Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman (born July 23, 1967) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor.


Personal life

Hoffman was born in Fairport, New York to a former Xerox executive and Marilyn O'Connor, a family court judge. His father was Protestant and his mother was Catholic, but he was not raised heavily in either religion.

His brother is screenwriter Gordy Hoffman; Philip played the lead in the 2002 film Love Liza that was written by Gordy.

He entered the prestigious undergraduate training program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and received his BFA in drama in 1989.

He is in a relationship with costume designer Mimi O´Donnell. The two had a son, Cooper Alexander, in 2003.


Film career

Hoffman made his film debut in 1991 with Scent of a Woman as a backstabbing classmate to Chris O'Donnell. Hoffman later credited that film with kickstarting his film career, as he was stocking shelves at a city grocery at the time before landing the role. Hoffman has established a successful film career playing supporting roles; notably, he has appeared in all four of Paul Thomas Anderson's feature films to date. He starred as "himself" in The Last Party, a documentary about the 2000 elections. He starred in Owning Mahowny in 2003 to solid reviews.

In addition to his film career, Hoffman has been recognized for his work in theater. He has twice been nominated for Broadway's Tony Award: as Best Actor (Play) in 2000 for a revival of Sam Shepard's True West, and for Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) in 2003 for a revival of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night. Hoffman has also distinguished himself as a director with Off-Broadway projects such as Rebecca Gilman's "Glory of Living," and Stephen Adly Guirgis's "Jesus Hopped the A Train" and "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot." Hoffman is Co-Artistic Director of New York City's LAByrinth Theater Company, along with actor John Ortiz.

In 2006 he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama for his performance as Truman Capote in Capote. For this role Hoffman was awarded Best Actor by at least 10 film critic associations, including the National Board of Review, Toronto Film Critics, and Los Angeles Film Critics. He won the SAG award for his performance in Capote.

On January 31st, 2006, he received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of the title character in Capote.

In 2006, he will appear as the primary antagonist in Mission: Impossible III.

Hoffman is being considered for the role of The Penguin in the upcoming Batman Begins sequel.


Selected filmography

* Mission: Impossible III (2006) The Villain
* Capote (2005) - Truman Capote
* Empire Falls (2005) (mini) TV Series - Charlie Mayne
* Strangers with Candy (2005) - Henry, Board Of Education
* Along Came Polly (2004) - Sandy Lyle
* Cold Mountain (2003) - Reverend Veasey
* Mattress Man Commercial (2003) (V) - Dean Trumbell
* Owning Mahowny (2003) - Dan Mahowny
* 25th Hour (2002) - Jacob Elinsky
* Red Dragon (2002) - Freddy Lounds
* Punch-Drunk Love (2002) - Dean Trumbell
* Love Liza (2002) - Wilson Joel
* Almost Famous (2000) - Lester Bangs
* State and Main (2000) - Joseph Turner White
* The Last Party (2000) - Himself
* The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) - Freddie Miles
* Magnolia (1999) - Phil Parma
* Flawless (1999) - Rusty Zimmerman
* Patch Adams (1998) - Mitch Roman
* Happiness (1998) - Allen
* The Big Lebowski (1998) - Brandt
* Next Stop Wonderland (1998) - Sean
* Montana (1998) - Duncan
* Culture (1998) - Bill
* Boogie Nights (1997) - Scotty J.
* Twister (1996) - Dustin Davis
* Sydney (1996) (as Phillip Seymour Hoffman) - Young Craps Player
* The Fifteen Minute Hamlet (1995) (as Philip S. Hoffman) - Bernardo, Horatio & Laertes
* Nobody's Fool (1994) - Officer Raymer
* When a Man Loves a Woman (1994) - Gary
* The Yearling (1994) (TV) - Buck
* The Getaway (1994) (as Philip Hoffman) - Frank Hansen
* Money for Nothing (1993/I) (as Philip S. Hoffman) - Cochran
* My Boyfriend's Back (1993) (as Philip Hoffman) - Chuck Bronski
* Joey Breaker (1993) - Wiley McCall
* Scent of a Woman (1992) (as Philip S. Hoffman) - George Willis, Jr.
* Leap of Faith (1992) - Matt
* My New Gun (1992) - Chris
* Szuler (1992)
* Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole (1991) (as Phil Hoffman) - Klutch