The Hunger Games's Philip Seymour Hoffman, 1967-2014

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

star and Academy Award-winning actor and filmmaker Philip Seymour Hoffman has passed away, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. While Hoffman is one of a number of celebrities whose death is often reported as an Internet hoax, the Journal is quoting New York City law enforcement officials, who say Hoffman was found dead of causes as-yet-unknown in his West Village apartment in Manhattan. They say that the New York Police Department is investigating, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine exact cause of death. Hoffman appeared in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as Plutarch Heavensbee and is expected to reprise that role over the next two years in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2. It will likely not be clear until later in the week whether reshoots will have to take place for Mockingjay. Because of the "celebrity death hoax" meme, the credibility of the report is being called into question by some. A number of news sources, including the credible trade paper Variety, are running the story and quoting the Wall Street Journal as their source. A Twitter account that follows activity on New York police scanners is reporting almost word-for-word the Journal report. Whether that means the NYPD is maintaining a consistent front on this or just that the Journal used a police scanner pickup as their "law enforcement source" isn't clear.

Manhattan: 35 Bethune St Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman 46 years old was found dead in his apt Medical Examiner to determine cause of death. — NY Scanner (@NYScanner) February 2, 2014

Hoffman, who has also appeared in the Mission: Impossible franchise, was long rumored to play The Penguin in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises and has frequently been cited as a fan-favorite in a number of villainous roles. Best known for his serious, dramatic work in films like Magnolia and Almost Famous, Hoffman also worked on a number of comedy projects during his award-winning career, including Strangers With Candy and The Big Lebowski. He also starred in The 25th Hour, the 2002 Spike Lee drama starring The Incredible Hulk's Ed Norton and written by X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Game of Thrones's David Benioff based on his own novel. Currently, the actor is trending on Twitter above the Super Bowl. Hoffman won an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2005 for Capote.