Philip Seymour Hoffman Birthday July 23

Philip Seymour Hoffman (born July 23, 1967) is an American actor and theatre director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films. He gradually gained recognition for his supporting work in a series of notable films, including Scent of a Woman (1992), Boogie Nights (1997), The Big Lebowski (1998), Magnolia (1999), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Almost Famous (2000), 25th Hour (2002), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), and Cold Mountain (2003).

In 2005, Hoffman played the title role in the biographical film Capote (2005), for which he won multiple acting awards including an Academy Award for Best Actor. He also received two Academy Award nominations for his supporting work in Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) and Doubt (2008). Other critically acclaimed films in recent years have included Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007), The Savages (2007), and Synecdoche, New York (2008).

Hoffman is also an accomplished theatre actor and director. He joined the LAByrinth Theater Company in 1995, and has directed and performed in numerous Off-Broadway productions. His performances in two Broadway plays led to two Tony Award nominations: one for Best Leading Actor in True West (2000), and another for Best Featured Actor in Long Day’s Journey into Night (2003).

Trade Mark

Characters often run through a large range of emotions

Trivia

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 as Best Actor (Featured Role -Play) in 2003 for a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey into Night.”

He had the flu the entire time he appeared in Almost Famous (2000).

Has appeared in all of Paul Thomas Anderson’s movies, but has stated that he will not appear in Anderson’s upcoming film, There Will Be Blood (2007).

Brother of Gordy Hoffman

Has three children with girlfriend Mimi O’Donnell: Cooper Alexander Hoffman (b. March 2003), Tallulah Hoffman (b. November 2006) and Willa Hoffman (b. October 17, 2008).

Taught an advanced “Directing the Actor” class for one semester at Columbia University School of the Arts Graduate Film Division during 2003.

BFA in Drama – New York University, Tisch School of the Arts (1989)

Has appeared in three films with Julianne Moore: Boogie Nights (1997), The Big Lebowski (1998), and Magnolia (1999). They each then went on to appear in separate film in the Hannibal Lecter series. Moore played Clarice Starling in Hannibal (2001), and Hoffman played Freddie Lounds in Red Dragon (2002).

In his sophomore year of high school, he suffered an injury that prevented him from playing multiple sports.

In 2002, he appeared in 25th Hour (2002), opposite Edward Norton and Brian Cox; and in Punch-Drunk Love (2002), opposite Emily Watson. That same year, he appeared with both Norton and Watson in Red Dragon (2002), which was a remake of Manhunter (1986), in which Cox had appeared.

Grew up in upstate New York, outside of Rochester, in the village of Fairport.

When asked who his acting idols were, he named Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Newman, Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken.

Does not drink alcohol. He became sober when he was 22 years old and says that he quit because, “I was 22 and I was panicked for my life.”

Appears in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and Red Dragon (2002). Both are remakes of earlier films (Purple Noon (1960) and Manhunter (1986)), and both feature him as a character named Freddie who is killed by the villain/title character.

While working as a lifeguard, he once met musician Miles Davis. Davis appeared in an episode of the TV series “Crime Story” (1986), and shared a scene with Stephen Lang. Lang appeared in Manhunter (1986) as Freddy Lounds, the character Hoffman played in Red Dragon (2002).

His performance as Truman Capote in Capote (2005) is ranked #35 on Premiere Magazine’s 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).

His mother is a judge in Rochester, New York

After winning his Oscar for Capote (2005), he has been working with a filmmaker from his former high school in Fairport, New York, helping him with his project.

Goodfellas (1990) is one of his favorite films.

Philip and his girlfriend, Mimi O’Donnell, are expecting their second child [June 19, 2006].

He won 23 awards for his performance in Capote (2005) including the coveted Oscar.

His parents divorced when he was 9.

Has a younger sister named Emily Hoffman and an older sister named Jill Hoffman.

Mother: Marilyn Hoffman Connor.

Meet his girlfriend Mimi (a costumer designer) in 1999 while they were working in the play “In Arabia We’d All Be Kings”.

His father is Gordon S. Hoffman.

Auditioned for the role of “Cubby Barnes” in Ransom (1996).

“Law & Order: The Violence of Summer (#1.14)” (1991), in which he appeared, also featured another actor named Philip Hoffman.

As of 2008, he and Dustin Hoffman are the only two winners of a Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar to share a last name. Philip won for Capote (2005) and Dustin won for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Rain Man (1988).

At NYU was a founding member of the notoriously short-lived and volatile theater company the Bullstoi Ensemble with actor Steven Schub and director Bennett Miller.

College roommates at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with actor ‘Steven Schub’ (lead singer of ska band The Fenwicks) and Jimmie Corrieri (guitarist of The Fenwicks).

Upon accepting his Oscar for Capote (2005), Hoffman asked everyone to congratulate his mother, because “She brought up four kids alone, and she deserves a congratulations for that.”.

Beat Heath Ledger for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2005 for his title role in Capote (2005), and then lost out to the late great actor for the Best Supporting Actor in 2008 to Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight (2008).

Is one of seven actors to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Geoffrey Rush for Shine (1996), Jamie Foxx for Ray (2004/I), Forest Whitaker The Last King of Scotland (2006), Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men (2007), Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood (2007), Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (2008), and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009).

He is a big New York Jets fan.

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