“I think part of why I have so many books around me and why I read every day is because I mythologize the writer. I don’t do that with any other artists.”

American actor, early 1990s to 2014

Philip Seymour Hoffman was an American actor active from the early 1990s until his death in 2014. He was known for distinctive supporting parts and for leading roles on screen and stage. Across film and theatre, Hoffman built a reputation for precise, forceful performances that could hold attention in small roles as well as central ones. He worked steadily in both media, and his range made him a familiar presence in serious drama.