Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death was confirmed by New York medical officials to have been entirely accidental.
Hoffman, whose body was found on February 2nd in his Manhattan apartment, had unintentionally overdosed on a deadly mixture of drugs.
The 46-year-old actor was found with a shocking state, with a needle still in his arm and drugs near his body. The police eventually located dozens of packets of unused heroin and prescription drugs, one of which was said to be for the treatment of heroin addiction.
The office of New York’s chief medical examiner officially confirmed Hoffman‘s cause of death as being from “acute mixed drug intoxication”.
The substances revealed to be in Hoffman’s system at the time of death include heroine, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamines.
Turned to Spirit Awards to see tribute to James Gandolofini, Roger Ebert and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. To see Brad Pitt tear up 🙁
— Jojo Pada (@ignitionPR) March 2, 2014
My goodness, the results of the autopsy for Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Died from a mix of heroin, cocaine, amphetamines & psychoactive drugs.
— Max Bretos (@mbretosESPN) February 28, 2014
Friday’s ruling on Hoffman’s untimely death came after a prior autopsy ruled the cause of death “inconclusive”. More tests were said to have been needed, resulting in a more detailed probe.
The tragedy of Hoffman’s death is that the actor had actually been sober for roughly 23 years.
He admitted in an interview that he had entered rehab for drug and alcohol addiction in 1989, at the age of 22. Before that he would use “anything he got his hands on”. Hoffman checked into a treatment center in May 2013 to deal with his relapse.
Despite his struggle with drugs during parts of his life, Hoffman would go on to have an extensive and highly-acclaimed acting career. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his leading role as Truman Capote in “Capote”. He also received three nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
Hoffman had just started to begin making a name for himself as a director and producer.
Hoffman’s death is said to have resulted in several arrests, however charges related to his death were later dismissed. The actor’s funeral was on February 7th.
Image via Wikimedia Commons