Maker|Changer

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s passing has left such a sad mark on our country. He was one of Maker|Changer’s of this world- I’m so grateful for his work and so sad to see him pass too soon. The quote from Willy Wonka (well, really from O’Shaughnessy) always comes to mind when I think about individuals that truly light the world with their artistry, “We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams”. To lose such a brilliant artist to drugs is a scary and sad reminder that the drug problem is rampant.  I don’t want to dive too deep into addiction here but instead want to remember and celebrate Hoffman and his remarkable life’s work.

I always thought that Hoffman would be one of our National Treasures carrying the drama torch well into his octogenarian years, winning the Kennedy Center Honor, gracing the silver screen and New York stages and most importantly challenging and entertaining his audiences. But he is gone too soon. He used to live directly upstairs from my best friend Amy in the West Village, just across the street from Corner Bistro. I used to see him out on the stoop in the late 90s just after he hit big with Boogie Nights. He remained in that small apartment well into his early success and seemed like such a nose-to-the-grindstone, grounded New Yorker to me. He always had that half-smile twinkle revealing that so much more was going on in that head of his.  He was a force.

I wanted to share this interview from 2008 with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross. I found it very insightful and interesting to hear him talk about his addiction. He doesn’t so much divulge, but the way he talks about one glass of wine versus the entire bottle is illuminating. I wish there was a better system of treatment for personalities with addictive tendencies. It seems that it is such a mind over matter battle and the matter usually wins. Knowing people with addiction problems myself, his death really hit home. If you are a fan of the late actor’s work, you will enjoy this interview- I love the way he talks about his mother.

RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman

Image: Gabriel Bouys

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