Obituary - Philip Seymour Hoffman

I read an obituary written by the NY Times on the untimely death of Oscar-winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman. The actor, 46, was discovered by a friend in his apartment after an apparent drug overdose. A syringe was found in his arm with a supply of heroin nearby. Hoffman had been known to struggle with drug addiction, and, in a 2006 interview with "60 Minutes", said he gave up drugs and alcohol many years earlier. In 2013, Hoffman checked into a rehabilitation program for ten days after a reliance on prescription pills triggered a brief usage of heroin. According to David Bar Katz, the friend who found Hoffman on the 2nd of February, said that Hoffman was "clean and sober, his old self" the week leading up to his death. The rest of the obituary summarizes Hoffman's accomplishments, which consists of over 50 films in the span of 25 years, including big-budget films such as "Mission Impossible: III", "Hunger Games: Catching Fire", and "The Savages." Hoffman was also noted for his time as a director and actor in Off Broadway shows for the Labyrinth Theater Company. The article on this well-rounded and talented actor concluded with some background information on Hoffman's life growing up as well as life with his family during his years of acting. It also added the last project he had been working on, his role as Plutarch Heavensbee in the Hunger Games movies Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, which he had largely completed filming for, but certain steps would have to be taken to ensure his role was filled.

All in all, this obituary was a fine example. Not only was it about someone well-known, but it also followed the basic format and flow of a simple obituary. First, the obituary included the name and a recognizable title for the deceased. Next, the age of the deceased was noted, as was the time and place of death. After that, the cause of death is explained in a little more detail, clearing up any questions the reader might have. Once that information is included, some background information is added to give the reader some inside knowledge of whom they are reading about. To wrap up, like all obituaries, the survivors were listed.

To summarize it simply, here is the essential obituary information found in the article:

• Name: Philip Seymour Hoffman
• Identification: Oscar-winning actor
• Age: 46
• Day/place of death: Sunday, February 2nd/apartment
• Cause of death: Drug overdose
• Birth date/Birthplace: July 23, 1967 in Fairport NY
• Background: Actor/director/Broadway
• Survivors: Wife and 2 children
• Funeral/burial information: Not mentioned