"No one understands me." The complicated life and tragic death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

In February of 2014, beloved American actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died of an accidental drug overdose.

But the story of his death is only a small part of who he was; which is why how he spent most of his 46 years – as a man who gave his art everything, and as a father – is more important than his tragic final moments.

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Hoffman’s prolific and iconic career.

Hoffman was widely respected for being one of the finest actors of his generation, immersing himself in roles, and helping define iconic movies in audiences’ minds. A genuine actor, who didn’t rely on conventional Hollywood looks to build his career.

For someone who had been an actor for 23 years, Hoffman had 55 TV and movie roles to his name; a testament to his work ethic.

His prolific work is also why it’s felt his face has been seen ‘everywhere’.

Hoffman was known as a character actor; someone who gave everything to any role, making every film he appeared in all the more memorable.

He was also an integral part of the Broadway live theatre scene, as an actor and a director.

After smaller acting roles, Hoffman became more widely known when he played the suspicious and unforgettable Freddie in 1999’s The Talented Mr Ripley.

His other notable movie roles demonstrate the depth and versatility of his acting talent. They include parts in Almost Famous, Patch Adams, Scent of a Woman, Twister, The Big Lebowski, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt, Cold Mountain, Along Came Polly, Mission Impossible III, The Ides of March, Moneyball, Synecdoche, and The Master.

The versatile actor also appeared in The Hunger Games movies.

Hoffman was nominated for three best supporting actor Oscars for Doubt, Charlie Wilson’s War and The Master.

After numerous nominations for Golden Globe and BAFTA awards, Hoffman finally won an Oscar in 2005 for Capote; a role which he’d resisted at first, fearing he wasn’t right for it.

His final film, released in July 2014 after his February death, was the ironically titled, A Most Wanted Man.

Friend Ethan Hawke told Rolling Stone, “Phil was an unconventional movie star in an era where there’s no such thing as unconventionality.

“Now, everybody is gorgeous and has abs. And here you have Phil standing up, saying, ‘Hey, I got something to say, too! It may not be pretty, but it’s true.’ That’s why we needed him so badly.”

Hoffman’s personal life.

Born in 1967 in New York, Hoffman had two sisters, Jill and Emily, and a brother, Gordy. Their parents, Marilyn and Gordon, separated when Hoffman was nine.

As a child, he was a strong athlete. But when he suffered a neck injury, he joined an acting class and fell in love with the craft. In 1989, he graduated from the illustrious New York University Tisch School of the Arts, but not before he’d spent some time in rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction.

He beat his addiction and remained sober for more than two decades.

Notoriously private, it was known that Hoffman was in a relationship with costume designer Mimi O’Donnell, whom he met in 1999 and was with until 2014.

It was reported that the couple had split prior to Hoffman’s death, but O’Donnell later revealed they were simply living apart to protect the children from Hoffman’s most recent relapse, which had come in May 2013, after more than 23 years of sobriety.

Hoffman wanted to protect his privacy, despite his public persona. He told Rolling Stone in 2005:

“No one knows me. No one understands me. That’s the other thing that changes as you get older. It’s like everybody understands you.

“But no one understands me.”

Hoffman was also self-deprecating about what he saw as his unconventional looks. He was known for his (sometimes inappropriately) casual attire, and for refusing makeup for television appearances, once even joking, “it can’t help much.”

Although it was humour, it was also true, because Hoffman didn’t need superficial help; his talent was enough to make him one of the most important actors in recent decades.

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Hoffman’s 2014 death.

When he died on February 2, 2014, Hoffman left behind his three young children with O’Donnell, aged 10, seven and five; Cooper, Tallulah and Willa.

They were living separately from their father, with their mother, even though O’Donnell remained committed to supporting her partner through his relapse.

When Hoffman failed to arrive for a visit, O’Donnell called his friend David Bar Katz to check on him. Hoffman was discovered, dead, in his bathroom.

Later, an autopsy revealed he died of acute mixed drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine. His death was ruled an accident.

In 2017, O’Donnell spoke to Vogue about her time and family life with Hoffman.

“When I look back at how close we all were, I wonder whether Phil somehow knew that he was going to die young,” she revealed.

“He never said those words, but he lived his life as if time was precious.

“Maybe he just knew what was important to him and where he wanted to invest his love. I always felt there was plenty of time, but he never lived that way.

“In some ways, our short time together was almost like an entire lifetime.”

If you are struggling with addiction, visit ReachOut for support and referral to recovery services in your area.

Feature image: Getty.