Reanimated Lavender Granola Switchblade Nun rides again.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Oh man. Say it's not true.

I am saddened this morning to hear of the death--apparently by heroin overdose--of the great actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. I loved him in "Flawless", "Doubt","Capote" and "Magnolia". Not so much in "Love, Liza", though it was the script, which had him huffing gasoline throughout, and not his acting that I didn't care for. As a recovering person, I'm shattered that such a talented person has died by that familiar demon. I'm grateful to have escaped, one day at a time. I'm sick that this incredible actor didn't.

It's amazing to me how personally connected one can feel to an actor or actress, because something they brought to life resonated in one's heart and soul. Actors and writers do the same thing, don't they; they make tangible those intangible feelings we all have, and give them form we can look at and nod our heads and say, "Yes, that's it." And we feel that we come away with a little piece of truth. A little more humanity.

Goddess rest his soul. He'll be missed.


14 comments:

  1. It's a tragedy and an absolute waste.

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  2. Addiction is a deadly disease as he acknowledged for 22 years. It's also a cunning and baffling disease that takes lives in the relapses that characterize it. Snowblind indeed. And such a sad loss of such a great actor. RIP.

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  3. That was a really excellent clip, Shay--I'm not much of a film buff, and am not familiar with this man's work, but he was obviously talented and unique, and that is one of the hardest things to be in a world of conformity and mass-reproduction. We've lost so many to addiction that had so much to give. So sorry to see another who had so much to offer go down that road. As Neil says in your excellent music clip, there's a little bit of it in all of us, but most of us are able to fight it, or get lucky before it's too late. For some, either the will or the luck run out, sadly.

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  4. I heard it on NPR this morning and was floored. I feel so sad for his family, especially his children. Suicide is a chickenshit way out that only hurts loved ones. Addiction has ruined so many lives..... xo

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  5. One of my favorite actors. Such a shame.

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  6. The last PSH film I saw was "The Savages" .... without a doubt, one of the finest talents on the screen, on stage ever. A tragedy. And a very public reminder of how addiction takes so many precious lives.

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  7. in situations like this, when a versatile talent cannot win over an addiction, we all lose.

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  8. You wrote just how I feel, Shay. He was an incredibly gifted actor. So sad.

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  9. I felt such a flush of sadness when I read about this earlier this morning - so terrible.

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  10. Actors - the truly talented ones, eat, drink, and breath acting. It is their life. To be taken over by a drug like this truly tells one HOW addicting it is. I warn my kids all the time - don't start… ever! Even pot is something to be so very careful of as I really do believe it is a gateway drug. Even alcohol in excess. Sigh. I haven't seen all his movies, but I will be as I am really impressed with various clips I have seen! Thanks for these words, Shay.

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  11. great clip. bummer. every day a demon on the shoulder whispering, whispering... ~

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  12. Thank GOD Neil Young is still with us.

    It's such a shame that PSH's legacy with always end with...

    Tragically died of a heroin overdose in 2014.

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  13. Shay--That song is the exact one I thought of when I heard of his death by heroin.

    I loved him in "Cold Mountain" as well, and his part in "Doubt" was brilliant.

    It's such a waste...

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  14. A brilliant talent. Definitely not one of the dime a dozen as an actor. I got the news on my phone in the AM on Sunday, with a simple statement that he had been found dead. I said out loud: Oh man, I bet he OD'd. My kids are sad because they are fans of the Hunger Games and liked him as Plutarch. A sad day, especially for his family.

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Spirit, what do you wish to tell us?