Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his fourth-floor apartment at the Greenwich Village in New York City on Sunday,
In a report by Reuters, the New York police described his death as an apparent drug overdose. Investigators found Hoffman with a syringe stuck in his arm, and recovered what was suspected to be heroin in small plastic bags inside his apartment.
Hoffman has admitted to substance abuse in the past. His partner, Mimi O'Donnell and his three children issued a statement through his publicist saying, "[we] are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone."
They also added, "this is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grieving. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers."
Lionsgate, the studio that produced "The Hunger Games", said in a statement that the late actor is "one of the most gifted actors of our generation. We're very fortunate that he graced our 'Hunger Games' family. Losing him in his prime is a tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Philip's family."
Hoffman took on the role of Plutarch Heavensbee in "The Hunger Games" franchise's second, and supposed third and fourth installments. His death does not push back the release date of the third and fourth films, however, as he had already finished shooting "virtually all of his scenes for [The Hunger Games: Mockingjay] Part 1 save for one in which he did not play a significant role," a source for the Wall Street Journal said.
For Part 2, he was reported to only have a week left of shooting, thereby requiring only modest rewriting on the film's script.
Despite working on supporting roles for most his career, save for his role in "Capote", Philip Seymour Hoffman was, according to The Guardian, "nonetheless widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation."