Philip Seymour Hoffman Found Dead in Manhattan Apartment

February 03, 2014

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images

Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment on Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reports. He was 46 years old.

Philip Seymour Hoffman: 1967-2014

According to the New York Times, David Bar Katz, a friend of Hoffman's, found the actor at his apartment in Greenwich Village at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday; he'd gone to check on his friend after he was unable to reach Hoffman. Law enforcement investigators called to the scene found a syringe in the actor's arm, two packets of what they believe to be heroin nearby and five additional empty plastic envelopes in a trash receptacle.

The actor had been open in the past about his struggles with substance abuse, and had recently disclosed that he had a relapse last year after being clean for 23 years. In 2013, he spent 10 days in a rehab facility following a return to heroin use after becoming dependent on prescription pills.

"It’s pretty apparent that it was an overdose," a law enforcement official told the Times. "The syringe was in his arm."

Hoffman won an Academy Award in 2005 for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote in the film Capote. He most recently appeared in Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Hoffman's family said in a statement, "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone. This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grieving. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers."