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Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman Dead From Apparent Heroin Overdose
Aired February 02, 2014 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Police telling Susan Candiotti and other CNN producers and employees that heroin was also located in that apartment and a needle also found in his arm.
Susan Candiotti joining us now.
Susan, what more are you learning about the investigation? His body still remains inside the apartment for one?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via phone): As far as we know, Fred, yes. There's still a lot of work to be done here. Police suspect that he died of an overdose. But they still have a lot of questions to answer.
As you said, they did find a couple of clear bags of what is believed to be heroin inside that were discovered right there inside the apartment. But still, the crime scene unit as they always do, will have work to be done inside the apartment. For example, fingerprints, looking for any other DNA evidence to remove anything else from the apartment to analyze if they think it's necessary to make sure that no crime was committed. They are telling us they will be processed just like any other death investigation to make sure that no crime was committed.
But of course, among other things, they want to find out if someone else had been inside the apartment with him at the time this happened. But this is all part of the normal steps that they would be looking at in a situation like this. For example, did he have any kind of security system. Are there any cameras? I mean, we have no reason to believe any of this. But it's part of what they would normally do to see what happened in the hours leading up to his death.
WHITFIELD: And Susan, he's the father of three. We heard our own Rose Arce, CNN producer, talk about how he really was so much a part of the community there. His kids going to public school along there with Rose's kids at public school, and how he would walk freely in the streets, and very recognizable and very low key. But are hearing anything more about whether -- did he have any family members or anybody else present at the apart apartment?
CANDIOTTI: Well, not as yet. We have not found out about that. The police have told us that there was family notification, of course. And -- but in terms of where the family was at the time, we don't have any details about that just yet, Fred. WHITFIELD: All right, Susan Candiotti, thank you so much. We are going to check back with you to learn more about this investigation.
Meantime, CNN's Alexandra Field is outside that west village Manhattan apartment.
And Alexandra, what can you tell us about the scene there?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Out here was really a number of other people, dozens and dozens more are keep arriving, really, every minute. This is the apartment building right behind me. It is 35 Bethune Street here in west village. The apartment building is called Pickwick house. And we understand the Philip Seymour Hoffman's body was found in the bathroom of that fourth floor apartment.
We're now told that the medical examiner has arrived. And she is still on the scene in the apartment. The medical examiner looking into the death trying to answer questions about what led to this death including how long Hoffman's body may have been there before it was found. Again, you can see some of the cameras, some of the press that has lined up here waiting outside this house.
To the other side here, I want to show you this metal barricade. This is now a heavily guarded New York police department scene. They brought in a truck loaded with these barricades and they start to put them out not just in front of the apartment, but lining 35 Bethune Street. There is also tape at the end of the block, at the intersection to keep the public away.
Neighbors have come out here, dozens of them. Many taking pictures. A few people looking upset to have learned the news, a loss of a neighbor who was a very public and well-known face in this neighborhood. A lot of people were also just out here watching, waiting to see what happens. Five or six New York police department officers have been guarding front door and also keeping control of the crowds.
But some people have been coming out and sharing their stories, even seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman in their neighborhood. Obviously, he was a recognizable face. We're also told that he was friendly person in the neighborhood. We spoke to the owner of the restaurant right on the intersection here in Bethune and Washington Street. She says that he was a regular at the restaurant, often stopping in for brunch, off and talking to the wait staff there. Sometimes alone, sometimes with friends, but never seemed to be attended by any sort of Hollywood- style entourage. She described him really as just another sort of low key customer, a neighborhood regular who seemed to blend in with her other customers.
So, we have seen a few people who have come out of their doors, there's brown stones on Bethune Street along with the apartment building where Hoffman was found. And they have came out and sort of wiped away some tears. We've seen a few people who also walked into and out of that apartment building. Right now, they are not stopping to answer any questions. Police are just letting them come and go. A few of them walking dogs or getting children out of the building, but none of them at this point commenting on Mr. Hoffman or what it was like to have him as a neighbor or learn of this news now.
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WHITFIELD: So I wonder, Alexandra, you know, we heard Susan Candiotti at the top talking about, you know, how police are investigating, and all resources are being poured into the investigation of the discovery of his body. And she mentioned cameras, all of these things that will be inspected. Are you seeing any types of apparatus? Are you seeing any, you know, special police law enforcement teams that have been making their way in and out of collection of evidence, anything of the life that represents what kind of investigation or where the investigation may be going?
FIELD: Sure. We are seeing the kinds of things that you would imagine seeing in a case like this. We are seeing what appears to be plain clothed-detectives going into the building, as well as patrolmen. That's what, you know, obviously, differentiates this scene from that of another death. We are seeing patrolman who are now top. But the job of actually controlling the crowd, but they are the ones working down here on the streets.
But we have seen a number of different law enforcement officers going into and out of that apartment building obviously trying to answer some of these questions that Susan Candiotti has raised. And we know that, right now, really, they are focused on is on allowing the medical examiner to do her work because she is the one who is really charged with answering the key questions.
I'm going to step out of the way just to give you again, a clear picture of the scene that we've got here. We are seeing a lot of cameras angled towards the streets here. Looks like what appears to be an ambulance now coming up the street. And again, it is our understanding that, of course, Philip Seymour Hoffman's body is still in the apartment where it was found. There is no estimate how long it could take the medical examiner to do her work, to finish her investigations. She will the one who would have to then release the body. It could be carried away presumably in the vehicle that is arriving here.
Right now, a lot of people craning to take pictures of this vehicle, but no activity at the door here of 35 Bethune street, Pickwick house. Again so, no word on how long the investigators will be upstairs. No word on how long the medical examiners will be upstairs. Presumably, they will stay in place and collect any evidence that they need for as long as they need to really. And you can see again this crowd out here wanting to see something.
WHITFIELD: OK. And Alexandra, again, we understand according to sources that the discovery of the body was made roughly around 11:15 a.m. eastern time. But that doesn't necessarily mean that is how long he has been dead. It's unclear how long he had been dead. And that's one of the thing that the medical examiner will try to determine before they are to move the body as best they can. And then sometimes, that, too, may take, you know, hours if not a day to determine. FIELD: Certainly. And that's what law enforcement officials are telling us out here. We have asked a few of them. Is there any indication of how long he may have been in the apartment, any indication of, you know, how long he could have potentially been unaccounted for? Did he miss and earlier meetings? Did he miss a previous engagement? Really, no word on that yet. They are saying that at this point, from what they know, who they have spoken to, it really will come down to medical examiner's discovery in order to determine how long he may have been there in that bathroom where he was found.
And again, as Susan Candiotti pointed out, he's the father of three children. We have no information at this point about where his family may have been at the time of his death or at the time when his body was discovered by a friend who he appeared to have been collaborating with on working on a play -- another project. But we know that this was someone who was, you know, well respected, not just in this community in the west village but across the country for the vast body of highly acclaimed work. And what's striking though, is people in this neighborhood, were used to seeing celebrities, west village and New York City is a place where a lot of celebrities live. But they say this isn't a guy who walked around and sort of had that aura of celebrity. He really was another neighbor we're told in this neighborhood, just a low key and going about sort of his daily routine with everyone else.
WHITFIELD: Yes. And Alexandra I know your vantage point may be blocked because of vehicle behind you. but are you able to make out, you know, of that law enforcement or, you know, official vehicle that did pull up, what kind of markings are on it and what kind of vehicle it might be?
FIELD: Sure, we can step out of the way here and I can give you a better look it. It is an NYPD police vehicle, crime scene vehicle is all we're seeing on the side of it -- crime scene. We have not seen anyone get into or out of it. Just an NYPD police crime scene, you know, which is pulled up to the door of the apartment, that's what would differentiate it from some of the other patrol cars that we have seen further down the street. Even the medical examiner's car, which is just right here next to me. But obviously, a large police evidence van here.
WHITFIELD: All right, Alexandra Field, thank you so much, outside the apartment of Philip Seymour Hoffman right there on Bethune Street in west village. Thanks so much. We are going to check back with you.
And when we come back, we are going to share more from the sentiments from those who knew him very well, admired him. We are going to share all of that with you right after this.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, ACTOR: Protested, left the state with a balanced budget and the fourth highest education rate. The Republicans have no one out there who can touch this guy. For this moment, this election, this primary is the presidential. And that is the state of the union.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And that's Philip Seymour Hoffman in the 2011 "Ides of March." And no matter what project he was involved in, it was memorable.
And today, he is dead at the age of 46. His lifeless body inside his west village Manhattan apartment earlier today in the 11:00 eastern hour. His body located in the bathroom. Police saying they believe heroin was in the apartment and a needle was also found in his arm.
We've been hearing from a number of people who have admired him from afar and those who were lucky enough to actually interview him or talk with him. And he was indeed, as Nischelle Turner, our entertainment reporter has been putting it, an actor's actor, somebody who was revered on the big screen, as well as on stage, and even had some smaller screen projects that were about to make their way to Showtime and other outlets.
We have with us the host of "RELIABLE SOURCES," Brian Stelter.
Brian, we've heard from so many people of all walks, but namely those in the acting community. Many have treated out the great loss, rest in peace for this actor. They even talked about how influential and what a mark he has made on the industry as being brilliant, intelligence. Those are some of the words used to describe him. What else are you seeing?
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BRIAN STELTER, CNN ANCHOR, RELIABLE SOURCES: Yes, I'll read a few of them for the viewers at home. Of course, Twitter and facebook are the main ways we hear reactions to the deaths of, really, anyone these days, any prominent figure.
And here is one from Omar Epps, the actor from ER, more recently from "House." He wrote, rest in peace. He is one of the great thespians.
The singer, Josh Groban, wrote oh no, no, no, not PSH. He is in the shorthand for his name. We needed so much more from him. Rest in peace.
And then Sandra Bernhard writing great actor, introspective, brilliant, original, incredibly sad to hear the news.
You know, I just notice in the New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, in office for about a month, has also taken to twitter to comment. He wrote, saddened by Philip Seymour Hoffman's tragic, untimely passing. Today, New York mourns the loss of one of stage and screen's greats. And Fredricka, I was struck by something that another reporter said on twitter earlier, Josh Marshall of "talking Points Memo." Here is what he wrote. She said always a sad telling detail when someone like Philip Seymour Hoffman dies, is how long it takes for obit to appear. Unlike old famous person, there are no free (INAUDIBLE).
And you know, that is a little bit insight about how the media were works. Often times, obituaries are ready for people. They were written ahead of time for many famous celebrities, many famous people, but not for someone like Philip Seymour Hoffman, not for someone in his 40s who seemed to be in good health. That's why this is all the more shocking today to the people.
WHITFIELD: And who seemed to still be very much in demand. This was a really working actor, and one who was involved in directing and producing plays as well. What an incredible talent. And he does seems, however, to be a rare talent in that he had tentacles that reached out to so many disciplines of acting.
STELTER: He did. I mentioned earlier accidentally that he was a playwright. I was wrong about that. I misspoke. But he had starred in several Broadway production as an actor. And have been nominated for several Tony Awards. Most recently in 2012, he was in "death of a salesman" here in New York. And that led the critic for the "New York Times," you know, not an easy crowd to win over to say, quote, "Mr. Hoffman is one of the finest actors of his generations." The critic said "that is beyond dispute." You know, those are words that must have been wonderful for him to read that day. Can you imagine what that's like to read in the newspaper?
WHITFIELD: No. Unbelievable! Very overwhelming.
STELTER: Something few people have experienced.
WHITFIELD: And incredible. And you know, I have like a list of some of the project on film that he was involved in. But this is just, you know, this is a tiny fraction "Scent of a Woman," "Twister," "boogie nights," as we know, you know, he was nominated in a supporting role for an Oscar, "Big Lebowski, "Moneyball."
STELTER: I forgot about "Moneyball." Yes.
WHITFIELD: Yes. "Ides of March" that we saw a clip at the very top. He's the kind of actor, even if his role was small, he just had such command of the screen, of the camera, that his role, his part was very memorable, even if that supporting, even if that was just kind of a blip on the screen comparatively to others who may be in that project.
STELTER: I agree. And I think some probably people don't realize how many roles he's had because he has been able to, you know, seem so different and play so many types of characters. He had a unique look to him. There was something a little uneasy, a little disheveled. And frankly, that's pretty refreshing sometimes to see from actors. It's something that's special that pops on screen.
WHITFIELD: I saw this one tweet coming from Jim Carrey, which really just seems to kind of tug at the heart strings knowing what police are saying about the heroin possibly located in the house and that a needle was in his arm. And we know that publicly he's talked about his struggles with addictions. And most notably last year seeing rehabilitation help because of a week's use of heroin.
Jim Carrey tweeting this saying, "Dear Philip, a beautiful, beautiful soul. For the most sensitive among us, the noise can be too much. Bless your heart."
Now, of course, you know, we don't know all the details of the circumstances surrounding his death. But something as poignant as that and then learning that drug use may have been involved here, an overdose may have been involved here, it really speaks to the trouble and the struggle, the battle.
STELTER: You know, with this story, the amount of conversation online about addiction is crucial, you know. That is ultimately the only good that can come out of a story like this is a conversation about addiction. And for people to seek help if they feel that is necessary.
Help is only a Google search away these days. And that's something we mentioned earlier, Philip Seymour Hoffman often himself did seek out last year. He talked publicly and honestly about seeking help, rehab last year for his addiction. I'm heartened at least to see so many people talking about that today and acknowledging how horrible and how hard it can be.
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WHITFIELD: But also a reminder, you know, and we heard it underscored again by HLN's Dr. Drew Pinsky, that it is an everyday struggle, even if some may have thought you were in a recovery or it's been many years since you have, you know, touched anything. That is a day to day struggle. And that most likely was the case of Philip Seymour Hoffman.
We're going to have much more coverage of the tragic death of this 46- year-old very talented actor, very revered talent right after this.
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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
WHITFIELD: He was Park city, Utah promoting two films that he's in. And today, on super bowl Sunday, now Philip Seymour Hoffman is dead at the age of 46. His body found in his west village apartment today by a friend, a writer, a playwright who visited his apartment. And police are telling CNN that heroin may have been located in the apartment and a needle possibly in his arm.
Our Susan Candiotti has been working her sources there in New York.
Susan, what can you tell us about what is a pretty sizable investigation surrounding the death of this brilliant actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
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CANDIOTTI (via phone): Well, as authorities try to piece together exactly what happened here and the events that led up to it, we have this additional piece of information from a law enforcement official telling our producer (INAUDIBLE) this, that the actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman was last seen at about 8:00 or so last night. It's unclear exactly by whom, but we are told that he was expected to get to see his kids -- get his kids today, be in touch with his children, his youngsters, and apparently did not show up for that meeting or that gathering. And apparently, it was then this playwright that we've been told about, very well-known main of cast, and somebody else, and went over to the apartment and that's when they found him dead inside the bathroom -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And Susan, we understand now, because Alexandra field has been outside that apartment in the west village saying that a few vehicles have shown up, NYPD vehicles, even the coroner has arrived. But we understand the body of this actor is still inside the unit.
Are your sources telling you anything more about the avenue of this investigation and how much longer they will be at the apartment before the body is removed and before any, you know, evidence that's been collected is completed.
CANDIOTTI: Well, it's impossible to say. Any normal death investigation, and that's what police are saying, they are treating it like any other. There are interviews to be conducted, there are photographs to be made, there is information and evidence to be picked up. And in this case, at present, authorities don't have any other reason to believe that this is something other than an accidental overdose here. But nevertheless, they will be looking into picking up evidence there. For example, they found two clear bags that contained what they believe to be heroin found inside the scene. But naturally, they wanted to take fingerprints before any other DNA evidence, look for anything else to assure themselves that no crime was committed here. And so, they will be processing this scene as they would any other of this kind and will be looking into additional information about to assure themselves that no one was with them at the time of death -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And of course, there's that big gap of time you speak of, according to our sources, that he was last seen at 8:00 last night. But then at some point today, he was expected to be with his kids, his three children. He didn't show. We don't know what time that is. And somewhere between that 8:00 p.m. and roughly 11:15 a.m. today that discovery of that friend, the playwright, was made, correct? Is that sort of sequences of events?
CANDIOTTI: It is now seems clear that an alarm was sounded when he didn't show up as he was to see his two children. And that it appears is what prompted the family and -- or friends to send someone to the apartment to check on him. And that's when it said the discovery was made, finding his lifeless body really in the bathroom, our sources tell us, with a needle in one of his arms, Fred. WHITFIELD: OK. And Susan, this investigation taking place in this, you know, residential community, it seems as though it will not be difficult for authorities to find people who know him, recognize him, et cetera, because we've heard the picture painted, whether be from our CNN producer, you know, Rose Arce or others, who said that he's very much part of the fabric of the community there. He walks, you know, amongst everybody else like it's no big deal. You know, he's never in disguise or anything like that. He is very recognizable, but also very accessible.
So any idea what kind of efforts are being made by authorities to try and talk with people who regular see him, who regularly interact with him?
CANDIOTTI: I think that would be the normal thing that they would be doing. By all accounts, a likable guy in the neighborhoods that everyone got along with them. But still respected his face and his privacy at the same time. And so, it would be natural for authorities, if they think it is necessary to do so, to interview more people than outside his immediate family to find out what was happening here.
And as we have been reporting, he did have a well acknowledged problem in the past with substance abuse and has sought help for it and was overcoming that problem and had issues in the past. So all of this, all of this information will play into what they will be doing to try to piece together what happened here.
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WHITFIELD: All right. And that struggle with addiction, one that was very public, a private matter with him, but one that he didn't conceal to the public.
We are going to talk more about that. Susan Candiotti, thank you so much.
HLN's Dr. Drew Pinsky, back with me now.
And Dr. Drew, you know, it has been very well know that he has been struggling with addiction for a very long time. In fact, nearly all of this life as beginning in the very early stage of his life. But even see as one who admitted publically to quote-unquote "falling off the wagon" last year after, in his words, remaining clean for 23 years. But I know last year when I spoke and, you said you really are never clean. It's a day to day struggle. But it sounds as though, for Hoffman, he felt like he didn't need drugs or that pull was not happening until recently when he felt like he needed to seek rehabilitation again.
Give us an understand, help us understand, when someone sees someone so hugely successful and help us understand this opiate addiction and where it leads you and what happens?
DR. DREW PINSKY, HNL ANCHOR (via phone): All right. So, first of all, lets again remind ourselves that in no way, because Philip Seymour Hoffman had a chronic fatal medical condition called opiate addiction, was not diminish a glorious contributions and the fact that he was a wonderful man. But the fact that he was a celebrity does not significantly impact on the course of his illness. It's an opiate addict like any opiate addict. And someone who struggles with opiate addiction from early in life, particularly if it is on its struggles, it is invisible to see your 50s. It is unusual to see your 50s.
It sounds like, based on the way you described with his history, I much preferred -- speaking about this, that God only knows, but again, based on the way we understand, he had an addiction early in life, again opiates, long periods of sobriety and then relapse. And that's a very tough to treat. In a way that they know so much about recovery and they take advantage of that. And it's a treacherous time (INAUDIBLE). If he had a chronic, severe (INAUDIBLE) struggling with his whole life, it is the same thing when you have opiate addiction.
And by the way, you mentioned that you said you believe he didn't have the pull of addiction, particularly not accurate. Someone with opiate addiction is there doing push-ups all the time. They must work on it all the time. And even working on it, there's probability of relapse and gone pulling to get out and reengage a treatment and things go well. But often, frequently, it's a fatal condition. We simply have to continually remind ourselves of that. And now it's taken a glorious, glorious talent from us.
WHITFIELD: Indeed. Dr. Drew Pinsky, thank you much for a terrible connection there. But I think we do get the get of exactly what you are saying and it is a powerful point of view in which you bring and it is hugely sad the passing of this brilliant man, Philip Seymour Hoffman, dead at the age of 46 years old.
We'll be back with much more after this.
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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
More on the tragic, sudden death of a brilliant actor 46-year-old Philip Seymour Hoffman found in his fourth floor apartment in west village in Manhattan. His body, his lifeless body found in the bathroom. According to sources, what's believed to have been heroin was also located in the apartment and a needle in his arm. It has been a lifelong struggle for him and he has been very public about his lifelong struggle with addiction. And more recently last year going to rehab after a week's use of heroin. In his words, he says he had fallen off the wagon and so he tried to get help.
Now investigators, NYPD, trying to piece together the sequence of events. He was last heard from or someone last spoke to him at 8:00 last night according to sources telling our Susan Candiotti. And then, this morning it was believed that he was to meet up with his children today. He was a father of three. And because he didn't show up or because people were unable to contact him, then a friend, a writer and playwright went over to his apartment in west village at about 11:00 a.m. hour today and found his lifeless body.
Outside his apartment building called the Pickwick house there in Bethune Street in lower Manhattan, we find our Alexandra Field.
Alexandra, I have read a number of things from people who are neighbors, who are so used to seeing him in a regular basis, many people are hugging, who are crying when they heard the news their neighbor had passed away and particularly under such circumstances.
What are you learning there outside the Pickwick house today?
FIELD: Yes. It was well-known that he lived here. And a lot of people have stopped by now after learning this news.
I will give you a look right behind me. And you can see sort of a crush of media. Some neighbors, some onlookers who are now here in front of the apartment, but also on the other side and across the street. Right now, we understand that Philip Seymour Hoffman's body is still inside the fourth floor apartment where he was found, we're told, in the bathroom.
The medical examiner is also still inside. We saw her come out briefly. She did not answer any questions. She appeared to make a phone call and then returned inside. Also, Fredricka, the last time we saw you the crime scene unit here, had just pulled up arriving outside of the west village apartment. We have seen a couple times some investigators dressed in white forensic suits coming in to and out of the apartment. We are prepared the fact that this investigation could take time. The medical examiner, of course, has to do their work. This crime scene unit will be up there doing their work as well. At the same time a large crowd really gathering out here.
Barricades have been put up by NYPD. They are also about half a dozen patrolmen who are out here just trying to control and contain the crowd. They are also checking ID for residents who live inside that building. They are now being asked to show ID when they do into the door.
We have seen some people coming and leaving at this point. Most of them are not speaking about their neighbor, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Although, we have spoken to some people in the neighborhood who say that they did see him frequently, he was recognizable and a friendly face here who just sort of blended into the community. Grieves has becoming as it ended definitely in emotional scene.
His family has put out a statement expressing their devastation, and also asking for privacy at this time. And we did see one person who approached the doorway out there and left some white roses. So, a lot of people mourning the loss of this beloved, very well-known, very prominent highly acclaimed actor. Here in the west village, of course though, he was another neighbor and I want to bring in our CNN producer Rose Arce. Rose lives here in Greenwich Village.
Rose, tell us your experience.
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ROSE ARCE, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. I live about two blocks from here. And his children and my child have attended the same school ever since they were babies. And it's very strange to see this scene here because he was not a person that ever drew attention to himself. He was very much a neighborhood guy, just like everybody else. And you would see him riding the bike to the local public school, with his kid on the bike. You would see him dropping them off and hugging them and kissing them.
He has three elementary age children. They were very young, you know. He was a very friendly guy to his neighbors. They would hang out in local restaurants. He often to be see him involved in community issues. He was very concerned about where Greenwich Village was developing and what kind of a place it is going to be for his kids.
FIELD: You wouldn't expect sort of an A-list celebrity to, you know, just sort of be that involved with their community, to put his three children in the local public school. What role did he play in the school? Was he there often? Did you see him participating with other parents?
ARCE: Yes, particularly in pastors and he has three children in the same school. And there are a lot of celebrities in his neighborhood, big Hollywood actors who put their kids in private schools. And rarely do you see them, you know, hanging out locally, you know, forming relationships with people next door, that sort of thing. That wasn't him at all.
He was a friendly guy. He was neighborhood guy. He was a community guy. He was a father. And you didn't need to know him very well to know what a terrific father he was. And I met a lot of dads at the time, just walk their kids of the school so frequently and be involved. I'm told that he was in a Christmas play at a community event to raise money for a charity. Just this past Christmas, and he was involved in a movement to have zoning changed in the neighborhood. You know, you would have thought he was just anybody else.
FIELD: And it seems like the community has sort of really embraced him here. You know, we spoke to that restaurant owner who said he came in, he spoke to the staff members, sometimes had friends who didn't seem to have an entourage with him. Is that what you noticed?
ARCE: I never saw him with an entourage of people. I never saw him, you know, I see him mostly walking around the neighborhood, walking his kids to the same school where my child goes to. There was never anybody, you know, he was with his kids. The paparazzi didn't bother him. And it think they sort of knew they couldn't because he was just sort of guy that was just kind of here I am with my kids going to school. It was not a big deal.
And several people that I have talked to that knew him well, so they would come over and their kids will play together. He would go over there, the house, and you would forget very quickly that he was a Hollywood actor.
I think that the one time that I really saw him and thought, wow, you know, you're a big deal. It was right after he won the Oscar. I remember a couple days later, he was walking to school and people were like high-fiving, way to go, way to go. And still, it wasn't even like an unusual amount of attention even though it was such a big deal. It was more like another parent that we know had done something terrific and they just wanted to say you're terrific. And we are your community and he looked happy, the people were saying that. He looked like it wasn't fans. Like wow, these are my friends. These are my fellow parents.
FIELD: Thank you, Rose. Certainly, a lot of people in this community who knew him well and liked him well and -- are absolutely going to be mourning his loss now. We have seen, you know, just on this block alone, neighbors who are walking outside of their door, we don't know if they knew Philip Seymour Hoffman or not, but they have wiped tears in their face. And obviously, he was that recognizable face, that prominent face in their community, who was barely well-liked here.
Fred, no word on how long this investigation could take. Obviously, investigators are still settling in to do their work upstairs. Will be up there as long as they need to be.
WHITFIELD: All of that so beautifully humanizes, this really bigger than life kind of guy, this famed actor who has quite the roster of movie and on stage credits in which to articulate. Of course, everyone will remember him from the role of writer True man "Capote" which garnered him an Oscar for best actor in 2005 . But the list is very long, supporting roles as well in "Sensible Women," "Twister," "Boogy Night" in which he was also nominated for an Oscar for that supporting actor role. "The Big Lebowski," "Moneyball," "Ides of March," "the Savages," I mean, the list goes on.
And then he was recently at Sundance helping to promote two movies that are coming out soon. And then he was also going to be involved in a Showtime pilot that was ready for launch that's called "Happyish." It is unclear how his untimely death now will impact these new releases and even projects that were still under way to his credit. He was to be directing a movie that was going to be coming out. And he was also in production with another movie that would be involving Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal. They had just signed on with a movie he was involved in.
So, we'll have much more on the tragic loss of this very talented actor. At the age of 46, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
And we are also going to be joined by our entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner, who also has a statement from the family of this actor right after this.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOFFMAN: As you get older, you kind of people are kind of a little bit -- that's what was really nice, getting to work or hang out with people you knew a little bit, but getting to know them, (INAUDIBLE), John flattery, getting to work with them in an intimate way. Every week, everywhere it old John when it was like, every week, very few days I got to meet another great actor and play through part of a story with them. That was really pleasurable. That really was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I imagine that kind of keeps your -- keeps the joy of acting alive.
HOFFMAN: Absolutely. The other actors keep you coming back a long time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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WHITFIELD: An interview with Philip Seymour Hoffman just last month at the Sundance Film festival with Krista Smith there and then alongside him on the right was an Christina Hendrick (ph), an actress there. And they were talking about a new movie that was being showcased during the Sundance film festival called "God's Pocket."
In fact, Krista Smith is with us now.
Krista, it was you who was conducting that interview, you being there on the left. And you described the last we spoke about 15 minutes ago that he did seem a little bit more heavy set but in your view, he seemed like the same, you know, Philip Seymour Hoffman that anybody else was accustomed to. He really is very accessible. He didn't come across that kind of that actor who is just so far often to the trajectory that you can't quite reach him. But instead, someone that you could really sit down and talk with. And he was talking very candidly about other actors as well as that current project?
KRISTA SMITH, EDITOR, VANITY FAIR (via phone): Well, in fact, he actually showed up early to his interview and to our shooting which isn't always customary. And he kind of hung out for a bit. And you know, a lot of times when you are in the presence of someone that is that accomplished and in such a revered actor, it can be really intimidating. You are not quite sure how to be with them or what the response is going to be. And he was completely warm and the second you know we sat down, he was immediately present and engaged in the interview and just really delightful and he went onto kind of make us laugh through a series of fun questions we were asking. He was completely onboard to do that.
So, it shows that his character. I mean, when I have been talking to friends and actors that have known him forever. I mean, this thing about him as he was very serious about his work. You know, he had a great work ethic. He was idolized by contemporaries as well as by, you know, kids coming up and wanting to be actors. It was really kind of a special thing to hit, to kind of be so recognized by your peers as one of the greatest living actors. And anybody that got the chance to work with him, wanted to work with him again. And just they took from him.
I mean, he was serious. He was disciplined. And in turn, you wanted to impress him. You wanted to be your best for Phil. And it is just so sad, like I said in Sundance, I mean, you could tell he got to work with all of these good theater actors in that particular project. It was flattery. And he enjoyed it and that was part of the joys of being an actor.
And you know, when I think about it, he -- even these movies that you would seem would be a great paycheck, something like "the Hunger Games." You know for Phil, he had to -- there had to be something in that character that he wanted to do. He just wouldn't take something just for a paycheck. And you can see by the body of his work, he really loved acting and he loved dealt into character. And you know, he had, as a consequence, he had two movies at the Sundance film festival.
WHITFIELD: And what was the other one? "God's Pocket" and what was the other?
SMITH: He had another one with Rachel McAdams that was premiering later in the weeks that I did not get a chance to see.
WHITFIELD: OK. And you know, we are just looking at some of the photographs as you speak so eloquently of him and his body of work. And we see him being photographed with the likes of (INAUDIBLE), Amy Adams, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Marissa Tume (ph), and you would actually -- when you and I spoke earlier, you were talking about the various generous and how he reaches so many generations of actors and audiences. And that really is a testament to his talent, to how he always remained relevant and very current and how he would reach for roles that would challenge him it seems.
But at the same time, it seems like a lot of these roles he could kind of relate to as well. Can you speak to that?
SMITH: Well, I think, you know, as anybody, and he is a New Yorker. His kids went to public school. He was involved in theater. He was that kind of a man of the people. I mean, he walked the streets. He walked his kids to school. So, it is not surprising that he would take on these kind of everyday-type of characters that reflected humanity.
I mean, you know, to me, if I was an actor that is what would be appealing --- that is what I would be drawn towards. And it is true, when he came up he went to NYU, he went there for graduate school. He has never lost his theater roots. You know, there are a whole set of fans that probably only know him from Broadway or has worked art at the public (INAUDIBLE) theater, you know, as opposed to us that are kind of film of sacks and, you know, when he was "boogie nights" and all these movies where he played the great, great characters.
I think that he just -- he wasn't afraid of anything and he just took it on, at the same time, he remained who he was. He didn't no matter, I think, he had four Oscar nominations and one win and he certainly would have, had he not died so suddenly, he would have gone onto get more. I mean, but he was just -- he never lost the essence of who he was which was that kinds of every man. And it was speak to his talent that he was able to play all different characters even though you would think he would be a type.
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WHITFIELD: Krista Smith, entertainment commentator for CNN and senior west coast editor with Vanity Fair. Thank you much.
We are going to turn to CNN's entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner who is outside MetLife stadium where today, reminder, it is Super Bowl Sunday and already so many celebrities in town in the New York, New Jersey, the whole pride (ph) state area for the Super Bowl tonight. And now, this news is really rippling through the community, not just in the west in the village there in lower Manhattan, but really throughout the whole area.
So Nischelle, tell me more about what is being said. And I understand you have the statement from the family of Philip Seymour Hoffman.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, Fred.
You know, yes, we are out here at MetLife stadium because the Super Bowl well be played later this evening. And I was out here covering this event. But of course, when things like this happened, you have to switch gears so that is why I'm standing outside the stadium talking to you all about this.
And you are right, we are just getting a statement from the family of Philip Seymour Hoffman. I'm going to read it right off of my cell phone because we are just getting it in, and I want to make sure that get it all right.
His family says, and this is from his rep. We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and we appreciate the out pouring of love and support that we have received from everyone. This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time grieving. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.
And his rep does go onto say the family will not be making any further statement as this time. But that is what they are saying right now. Lots of reaction coming in still from Hollywood.
You know, you had Dr. Drew on just a little bit ago , Fred, and he was talking about how the arm of addiction grabbed on to people and it becomes in every battle and anyone that has ever known. Someone with an addiction had a family member with an addiction. You know that that is definitely true. You know, comedian Richard Louis said tweeted out just a minute ago. And here what he said about the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, I thought was really telling as well. He said, PSH was one of the most wonderful people I ever knew. Please take away from this horror, get help if you need it.
And that is something that we hear echoed a lot. If you are struggling or battling with a addiction please get help and continue to get help. Because we know that it does become a disease and it becomes an everyday battle. Again, we were talking about some of his projects, you and Krista Smith. You were just talking about the movies that debuted of his at Sundance and she spoke with him about his movie "God's Pocket." The other movie that debuted for him there was another movie called "the most wanted man" and yet that was a movie with Rachel McAdams, with Robyn Wright and Daniel (INAUDIBLE). Lots of big names in that movie. It did get some good reviews at Sundance as well.
He did have other projects in the works. A movie that he would be directing called "Ezekial Moss." That is the movie that Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal had just signed on to star in. You talked about the showbiz project -- excuse me, the Showtime project that he was involved with. And again, he just finished shooting the "Hunger Games part one." They are in the middle of shooting "Hunger Games part 2." So, we are really not sure how this will all play out for his role of (INAUDIBLE) in that movie as well, Fred.
WHITFIELD: My goodness. He was involved in so much on the big screen. The smaller screen, and even on stage as well. You mentioned so many actors refer to him as really an actor's actor and he did so many things and he did them all very well didn't he?
TURNER: Yes. Absolutely, he did. I mean, you guys have been talking about his reign range. He played just about every part you can imagine. And what you heard actors say about him is that Philip Seymour Hoffman transformed into any role that he took on and it was believable. Whether role he plays, whether it was the most intelligent scholar or if it was the mobster kind evil character. Everyone of those roles he played was so very believable.
Also, you talked about that he loved the theater and that is kind of where he started and where his heart was. He was a member of the New York theater crowd. He was nominated for three Tony's. And you also hear actors in Hollywood talked about, those actors who started in the theater and loved to be on stage are really the ones who do their craft the best. And who they really look up to because those are, like we have been saying, the actor's actors.
So, Philip Seymour Hoffman was definitely held in that regard by members of the Hollywood community, the New York theater community and just in general by the industry.
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WHITFIELD: All right. Nischelle Turner. Thank you so much. Hold tight. We are going to take a just a moment to kind of reprieved people of what taking place who are just now joining.
