Photos: Philip Seymour Hoffman: Oscar winner who died of fatal heroin overdose

Split: Tragic Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman had separated from his longtime girlfriend Mimi O'Donnell, pictured with the actor in 2008, in the months leading up to his death. More pics after cut..

Father-of-three: The 46-year-old, had three elementary-age children with the costume designer, Cooper, 10, left, Tallulah, 7, and Willa, 5

Tragic: The body of Philip Seymour Hoffman was removed from his apartment building just before 7 p.m. Sunday after he was reported dead

Evidence: A New York City Police Department investigator removes a bag of evidence from the actor's apartment, where investigators spent the day examining the scene

Investigation: Detectives lingered out the front of Pickwick House on Bethune Street until late in the evening

One of his last public appearances: Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman attends the premiere of the film A Most Wanted Man at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in this January 19, 2014

Not looking well: Mr Hoffman, shown arriving for the premiere of 'God's Pocket' at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 17, was apparently not himself at the festival

Last appearance: This photo taken January 19, 2014, shows Mr Hoffman posing for what may have been his last portrait at The Collective and Gibson Lounge Powered by CEG, during the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah

Mr Hoffman won the best actor Academy Award for the 2005 film, Capote, and has been hailed by the film industry as one of the finest actors of his generation.
The news of Mr Hoffman's death comes just one day after representatives for the actor issued a statement denying he was dead after an internet hoax claimed the star had passed away on Saturday.

Dead at 46: Philip Seymour Hoffman with his Oscar for Capote at the 78th Academy Awards press room, Los Angeles, in 2006

Talented star: Phillip Seymour Hoffman poses for a portrait at The Collective and Gibson Lounge Powered by CEG, during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in January and the actor (right) in the Hunger Games: Catching Fire 

Family: Seymour Hoffman and Mimi O'Donnell, pictured with their son Cooper in December 2013 in New York, had split recently

Freinds: Philip Seymour Hoffman was reportedly found dead this morning by his friend David Bar Katz (center) alongside their other friend George Liberatto in 2008

The Fairport, New York, native reportedly told TMZ in May that he began taking heroin again after 23 years of being clean. He said he'd progressed from prescription pills to ultimately snorting heroin.
He claimed that he only used heroin for a week before he realized he needed help and checked himself into a detox facility on the East Coast.
He spent 10 days receiving treatment and credited a 'great group of friends and family' for helping. 
On Sunday however, police reportedly found up to eight empty glassine envelopes in a garbage can and around the house marked 'Ace of Spades', according to the New York Post. 'Ace of Spades' is a brand of heroin that has not been seen on the streets since around 2008, the newspaper said. A charred spoon was also reportedly found in the kitchen sink.

Happier times for the family: Philip Seymour Hoffman with his son Cooper and his partner Mimi O'Donnell

Father and son: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Cooper Alexander Hoffman and John Leguizamo attend the Portland Trail Blazers vs New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on January 1, 2013 in New York City

Talented at a young age: Philip Seymour Hoffman seen here in his yearbook photograph from Fairport High School in New York state

All-time great: The actor, shown in 2005's Capote, has been praised by his peers as one of his generation's best actors

'I saw him last week, and he was clean and sober, his old self,' Mr Katz, a screenwriter, told the New York Times Sunday. He said he called 911 after finding Mr Hoffman. 'I really thought this chapter was over.'
Authorities confirmed that the last time the stage and film actor was seen was around 8 p.m. on Saturday.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is yet to determine the exact cause of death, but law enforcement sources revealed a drug overdose was to blame. Officers found a charred spoon in the kitchen sink, police sources told the New York Post.
A relative told The Post: 'We're just really devastated that this could happen.'
'There had always been a concern with the business he was in,' said Doris Barr, 76, whose son is married to Mr Hoffman's sister.
After Mr Katz called 911, emergency workers rushed to the scene where Mr Hoffman was declared dead on arrival.
Just before 7 p.m., after CSU investigators, wearing white plastic suits, spent the entire afternoon and much of the evening going in and out of Mr Hoffman's apartment, the crime scene van moved to make way for the medical examiners wagon to pull up to the building.

View outside Philip Seymour Hoffman's apartment in NY

   

Scene: NYPD Crime Scene Unit officers leave the actor Philip Seymour Hoffman's apartment building, Pickwick House, where the actor was found dead earlier today

Interest: Members of the media stand outside the apartment of movie actor Philip Seymour Hoffman after he was found dead in New York February 2, 2014

Crowd: Police cars seen outside the building where actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died in his apparent suffering from drug overdose in the West Village

Grief: A woman who declined to give her name and said she was friends and working on a project with movie actor Philip Seymour Hoffman wipes away tears as she stands across the street from the apartment where they found the celebrity dead in New York as two men (right) embrace

Passed away: Philip Seymour Hoffman's personal assistant is seen talking to detectives left. Well-wishers left flowers, right, at the door of the actor

Police flanked both sides of the van all the way to the buildings entrance. After 10 somber minutes, a stretcher was wheeled out carrying a figure covered in black plastic and was loaded into the wagon before being quickly whisked away with blaring horns and blinding blue and red lights.
Earlier, neighbors said the actor looked ill when they last saw him.
'Just the other day I saw him getting out of his mini cooper with his kids and his wife I guess. He was in sweatpants and a beanie and he looked disheveled,' said Olivia De Santis as more than 100 people gathered outside the actor's home.
The family of the actor issued a statement to the media in the aftermath of his death to thank everyone for their support.

'We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone. This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grieving.
'Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.'

Revealing interview from 2006: The actor tells Steve Kroft that a turning point in his life was when he sought help for substance abuse

Career highs: Philip Seympur Hoffman and Reese Witherspoon pose with the Oscar's they won in 2006 for their work in Capote and Walk the Line respectively

Smiles: Philip Seymour Hoffman at the Los Angeles premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire at Nokia Theatre in November

Superstars and friends: George Clooney (right) with Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman who has been found dead after suffering an apparent drug overdose

Talented: This is Philip Seymour Hoffman in the 1999 movie Magnolia - for which he garnered significant early praise in his career

Philip Seymour Hoffman's death brings shock to industry

 

In 2006, Mr Hoffman admitted his history of substance abuse after he graduated from NYU's drama school.
'It was all that drugs and alcohol, yeah. It was anything I could get my hands on…I liked it all,' he told 60 Minutes at the time.
Mr Hoffman, who was no matinee idol figure with his tubby build and scruffy blond hair, made his career mostly as a character actor. He was nominated for Oscars four times in all -- best actor for Capote, which he won, and best supporting actor in The Master, Doubt, and Charlie Wilson's War.
In one of his earliest films, he played a spoiled prep school student in 'Scent of a Woman' in 1992.
A breakthrough role came as a gay member of a porno film crew in 'Boogie Nights,' one of several movies directed by Paul Thomas Anderson that he would eventually appear in.
He often played comic, slightly off-kilter roles in movies like 'Along Came Polly,' 'The Big Lebowski' and 'Almost Famous.'
Just weeks ago, Showtime announced Mr Hoffman would star in 'Happyish,' a new comedy series about a middle-aged man's pursuit of happiness.

Film promotion: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Willem Dafoe, Rachel McAdams, Grigoriy Dobrygin pose for a picture to promote A Most Wanted Man at its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2014, Park City, Utah, America just two weeks ago

On the mend: Philip Seymour Hoffman enjoyed an afternoon stroll with his partner Mimi O'Donnell in New York, in June after he returned from his stint in rehab

In 'The Master,' he was nominated for the 2013 Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role as the charismatic leader of a religious movement.
The film, partly inspired by the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, reunited the actor with Anderson.
He also received a 2009 supporting nomination for 'Doubt,' in which he played a priest who comes under suspicion because of his relationship with a boy. Meanwhile, in 'Charlie Wilson's War' he played a convincing CIA officer.
Mr. Hoffman appeared in more than 50 films in a career that spanned less than 25 years.
Born in 1967, Mr Hoffman was interested in acting from an early age, mesmerized at 12 by a local production of Arthur Miller's 'All My Sons.'
He studied theater as a teenager with the New York State Summer School of the Arts and the Circle in the Square Theatre. He then majored in drama at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Award winning: Philip Seymour Hoffman seen here with actress Catherine Keener won the Oscar for his 2005 portrayal of Truman Capote

Character actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, (left), and Ryan Gosling are shown in a scene from Ides of March - released in 2011 Police say Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment on Sunday

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from The Master - for which Hoffman was Oscar nominated. Police say Phillip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment on Sunday

Method acting: Philip Seymour Hoffman won huge critical acclaim for his portrayal of Truman Capote in 2005

Lonely: Philip Seymour Hoffman pictured as Truman Capote, in a scene from the film set during Capote's research for his book In Cold Blood, an account of the murder of a Kansas family

Culled from The Daily Mail