“There are characters in movies who I call 'film characters.' They don't exist in real life. They exist to play out a scenario. They can be in fantastic films, but they are not real characters; what happens to them is not lifelike.”

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.