Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York apartment at the age of 46. INSIDE EDITION has the latest details.
INSIDE EDITION has learned disturbing new details about the shocking death of Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The 46-year-old Hoffman was found sprawled on a bathroom floor, dressed only in shorts and a t-shirt and a hypodermic needle sticking out of his left arm.
One investigator was photographed leaving Hoffman’s apartment building, carrying a clipboard covered with notes from the crime scene. On the clipboard, photographers could see “hypodermic syringe” and the time Hoffman was pronounced dead, 11:45 A.M.
He was discovered by his friend, screenwriter David Bar Katz, and his personal assistant, Isabella Wing-Davey. They went to check on Hoffman when he failed to pick up his three children for a scheduled playdate.
Wing-Davey has a key to apartment 4D, which rents for $11,000 a month. It has wood-beamed ceilings, a fireplace and the bathrooms have heated limestone floors.
Cops found evidence of heavy drug use throughout the apartment, including 20 used syringes and as many as 49 envelopes of heroin. It's estimated that Hoffman spent $10,000 a month on drugs.
Some of the envelopes were stamped with an Ace of Spades logo in purple lettering; others had a red icon of an Ace of Hearts. These are particularly lethal forms of heroin, laced with the powerful anesthetic fentanyl, a powerful painkiller.
Doctor Oz explained, “It’s a very powerful narcotic and you put these two together and it is a Nate bomb.”
Watch Dr. Charles Sophy Weigh In On Heroin Dangers.
The night before he died, a witness reported seeing Hoffman withdrawing large amounts of cash from an ATM near his apartment. The witness claims he saw the actor buying heroin from two men who carried messenger bags and appeared to be working together.
Hoffman was last seen in public at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah two weeks ago. Some festival goers described him as, "slightly disheveled” and “pasty."
The Hollywood reporter, Stacy Wilson, was there. She said, He seemed tired; his eyes were red, sorta glassy. He seemed not rested.”
According to reports, the troubled star had recently split up with his longtime girlfriend, costume designer Mimi O'Donnell, and was living in the two bedroom apartment by himself, where he was found dead.
Mimi O'Donnell reportedly told cops that Hoffman called her at 10pm the night before he died and that he "sounded high."
The couple had three children together: 10-year-old Cooper, 7-year-old Tallulah and 5-year-old Willa. They were reportedly waiting for their dad at a neighborhood playground when he was discovered dead.
Hoffman's struggle with substance abuse began more than two decades ago when he graduated from NYU’s drama school. He claimed to have stayed clean and sober for 23 years, until falling off the wagon last May after starting to snort heroin. He spent 10 days in rehab, but clearly, was not able to kick the habit.
“Just as Super Bowl activities got underway and fans began filling the stadium, came the shocking news that actor Philip Seymour Hoffman had died.
Kevin Bacon remarked, “I feel so bad for his family and we just lost a great, great actor.”
George Clooney, who directed Hoffman in "The Ides of March" said, "There are no words. It's just terrible."
And Tom Hanks who starred opposite Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson's War” said, “This is a horrible day for those who worked with Philip. He was a giant talent."
Hoffman won a best actor Oscar for “Capote” in 2008.
He was also nominated for best supporting actor three times-- for “Charlie Wilson's War,” “Doubt” and “The Master.”
Most recently, he appeared in the hugely popular “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” with Jennifer Lawrence. "Words cannot convey the devastating loss we are all feeling right now,” Lawrence said in a joint statement with the Hunger Games cast. “Out hearts are breaking.”
Hoffman's family released this statement: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.”
