the amazing career of philip seymour hoffman

I have been trying to avoid the endless reporting on the recent tragic death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. He was an immense talent, and I think it would be best for folks who have no real connection to the family or the case to focus on his legacy, his acting. He left this world far too soon, but at least the prolific performer has left us an amazing catalogue of roles. Whether he was the lead actor, supporting or even a cameo performance, whether a sympathetic or loathsome character (or possibly both at once) he was always fascinating to watch. The first movie I remember seeing him in was Boogie Nights, and he was unforgettable as Scotty J., a gay man who had a crush on Mark Wahlberg's Dirk Diggler.

With Mark Wahlberg and John C. Reilly in Boogie Nights

I was going to just pick a few films to focus on, but I think the breadth and scope of his talent can be seen by just reading the list of his many wonderful roles and films. So many I have seen, but there are still so many to catch up with. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. You will be missed.

1991
Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole

1992
Szuler
My New Gun
Leap of Faith
Scent of a Woman

1993
Joey Breaker
My Boyfriend's Back
Money for Nothing

1994
The Getaway
The Yearling
When a Man Loves a Woman
Nobody's Fool

In Pirate Radio

1996 Hard Eight
Twister

1997
Boogie Nights
Liberty! The American Revolution

1998
Culture
Montana
Next Stop Wonderland
The Big Lebowski
Happiness
Patch Adams

1999
Flawless
Magnolia
The Talented Mr. Ripley

With Meryl Streep in Doubt

2000
Titanic 2000
State and Main
Almost Famous

2001
The Party's Over

2002
Love Liza
Punch-Drunk Love
Red Dragon
25th Hour

2003
Owning Mahowny
Cold Mountain

2004
Along Came Polly

2005
Strangers with Candy
Capote Truman Capote

2006
Mission: Impossible III

2007
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
The Savages
Charlie Wilson's War

2008
Synecdoche, New York
Doubt

2009
Mary and Max
Pirate Radio
The Invention of Lying

2010
Jack Goes Boating (also directed)

With George Clooney in The Ides of March

2011
Moneyball
The Ides of March

2012
The Master
A Late Quartet

2013
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

2014
A Most Wanted Man
God's Pocket
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Parts 1 & 2

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