Ellen Burstyn reflects on the passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman, honoring his roles as an actor, director, and cherished friend, marking a decade since his demise.
“Philip directed me in Stephen Adly Guirgis’s play, The Little Flower of East Orange, at the Public Theatre back in 2008,” Burstyn, 91, recalls exclusively.
“We became friends, and he and his family used to spend holidays at my house; pool parties, picnics, and barbecues.”
Despite widespread acclaim for Philip Seymour Hoffman’s acting prowess, Ellen Burstyn, in an interview emphasizes his equally remarkable talent as a director, describing him as a “monumental” force in the industry.
“He was a wonderful and caring father to his three children, and I’m so sad that he got back into drugs after being drug-free for so many years,” the Exorcist star adds. “It’s a terrible tragedy and a great loss, not only to his family but also to the theater and film worlds.”
Preceding their collaboration in the off-Broadway production of Guirgis’ drama alongside Michael Shannon, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Gillian Jacobs, Ellen Burstyn and Philip Seymour Hoffman shared the screen in two earlier projects: the 1994 film “When a Man Loves a Woman” with Meg Ryan and Andy García, and the 2002 thriller “Red Dragon” starring Anthony Hopkins.
Burstyn joined the mourners at Philip Seymour Hoffman’s funeral in New York City shortly after his passing. The somber gathering included notable figures such as Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore, Spike Lee, Marisa Tomei, Joaquin Phoenix, and Amy Adams, reflecting the profound impact Hoffman had on his friends and colleagues.
Hailing from Rochester, New York, Philip Seymour Hoffman, with roots in theater, earned acclaim with three Broadway credits: “True West” in 2000, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” in 2003, and “Death of a Salesman” in 2012, garnering Tony Award nominations for each. The Oscar-winning actor also ventured into directing, notably in the 2010 romantic drama “Jack Goes Boating,” where he shared the screen with Amy Ryan.
In a poignant revelation before his untimely demise, Philip Seymour Hoffman disclosed the end of his 23 years of sobriety, succumbing to heroin addiction after initially using prescription drugs. He candidly addressed his ongoing battle with addiction, stating to The Guardian in 2011, “I had no interest in drinking in moderation. And I still don’t. Just because all that time’s passed doesn’t mean maybe it was just a phase. That’s who I am.”
Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away on Feb. 2, 2014, at the age of 46, succumbing to a drug overdose. He is survived by his wife, Mimi O’Donnell, and their three children – Cooper, Tallulah, and Willa. In a 2017 essay for Vogue, O’Donnell poignantly reflected on her loss, stating, “It happened so quickly.
Phil came home from Atlanta, and I called a few people and said that we needed to keep an eye on him. Then he started using again, and three days later he was dead.”
“The kids and I are still in a place where that fact is there every day. We talk about him constantly, only now we can talk about him without instantly crying… We can talk about him in a way that feels as though there’s a remembrance of what happened to him, but that also honors him.”