Film and stage actor and theater director Philip Seymour Hoffman was born in the Rochester, New York, suburb of Fairport on July 23, 1967. After becoming involved in high school theatrics, he attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, graduating with a B.F.A. degree in Drama in 1989. He made his feature film debut in the indie production Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole as Phil Hoffman, and his first role in a major release came the next year in My New Gun. While he had supporting roles in some other major productions, his breakthrough role came in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights. He quickly became an icon of indie cinema, establishing a reputation as one of the screen's finest actors, in a variety of supporting and second leads in indie and major features, including Todd Solondz's Happiness, Flawless, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, Almost Famous and State and Main. He also appeared in supporting roles in such mainstream, big-budget features as Red Dragon, Cold Mountain and the upcoming Mission: Impossible III.

Hoffman is also quite active on the stage. On Broadway, he has earned two Tony nominations, as Best Actor (Play) in 2000 for a revival of Sam Shepard's "True West" and as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) in 2003 for a revival of Eugene O'Neill (I)'s "Long Day's Journey into Night". His other acting credits in the New York theater include "The Seagull" (directed by Mike Nichols for The New York Shakespeare Festival), "Defying Gravity", "The Merchant of Venice" (directed by Peter Sellars), "Shopping and F*@%ing" and "The Author's Voice" (Drama Desk nomination). He is the Co-Artistic Director of the LAByrinth Theater Company in New York, for which he directed "Our Lady of 121st Street" by Stephen Adly Guirgis. He also has directed "In Arabia, We'd All Be Kings" and "Jesus Hopped the A Train" by Guirgis for LAByrinth, and "The Glory of Living" by Rebecca Gilman at the Manhattan Class Company.

Hoffman consolidated his reputation as one of the finest actors under the age of 40 with his turn in the title role of Capote, for which he won the Los Angeles Film Critics Award as Best Actor. In 2006, he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for the same role.


Has twice been nominated for Broadway's Tony Award: as Best Actor (Play) in 2000 for a revival of Sam Shepard's "True West;" and as Best Actor (Featured Role -Play) in 2003 for a revival of Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night." Has appeared in all of Paul Thomas Anderson's movies, but has stated that he will not appear in Anderson's upcoming film, There Will Be Blood (2007). Has three children with girlfriend Mimi O'Donnell: Cooper Alexander Hoffman (b. March 2003), Tallulah Hoffman (b. November 2006) and Willa Hoffman (b. October 17, 2008). BFA in Drama - New York University, Tisch School of the Arts (1989) In his sophomore year of high school, he suffered an injury that prevented him from playing multiple sports. Grew up in upstate New York, outside of Rochester, in the village of Fairport. Does not drink alcohol. He became sober when he was 22 years old and says that he quit because, "I was 22 and I was panicked for my life." While working as a lifeguard, he once met musician Miles Davis. Davis appeared in an episode of the TV series "Crime Story" (1986), and shared a scene with Stephen Lang. Lang appeared in Manhunter (1986) as Freddy Lounds, the character Hoffman played in Red Dragon (2002). His mother is a judge in Rochester, New York Goodfellas (1990) is one of his favorite films. He won 23 awards for his performance in Capote (2005) including the coveted Oscar. Has a younger sister named Emily Hoffman and an older sister named Jill Hoffman. Meet his girlfriend Mimi (a costumer designer) in 1999 while they were working in the play "In Arabia We'd All Be Kings". Auditioned for the role of "Cubby Barnes" in Ransom (1996). As of 2008, he and Dustin Hoffman are the only two winners of a Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar to share a last name. Philip won for Capote (2005) and Dustin won for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Rain Man (1988). College roommates at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with actor 'Steven Schub' (lead singer of ska band The Fenwicks) and Jimmie Corrieri (guitarist of The Fenwicks). Beat Heath Ledger for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2005 for his title role in Capote (2005), and then lost out to the late great actor for the Best Supporting Actor in 2008 to Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight (2008). He is a big New York Jets fan.