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Philip Seymour Hoffman Found Dead in Manhattan Apartment; Super Bowl Kickoff; Evidence Tampering Investigation
Aired February 02, 2014 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: The Hollywood community, the New York theater community and just in general by the industry.
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FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Nischelle Turner, thank you so much. Hold tight. We're going to take a -- just a moment to kind of reprise people of what is taking place if you're just now joining us of the tragic death of the 46-year-old brilliant actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.
We learned not long ago in the 11:00 a.m. Eastern hour today the body of this brilliant actor was found in this West Village apartment in Lower Manhattan. A friend, a writer, a playwright, had access to this apartment. No one had heard from him since, according to sources, about 8:00 last night. Went into the apartment, found his lifeless body there in the bathroom of his apartment which is on Bethune Street there in Lower Manhattan, in the Pickwick House, where right now police vehicles continue to be parked.
Authorities going in and out of that apartment. Apparently the body of this actor remains inside that unit. A coroner has arrived. We have a number of reports there on the scene and throughout Manhattan and in the surrounding areas, touching on all their sources to learn more about this situation. But a tragic loss to the acting world.
He is most recognizable for a host of theatrical as well as film projects. He was an Oscar winner for 2005 film "Capote." He played the writer Truman Capote. Won Best Actor. He was then nominated three times thereafter for supporting roles from the Academy. And he also was nominated for three Tony Awards. The list is long for his accolades.
He is currently or has been currently involved in some playwrights there in Manhattan and he was most recently at the Sundance Film Festival where he was hoping to promote two relevant films. That of "God's Pocket" as well as "A Most Wanted Man". And then he most recently just managed to convince Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal to be involved in a new movie that he is a part, directing his second movie.
He has an incredible litany of projects that he's been involved in and now the film, the playwright world, all mourning the death -- the sudden death of this fine actor. And we understand, according to sources, talking to our own Susan Candiotti, that it's believed that something of the like of heroin was also found in that unit -- in his apartment unit and he also was found with a needle in his arm.
Our Alexandra Field is there outside the Pickwick House, this West Village apartment building where on the 4th floor the body of this actor remains. The coroner inside and other investigators.
What kind of information are they trying to piece together to get a better understanding as to what happened, what caused his death?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One of the things, of course, that the coroner will be looking at is how long he was that apartment before he was found. And we do know, Fred, as you pointed out that he was -- it appears that he was last seen around 8:00 last night. And then not until this morning when a friend discovered him in the bathroom.
A lot of people are out here now outside of this house just beyond this crush of people that you can see a number of NYPD police officers. Their number has swelled to about a dozen now. They're trying to keep the press back. They're trying to keep back the lookers and they've actually put tape at the ends of the sidewalks in order to keep back some neighbors and onlookers.
The NYPD Crime Scene Unit vehicle has arrived on the scene. We've seen forensic investigators going into and out of that apartment. Their investigation likely to take at least a number of hours we would presume, and of course the medical examiner is still upstairs.
The kinds of questions that she answers will be key to this investigation. It could let us know what exactly was in Philip Seymour Hoffman's body at the time of his death, how long he may have been there. So those are questions that they will spend some time investigating right now.
You can see also across the street here where some of the crowd has sort of gathered. Most people, they are now being held at the other end of the block in order to let investigators do their work.
More people are starting to hear this news. A lot of people in the neighborhood are coming out and starting to talk about the times that they've seen Philip Seymour Hoffman, walking down the street, in a restaurant, in a store. A lot of people are just -- simply saying that they're shocked and they're saddened by this.
And we do know that he had this history of addiction and had spoken publicly about his effort to get help in the past but so we've spoke to people and say they're just shocked to hear this, they're shocked to learn, they're saddened by it. It's an expression and an emotion that a lot of people out here sharing -- we've seen a few people wiping tears and leaving flowers outside the door.
This was a man who's a father of three children, you know, well-known in the community, well-liked in the community, not just for his screen work but for just sort of seeming to blend in and act like a regular out here.
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Again I do want to say that the medical examiner did step out briefly. Got into her car. Appeared to make a phone call, communicate with someone. She did not answer any questions. And we're not expecting at this point to hear more from the medical examiner for, you know, at least, possibly days.
Fred, you know that these investigations really do take some time.
WHITFIELD: And I'm told, Alexandra, that an autopsy will be conducted tomorrow. That's what one of our producers are telling me at this juncture.
And, you know, Alexandra, as you mentioned earlier. He is a father of three and we understand as we have been trying to piece together some of the chronology of events that had transpired apparently he was last seen or spoken to at about 8:00 last night. And we understand that he was to visit -- have some sort of visitation or a date with his children this morning.
Whether it was the issue of him not showing up or others couldn't contact him, that's what precipitated this writer/friend/playwright to actually go to that 4th floor apartment and as I understand it and perhaps your sources there on the ground are telling you the same thing, if not, you know, correct me on this.
That when going to that 4th floor apartment, that's where this body was located, that friend had access to the apartment. And it was an issue of getting anyone to kind of, you know, break open the door, but he had access and found the lifeless body.
Is that about the information that you're hearing?
FIELD: That's the information that we're hearing as well. What it doesn't tell us is of course when and what exactly happened. We know that he was, like you pointed out, last seen around 8:00 last night. Expected to be seen sometime this morning.
It doesn't clarify for us obviously the time of death. That is something that it will take the medical examiner to determine that's why she's doing her work up there and once they are able to determine when he exactly he passed, we might know a little bit more about his death. But that is the timeline that at this point we're hearing and you know just one of the elements that is bringing so much hurting to this community right now to know that he had planned to meet with his young children, three of them, and that he never made it to that meeting.
It's just sort of contributing to this sense of grief here for this actor's actor. One woman put it pretty poignantly to me. She said, you know, when she had heard that the needle in his arm, it sort of broke her heart, and she said, you know, she gone to sort of going about his business in the neighborhood and she wonders now if he was in some kind of pain. And that was what was really just deeply saddened her today -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And we've heard it described and he has been very public about it over the years, too. This has been a lifelong problem, a struggle with addiction.
Alexander Field, thank you so much. We'll check back with you momentarily.
Let's check in with entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner who's at MetLife Stadium where it's only a couple of hours away from kickoff but the attention now is being turned to the sad passing of this brilliant actor where many celebrities who have descended on New York who are already there anyway, but then more celebrities who have descended on New York because of the Super Bowl. Even they, too, are now reacting to the passing of this great, great man.
TURNER: Yes. Well, reaction is coming in from everywhere, Fred. You are correct about that. You know, we did just get some word from his family just a few minutes ago. We got a statement from the family of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who said of course they were devastated by the sudden and the tragic loss. They also asked for privacy when they're dealing with their grief.
Philip Seymour Hoffman's rep also did tell us that they will not be making any further statement at this time.
You know, the interesting about this, we've been talking about the arm of addiction and how he's been struggling with this. And it does make you think of some of the other actors in Hollywood that have died untimely deaths from things like this. So he's -- whether it'd be Heath Ledger or where it'd be Cory Monteith just recently, you think about and they've always said that people were taken too soon.
One of the things that we heard people say about Philip Seymour Hoffman earlier today was that it feels like we've been robbed because he was so active, he was working so much, he was so in demand. A four-time Oscar nominee, he won the Oscar once in 2005. The Best Actor Oscar for his role in "Capote."
Also nominated for three Tony Awards just kind of embodied what an actor is. Other actors called him an actor's actor. Any role he took on, he became that character, any movie that he joined the cast would say he elevated that film. It was very rare that you ever heard any review of Philip Seymour Hoffman come back mixed or bad.
I mean, some of the movies that he was in may not have gotten the greatest best reviews, but you always heard that his work was stellar. So it is definitely a shock today. We've heard celebrities from Whoopi Goldberg who is saying, please tell me this was a hoax. And then she came later and said, you know, I've just found out that it wasn't a hoax. RIP. We've heard Justin Timberlakes of the world giving their condolences. Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, giving really poignant words.
You know, everybody just respected the work of Philip Seymour Hoffman.
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And again a 46-year-old man taken away too soon.
WHITFIELD: And Nischelle, I love what you were saying earlier that so many actors who got a chance to work with him would say that he really elevated their game. That he brought it all the time and, as you said, even if the movie itself wasn't necessarily, you know, a blockbuster hit.
TURNER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: It's something about what he brought to every role and that's what made him so memorable as an actor. And really so powerful, you know, someone who carried a message through his work.
TURNER: Yes, you know, there's a couple of character actors in Hollywood that are like that. That you hear that about. I mean, you hear that about him. You would hear that about Paul Giamatti. Those type of characters who just when they joined the film their work was so good they elevated it.
And even though I wouldn't -- I wouldn't necessarily consider Philip Seymour Hoffman as a character actor, I think for a long time he was, but he was becoming a leading man and he was doing it so masterfully, that a lot of times people just thought oh he's a character actor, he loved to do on ensemble films as well because it was the acting work that he loved.
I do remember back in 2011, the "Ides of March" which is -- was one of my favorite movies that year, and has stayed that way, I thought he was so masterful. He was evil but he was subtly evil. And that's something -- you know, it's something that actors a lot of times you have to have the big, you know, dramatic scenes. For him, it wasn't like that a lot of times. He was just so good and so reserved. But just -- the roles and the acting stuck with you.
WHITFIELD: He brought it as you say. He really brought it.
All right, thanks so much, Nischelle. We're going to check back with you momentarily.
TURNER: Sure.
WHITFIELD: Right now we're going to go to Susan Candiotti. She has new information as it pertains to the untimely death of Seymour Hoffman -- Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Go ahead -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred. In addition to I've been reporting to you from our law enforcement sources about finding a needle in one of his arms when his body was discovered, we are -- we are hearing this from additional law enforcement sources talking to our producers Shimon Prokupecz, telling us that they -- besides finding the two bags containing -- small little plastic bags containing what they believe to heroin -- of course all that will be thoroughly tested -- they also found eight additional small clear plastic bags that are usually the kind in which heroin is discovered. And those were also found in the apartment.
It's unfortunate to pass on this as well, but you know that they found the needles in his left arm and he was clothed in the bathroom. They say that they are trying to check more information about how he acquired these drugs but the various bags our sources tell us were stamped with the words "ace of hearts" and "ace of spades" which are very common street names for heroin.
We told you earlier as well that it was a playwright, a friend of his, David Katz, who went over to the apartment to look for him when it was discovered that he hadn't shown up to meet with his children as they had expected. The three young children. It was a worker who let him into the building who had keys and let the friend go in along with David Katz, someone else, and they were the ones that made the difficult discovery -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: OK. Yes, this is very difficult especially since the family -- you know, they're learning a lot of this information just as we are. And of course they're grappling with this very sudden and sad death.
As you mentioned, he was to meet with his kids today and that meeting not taking place and that led to the next thing a friend going to make that very sad discovery.
So with this drug paraphernalia, Susan, that you describe, authorities however are still reticent to emphatically determine that it was indeed heroin that was located but they are willing to, you know, convey that a needle was found in his arm?
CANDIOTTI: Well, that is what we have been reporting from the start. And now it's (INAUDIBLE) helping us with more details about that discovery. But certainly it is something that they need to track down to the extent that they can to sort of find out how it was that Philip Seymour Hoffman got these drugs to begin with.
Trying to track down the source of it. Did someone give them to him? Did someone sell them to him? When did this happen? And those that's part of this investigation. And I think (INAUDIBLE) as they would for any appearance of overdose when they're looking into this.
WHITFIELD: OK. And of course the family releasing a statement not long ago, saying, really asking for people to respect their privacy. This is an incredibly difficult time for all those who knew, loves, and those related to this fine actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Thank you so much, Susan Candiotti. We'll check back with you.
So, again, if you're just now joining us, this actor, a very recognizable face there. You remember him for his Oscar-winning role as Truman Capote in the movie, 2005, "Capote."
<16:15:04> And he is known for a number of other things, so many roles and supporting roles, and even leading man that he had played in "Scent of a Woman," "Twister," "Boogie Nights," "The Big Lebowski," "Ides of March," "The Savages," "Moneyball," and you see right here the accolades. He was nominated even after his Oscar win for three other Oscar nominations in a supporting role.
And then he was also nominated for three Tony Awards. And he's also known to direct a number of films and plays. He was currently involved in a show time pilot that was to be making air soon. Unclear whether "Happyish" will be making air. He was also involved in directing his second movie and had just recently gotten Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal to sign on to a new movie.
You heard Nischelle Turner, entertainment correspondent, report earlier that so many actors felt like he was an actor's actor. And he is someone that everyone felt would kind of raise their game when they worked alongside him whether it was a small role, a significant role, but there was something about what he brought to the set, what he would bring to the stage.
And that his loss is a tragic one. He's been very public over the years about his struggle with the demons of addiction and more recently last year saying he was falling off the wagon and that's why he put himself back in rehab.
We're going to have much more on the untimely death of this 46-year- old actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. We are going to follow the developments in the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, dead at the age of 46. His body found in his West Village apartment earlier today. Police saying that they believe that materials believed to be heroin were located as well as other drug paraphernalia.
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And that a needle was found in his left arm. We know that he has been struggling and he has made it public business that he's been struggling with addiction for much of his life. He even said that he fell off the wagon last year. Put himself into rehab but now we understand that his death just might be caused by a drug overdose, according to those who are close to the investigation right now.
His body still remains in his West Village apartment and authorities continue to comb that apartment looking for any kind of evidence, any more information that would help reveal how he acquired drugs and how his death came about and at what time.
We're going to continue to follow the developments involving the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman.
We're also following other news at this hour. This is Super Bowl Sunday and kick off for the Super Bowl is just under two hours away now.
Our Rachel Nichols is at MetLife Stadium.
Rachel, a lot of pressure on the quarterbacks there. And of course we know with this very sad news it is sending quite the ripple through the stadium there and beyond. But give us an idea how people are trying to focus on the game now right now.
RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN'S SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, I mean, here-- it's Super Bowl Sunday here, I think that it's such a constant in American life that even when there's tragic around tragic news that people know that this is -- the show goes on here and this happened in many other instances and it will happen tonight.
WHITFIELD: All right, talk to me about Peyton Manning, the pressure on him perhaps and even Russell Wilson?
NICHOLS: Yes, absolutely. Look this is Peyton Manning's third Super Bowl. But this trip, a lot more harder than the other two. Two years ago Peyton Manning underwent several neck surgeries. There is a point he was worried he would never be able to throw the football downfield again. He recovered from that and then of course had to go from Indianapolis to Denver. Not easy for a guy like Peyton Manning who is very much a creature of habit.
And he talked this week about just how difficult it was but just how ready he feels now for this Super Bowl. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEYTON MANNING, DENVER BRONCOS QUARTERBACK: I feel a lot well that I feel more comfortable this year than I did last year. Last year I felt like a visitor the entire time like, you know, that locker was just kind of mine for -- you know, for these couple of months. And I didn't -- in the -- it wasn't the Broncos. The Broncos made me feel as welcomed as they possibly could, but I just felt -- you feel like an outsider.
And I think it's probably because I was entrenched in one organization for so long, you can't just transition right away. This year, I can't tell you how much more comfortable I feel. I'm proud to be a Denver Bronco right now and proud to be in the Super Bowl representing the Broncos.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLS: And Peyton also talked this week about how he is playing this Super Bowl in part for his brother. Not his brother Eli, who we all know, of course, is the quarterback of the New York Giants. He's got two Super Bowl rings of his own already. But for their older brother Cooper Manning.
You know the three boys were the sons of Archie Manning, NFL quarterback for the Saints, and Cooper in fact was the one who showed the most promise at a young age. Everyone thought he would be the football hero. But when he was in -- late in high school, he was diagnosed with a spinal condition, and had to quit the sport, and Peyton said that Cooper hasn't been bitter. He's been so supportive of him.
You'll see him during the broadcast in the stands tonight. And Peyton says he wants to win this ring in part for Cooper Manning.
WHITFIELD: That's so nice. Well, you know, I love the stories behind the big story and thanks so much for bringing that to us.
Rachel Nichols, we're going to check back with you momentarily. And you're bundled up. I know it's cold but maybe not as cold as people were afraid it might be.
(LAUGHTER)
You're staying warm, right?
NICHOLS: Yes. I've got to tell you that this -- there is, of course, everyone thought this has got to be the coldest Super Bowl ever. Ah- ah.
WHITFIELD: No.
NICHOLS: Super Bowl VI in New Orleans, balmy New Orleans --
WHITFIELD: That's right.
NICHOLS: Thirty-nine degrees at kickoff. Right now 54 degrees here at MetLife Stadium. So hey --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Borderline balmy.
NICHOLS: We're going to break out the palm trees soon.
WHITFIELD: Yes. I see. It's as if it were in Miami or something.
All right, Rachel. Thanks so much.
NICHOLS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Let's check in with Jennifer Gray, she's got the Super Bowl forecast for us.
JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Fred, Phil the Groundhog is not a very popular creature this afternoon because yes, he did see his shadow which only means six more weeks of winter.
Twitter was blowing up about this early this morning. And he may have some truths to this because we are seeing this winter storm push across to the east. Should bring a little bit of snow, maybe even ice to the northeast as of Monday morning.
That's quickly going to push out. But look at this. Another winter storm right on its heels and this next one will be impacting the Midwest and then also the lower Mississippi River Valley as we go through Monday afternoon into Tuesday, and especially into Wednesday.
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This is 2:00 in the morning and you can see more snow for Chicago. And we are going to see a lot of snow in the Ohio Valley as well. That's going to push out and leaving quite a bit of snow. Some of the computer models suggesting anywhere from eight to 12 inches of snow right outside of Chicago. So we could see quite a bit from this. Also Detroit could see more snow.
These areas have seen some of their snowiest winters on record so far, and it is still coming down -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Gosh. All right. This is a tough winter. All right, thank you so much, Jennifer.
All right, we're going to in a moment leave our Super Bowl coverage and return to our top story. That is the death of an actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman. And we'll be joined by Dr. Drew Pinsky to help us understand -- better understand addiction and what can result.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Back to our top story today. Philip Seymour Hoffman has struggled with addiction for much of his life. This morning his lifeless body was found in his West Village, New York, apartment. Dead at the age of 46.
Let's bring Dr. Drew Pinsky, an addiction specialist and host of HLN's "DR. DREW ON CALL."
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So, Dr. Drew, glad you can make it into the studio there. You know, in 2006 Hoffman talked very publicly about being in rehab for alcohol addiction and then more recently he reportedly went into treatment for abusing pills and then saying apparently a week of heroin use.
Describe what this -- what has been a lifelong battle for him and so many people living with addiction, can relate, but describe for us what this battle is all about even when someone says they think they've been clean for a while.
DR. DREW PINSKY, HOST, HLN'S DR. DREW ON CALL: Right. Well --
WHITFIELD: You know, falling off the wagon is still a big reality.
PINKSY: Well, let's sort of frame it this way. A, addiction, particularly heroin addiction, is a commonly fatal illness. We've gotten better at treating it but it's still commonly fatal. What I was telling my patients who were struggling with it early in life is that if this becomes a chronic problem and you don't deal with this you're not going to see 50.
Now we don't know in Philip Seymour Hoffman's case whether it has been a chronic problem or one that he had great success in recovery, which we are hearing, and then relapsed more recently. That -- the second relapse later in life after long periods of sobriety is a very treacherous group. The disease of addiction takes full advantage of all their knowledge in recovery. So there is that issue.
The really amazing thing is that he died of heroin and not pills because these days if somebody has a history of opiate pill use, that's what they die of, not heroin. The old fashioned way was a hot shot with the needle in the arm. We don't see that so much these days. Unfortunately that's what happened in the case of Philip Seymour Hoffman. It appears.
And then finally, this is what we've got to keep in mind. Just because he had a chronic fatal illness does not diminish the man, his contribution or the glory of his talent. You've got to separate these two things. Certainly they overlap in terms of what he pulled upon for his performances but the fact is, he had a medical illness like a malignancy, like a cancer that was going to kill him, and it eventually did, and that's true of opiate addiction generally and particularly heroin.
WHITFIELD: And even though he was very public about his addiction, if you were working alongside him, I mean, you -- you're looking at the photographs here of the many people from Violet Davis to Meryl Streep, you know, people who have worked alongside him. Would it be difficult for someone to be able to detect whether there is an existing problem?
PINKSY: Yes. Opiates are hidden easily for the most part. It's just that over time the choices and the behaviors and the consequences start to unravel. But opiate addiction is frequently a hidden condition -- a hidden addiction.
The other thing is that the thing that takes actors and performers down more than anything else is they don't take enough time away from their work and focus on their recovery. And if you remember Robert Downey in his struggles, he kept trying to go back to work. He finally said forget it, I'm leaving work, I'm not even contemplating coming back, and how he was unable to come back with a great recovery and a great career. Unfortunately that happens all too early.
WHITFIELD: And then most recently, you know, Cory Monteith, you know, the actor of "Glee." His death is connected to heroin use. What does this tell you about the use of heroin, that this comeback that heroin has been a party to.
PINKSY: Yes.
WHITFIELD: It seems that, you know, heroin was kind of the drug of the 70s but now it's back in a very different way.
PINKSY: That's right.
WHITFIELD: Is it taking a different kind of toll on those who are users of it than in the '70s?
PINKSY: No. No. I mean, heroin addiction is going to kill you. It has -- the heroin itself isn't what kills you, although it can and in a situation like this where you stop breathing. But typically it's the injection that causes chronic medical problems and infectious diseases. That sort of thing.
But if he is a little different conditions these days because there is a crossover between heroin and pills. People that are heroin addicts eventually end up on pills. And the pills are usually what killed them. The pill is what they start with. The pills cost too much so they can't get access to them.
The heroin is easier to access, cheaper to access, that's why most people that start with pills go to heroin these days, and I will tell you my experience that's the majority of patients on heroin and then they go back and forth between the two, and as usual as I said, the pills are usually what kill heroin addicts.
WHITFIELD: And then talk to me about this access of heroin. I mean, is this easy, accessible, easy for people to get?
PINKSY: Easy. Easy. That's why I'm stunned that you're making a news story out of -- we're going to track down who sold him the stuff. It's right outside his house, I guarantee you. It's somewhere nearby. It's all over the place as is so many drugs and are the pills. They're on the street, too.
We -- you know, the pill thing concerns me more because I really see that as the core issue on our society. We become so preoccupied with pills and taking pills to cure every problem, and that we don't understand the addictive potential for some people.
WHITFIELD: All right. Dr. Drew Pinsky, thank you so much for expertise. Appreciate that.
PINKSY: You bet.
WHITFIELD: We're going to have much more on the untimely death of this fine actor. We'll be going back to New York right outside his apartment building in Lower Manhattan. And we'll be checking in with our Alexandra Field. Right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
<16:38:28>
WHITFIELD: Breaking news this afternoon from Hollywood to Broadway. People are mourning the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, considered one of the greatest talents of his generation. The 46-year-old was found dead in this New York apartment. The victim of an apparent drug overdose. Police say he was found with a needle in his arm. And investigators found at least two bags of what is believed to be heroin.
CNN's Alexandra Field joining me now from New York outside his apartment there in Lower Manhattan.
So Alexandra, what else do we know about Hoffman's death and what's next in this investigation? FIELD: Now this is an investigation that, you know, will stretch into the night. We're actually just now seeing right down this street what appears to be a second crime scene unit from the NYPD pulling up another crime scent unit arrived here about an hour ago. And we have seen forensic investigators coming into and out of the apartment.
We've also seen the NYPD patrolman out here keeping the tracks back, and we have seen a number of other plainclothes investigators who've been going inside and outside of that building where Philip Seymour Hoffman was found this morning we're told in the bathroom of his 4th floor apartment.
We're learning a little but more now about this apartment in particular we're told that he Philip Seymour Hoffman had been living here, following a visit to rehab that prior to moving into this apartment and visiting rehab, he had lived here in the West Village in a different apartment with his family. This is where he was now staying separate from family.
We do know, though, that he had plans to see his children this morning. He never made those plans. We know that he was last seen around 8:00 last night. People here in the neighborhood are continuing to come out. You can't see them behind me because are really keeping them at bay. There are a number of investigators on the scene. There's a large crush of media out there. So they're keeping neighbors and onlookers a bit further down the street.
But what's interesting here is that just everyone you talk to in West Village really has a story of having seen or sat next to Philip Seymour Hoffman or interacted with him in some way. This isn't the kind of celebrity who, you know, you knew lived in the neighborhood but you didn't really see them, that he isn't somebody who is being, you know, according to them, chauffeured around in a car.
One man told me that he would often see him just riding his bike through the neighborhood, usually with a Knicks hat on or down by the river playing with this children, eating out a lot at the local restaurant. You know, the way that this person described it, some of a -- just sort of casual neighborhood place. Just never really putting on air. Never really having entourage around him.
I want to bring in one of our CNN producers, Rose Arce, who's had similar experience.
Rose, tell us what you know about Philip Seymour Hoffman. You have children who are in the same school as his children. How did he seem as a parent?
ROSE ARCE, CNN PRODUCER: He was the most regular parent you can imagine. It's almost surreal to see this kind of police attention at his home because even though he was a big Hollywood star you never saw photographers and crowds around and he would ride around the neighborhood, he put his kid on his bike and take them to school. You know, drop the kids off and give them kisses and say hello to people.
He'd hang out in the local restaurants. He'd be in the playground with his children. He was very much a part of this community. I don't think people thought of him as being anything all that. Especially because he didn't act like a guy that was special. It was only when he was approached by somebody he didn't know. It was all -- you know, this celebrity thing or pushed it too hard that he would kind of back off.
He wasn't a guy who liked that attention. You know? I do remember that when he won his Oscar and he showed up at the school for the first time people were like yes, congratulations. You know. But it was almost like they were congratulating, like, a friend. Like, oh my neighbor did something good. That sort of thing. That's it.
The thing that most stood out about him is that ever since his kids were little, he walked in school, he went to the local public school. He wasn't, you know, shy. It wasn't like someone who kept them away from the public.
FIELD: He almost had this -- a different life than this really critically acclaimed actor who, you know, everyone felt like they knew him from seeing him on screen and in so many movies. But what's interesting about him, really, as a celebrity, it seems to be the fact that he -- it seems that he had a particular interest in the community, in the school itself, that he was involved in this way?
ARCE: Yes, absolutely. This was a man who was involved in the community to the point that he had public opinions about development in the community and like what was happening with the school. He was -- he was just such a member of the neighborhood. You know, you'd see him walking around. There's a lot of other Hollywood celebrities that live around this neighborhood, you don't really see them in the neighborhood.
You know, the car pulls up, occasionally you'll see them walking around. There's a few that have walked their kids but to private schools. He was different. He was, you know, just any other guy. And I do know that all these people that around here, these people now with his wife and children, they feel as if a friend died. It's not like a celebrity in their neighborhood died. It's a guy they knew.
It's a guy whose home they went to for play dates. It's a guy who played, you know, with a ball with his boy.
FIELD: By all accounts, Rose, thank you. As someone who seemed to be approachable, I know it's the experience that Rose had. It's also the experience that a lot of people here in this neighborhood are telling us.
You know, they don't consider themselves necessarily friends, Philip Seymour Hoffman, but we have seen neighbors and other people who live in the area just sort of coming out, wiping their tears and feeling this loss because he was such a friendly face. To give you an update on what's going on in the scene right now, the medical examiner is up in the apartment where Philip Seymour Hoffman's body remains. She did come down briefly and then returned to the apartment. We also have seen forensic investigators in those white forensic suits coming into and out of that crime scene unit which you can see right there.
And as we reported to you just a couple of minutes ago, a second NYPD crime scene unit also now on scene. A number of investigators guarding the front door where neighbors are being asked to show I.D. before they can return to this apartment building which is now at the center of so much focus for really that reason -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. Very sad. Thank you so much, Alexandra Field.
We'll have much more of our coverage of the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, dead at the age of 46, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
<16:48:10>
WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Let's catch you up on some of the other news of the day.
Florida's fight against prescription drug abuse may have taken a big hit. We're talking about hundreds of criminal drug cases that might have to be tossed out. And law enforcement are pointing a finger at one of their own.
CNN's Nick Valencia reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than 2,000 criminal cases at risk of being thrown out or overturned. A Pensacola, Florida, chemist accused of swapping out drug lab evidence with over-the-counter aspirin.
GERALD BAILEY, FDLE COMMISSIONER: It could be personal use, it could be trafficking, it could be each of those. We don't know.
VALENCIA: This is significant. A Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman told CNN, "We've never had to undertake something like this before."
The investigation spans 35 counties across the state of Florida. In all 2600 cases over the past eight years, all of them potentially impacted because of alleged evidence tampering.
BAILEY: Our first priority is to find out exactly what happened in this particular case and work with the state attorneys to hold this person criminally accountable.
VALENCIA: The investigation began last week when the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and state attorney noticed missing prescription pain pills from the evidence room. Instead, the drugs were replaced with over-the-counter medication. Florida's attorney general says the situation underlines the extent of prescription drug abuse in the United States.
"Our battle against prescription drug abuse in Florida has been very successful over the last three years. And I will not tolerate any actions that compromise our continued success in ridding our state of this problem."
VALENCIA: Not all of the 2600 cases were drug related but they will all be reviewed just to make sure that the chemist didn't allegedly tamper with any other evidence. Now law enforcement officials tell me that he's been removed from duty and he's hired an attorney. Charges are pending.
<16:50:02>
Nick Valencia, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Nick.
We're going to have much more on the untimely death of a revered actor after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: More now on the death of Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman found dead in his Manhattan apartment today.
Let's bring in Bradley Jacobs, senior editor of "Us Weekly."
Bradley, you have interviewed Philip Seymour Hoffman twice and met him several times. You also live just a few blocks from Hoffman's home.
First off, you know, what can you tell us about this incredible actor with such a range of talent?
BRADLEY JACOBS, SENIOR EDITOR, "US WEEKLY": He was really best known for playing characters, you know, I mean he did win a Best Actor Oscar for playing one of the greatest characters of all time, Truman Capote. So that wouldn't be a surprise.
He did not like singing in particular. I don't think he ever went into it. He was really more of a stage actor than a movie star. That's (INAUDIBLE) why he lived in New York and preferred living here in Manhattan. He would go to L.A. for movie roles and that's how he became most well known. But he was a quiet and unassuming person.
I have seen him around a lot riding his bike, wearing a baseball cap, just trying to blend in like any other member of downtown New York community. He would pick his kids at school nearby and walk them home.
<16:55:03>
You know, it really spoke to kind of the life that he wanted to live. Of course he did still want to be an actor and he loved performing. But it was really New York that kind of his home more than L.A.
WHITFIELD: And in your interviews of him, was it mostly about roles or did you really delve into him as a person, his life, the conflicts in his life?
JACOBS: No. He did not like speaking about himself at all. I think he expressed himself really through his role when you think about, you know, the very role that he played, "A Scent of a Woman," "The Talented Mr. Ripley," as frat boy in "The Talented Mr. Ripley."
WHITFIELD: Yes.
JACOBS: He was a gay guy in a number of times in a number of movies. He was a villain, you know, just recently, in the "Hunger Games" movies. He was a -- bad guy that became a good guy. He was -- he just loved those deep, intense characters, that's I think where he found his true calling.
WHITFIELD: Did it seem like --
JACOBS: Extremely private, did not like talking about his family. You know, he had three children, we barely knew that he had children. And so he just -- you know, he liked to keep that part of himself extremely private.
WHITFIELD: And did it seem like he was looking for something in particular or certain character flaw, you know, in these types of roles that he would gravitate toward? Was there a real common denominator, I guess I'm asking, in these roles that he would reach out?
JACOBS: Well, clearly, you know, he battled addictions, you know, it's still unclear completely why he died, this happened, but it looks -- looking like it was a drug overdose and he spent some time in rehab last year. You know, he was a dark person inside and I think he probably, you know, wasn't looking to get at that some of those dark demons in some of his role.
He was probably a person who likes to delve very deep into his roles, dive into those to sort of become somebody else for a little while, to try to maybe escape from his more personal problem and things that he couldn't get over. You know, drug addiction, as we all know, is more spirit than almost anyone knows. And very, very difficult to break. And it doesn't matter if you have an Oscar and tons of money and fame and excess. A drug addiction is a drug addiction. And no matter who you are, it's very difficult to kick and can -- it's just very dark time.
WHITFIELD: And Bradley, can you help us understand kind of his path of acting? I mean, you reminded us of, you know, "The Talented Mr. Ripley," his role in that. We know more recently he's been in "The Savages", and along the way "Ides of March", "Big Lebowski," "Boogie Nights," I mean, incredible range of films.
And it seems as though given this litany of films that he's been involved in, it's hard to believe that he was just 46. When in the world did he get started in these roles on the film?
JACOBS: Yes, well, actually, I was just reading the piece that I did on him over 10 years ago, and since he moved up to L.A. pretty fast after graduating college. He went to NYU, studied drama here, but then moved up to L.A. and did the usual, you know, few auditions here, some theater there. And he got hired as a prep school snitch in "Scent of a Woman", an Al Pacino movie.
And, you know, he told me at the time he was very excited about it. It was such an interesting part. It had so many great scenes. And it just went on from there for him. And, you know, obviously he had great taste. He wanted to be that crazy, closeted bad guy in "Boogie Night," you know, he wanted to play the unhappy (INAUDIBLE) in "Happiness." He -- you know, he wanted to play the devil if you will in "Red Dragon" or whatever he was in that.
He wanted to play a drag queen in "Love Liza." He was just -- you know, he just really like out-there characters on the margins. He never ever once saw him go for a leading man role. He never ever wanted saw him go for some comedy, you know, just for laughs or for a paycheck. He once played those guys who were -- you know, on the outskirts of society. That seems to be where he's found the richness.
WHITFIELD: Bradley Jacobs, thank you so much for your perspective. Of "Us Weekly." We appreciate it.
And we'll have much more right after this.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
WHITFIELD: All right. Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM. This breaking story we continue to follow for you this afternoon.
Oscar-winning actor, he is dead and the show business community is reeling with shock and sadness.
<16:59:56>
That Oscar-winning actor right there, Philip Seymour Hoffman, just 46 years old. He won the Academy Award for that film, portraying Truman Capote in 2005. He was found dead today shortly before noon inside his New York City apartment. An autopsy will be performed tomorrow.
