Philip Seymour Hoffman: ’70 bags of heroin’ in dead actor’s home

New York City police have found up to 70 bags of suspected heroin inside actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s home a day after his death, US media report. The Oscar-winning star, 46, was found dead at his Greenwich Village home on Sunday with a syringe in his arm.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out on Monday. Police suspect Hoffman died of an overdose.

The lights along theatre marquees on New York’s Broadway were to be dimmed on Wednesday in honor of Hoffman.

The actor earned three Tony award nominations for his work in New York theatre.

Hoffman is survived by his partner Mimi O’Donnell and their three children. In a statement, his family said: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil.”

Tributes

Julia Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the New York City Medical Examiner, said she was unsure when the results of Monday’s post-mortem examination, or autopsy, would be available.

“Sometimes we have to perform additional testing,” she said.

The post-mortem examination could explain how Hoffman died apparently soon after injecting suspected heroin.

Among the drugs found in Hoffman’s apartment were several packets stamped with the ace of hearts, as well as the ace of spades, authorities say.

Both are said to be brand names for heroin which street dealers employ.

Robert De Niro was among fellow actors who expressed their sorrow on Monday, describing Hoffman as “a wonderful actor”.

Hoffman had candidly spoken in the past of his struggle against drug addiction, including a 2006 interview in which he told CBS he had at times abused “anything I could get my hands on. I liked it all”.

He admitted in May 2013 he had entered rehab a year earlier, spending 10 days in treatment.

Hoffman won a best actor Oscar in 2005 for Capote and was nominated a further three times – for The Master, Doubt and Charlie Wilson’s War.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Hoffman had completed his work for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, and had only seven days remaining to shoot on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.

It is thought the films’ scheduled release dates of 21 November 2014, and 20 November 2015, respectively, will not be affected by Hoffman’s death.

Showtime issued a statement following the news of Hoffman’s death, saying: “It was a great privilege and pleasure to work with him and we are all absolutely devastated by this sudden loss. Our thoughts go out to his family at this very difficult time.”

Hofmann has accepted he consumed different drugs.

BBC 

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