Celebrity Deaths

[YN05 WKE]

RE: Celebrity Deaths
Oscar-winning American actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead in New York, police sources have said.

The 46-year-old was found in his Manhattan apartment after a friend called the emergency services.

Medical officials have not yet commented on the the cause of death.

Hoffmann made his name in the 1990s in films including Boogie Nights and the Big Lebowski, before winning the best actor Oscar for his 2005 portrayal of writer Truman Capote.

Throughout his career he featured in independent films as well as Hollywood blockbusters such as Mission Impossible III.

His latest role was in the Hunger Games series of films.

As well as films, he also starred in Broadway plays and was nominated for two Tony Awards.

British actor John Hurt, who starred alongside Hoffman in the 2003 drama Owning Mahowny, said the news had hit him "very hard".

"He was a great actor, a great member of the film and theatre community. An extraordinary talent, directorially as well as an actor. He'll be greatly missed," he said.

Last year Hoffman told celebrity news website TMZ that he had sought treatment for drug abuse.

Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26009575