment is fully a part of the national health system in Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom. Additional trials are being carried out in Canada and Belgium.

 

[DSP]

The notion that drug addicts are suicidal is not entirely accurate. Usually addicts lose the will to live beforehand and drugs make life bearable. Drugs have saved my life on a few occasions

Some addicts are people who just dont care about anything too

If drugs are an alternative to suicide that sounds like slow suicide to me.

Thats not the intent. Its self medication. Someone who over eats to obesity isnt trying to kill themselves