R.I.P. Philip “The Count” Seymour Hoffman

This Sunday (February 2nd) American actor Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master, The Boat that Rocked) passed away from an apparent drug overdose at the age of 46. For more information on his death and how this will affect the final two Hunger Games movies hit the jump:

Deadline had a detailed write up of what transpired:

Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has died. He was 46. According to NYPD, Hoffman was discovered Sunday morning in his Manhattan home after suffering an apparent drug overdose. Police were called to the scene around 11:30 AM by Hoffman’s friend who found the actor non-responsive in the bathroom of the apartment this morning, according to NYPD, which said that a hypodermic needle and two glassine envelopes containing what appeared to be heroin were found in the fourth-floor apartment. Police would not confirm the name of the friend who found Hoffman. An autopsy will be performed and results could take  some time for toxicology reports to become available.

I’m the Count and I’m counting on you!
Hoffman was an incredibly versatile actor and known for several standout performances. He won the Academy Award for best actor in 2006 for Capote. Furthermore he got nominations for Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), Doubt (2008)  and 2012’s The Master (I have yet to see it but my colleague Existential Coffe spoke high praises).

But arguably our favorite performance of Hoffman was the role as The Count in Richard Curtis’s The Boat that Rocked (2009) so we will always remember him as The Count who lives for music on a ship that illegally broadcasts Rock ‘n Roll 24/7.

It is just a sad incident and Hoffman will be dearly missed.

What about Mockingjay?
Hoffman recently appeared in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as Plutarch Heavensbee, head gamemaker of the title giving Hunger Games. Because Plutarch’s involvement in the Hunger Games – storyline is far from minor so the questions naturally arose what would happen with Mockingjay.

Variety reported that the studio Lionsgate had this to say:

According to Lionsgate, the majority of Hoffman’s scenes had been completed, with just seven days left to shoot on “Mockingjay — Part 2.”

Release dates (Nov. 21, 2014 and Nov. 20, 2015) for either installment will not be affected, Lionsgate said.

The “Mockingjay” shoot began in September in Atlanta and is planned to last into the spring, before shifting to Berlin and Paris for a month, ending in May. Both installments are shooting simultaneously.

Lionsgate released a statement saying, “Philip Seymour Hoffman was a singular talent and one of the most gifted actors of our generation.  We’re very fortunate that he graced our ‘Hunger Games’ family. Losing him in his prime is a tragedy, and we send  our deepest condolences to Philip’s family.”

Mockingjay Part 1 will be released on November 21st.

It will be sad to know that it will be one of the last performances by The Count.