This is a huge loss to the arts. He was one of the good guys, and the kind of presence that inspired worthwhile work throughout the arts. Big big loss. He was a quite brilliant actor. His performance in The Master is as great a piece of screen acting as I've ever seen.
Even though he had a past with Heroin, I think he might have died of a heart attack. He was always overweight and I just watched an interview with him done about 2 weeks ago and he really had that bloated fat, red face and neck that I've seen on people that eventually die of heart attacks. A neighbor of mine had it and Gandolfini had it too. John Goodman used to have it really bad during the Roseanne years and now it sort of comes and goes with him. It's sad. Whatever the cause, may he rest in peace and I mourn for his children and family.
He was a phenomenally engaging actor, from the first time I saw him in SCENT OF A WOMAN with Al Pacino, as one of Chris O'donnell's college buddies. He really stood out in that movie and you could just tell that this new kid was going to do great stuff. Also really loved him in THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY and I'll always be jealous of him getting to Doggy Style Marisa Tomei live on camera in BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD. Glad he won an Oscar for CAPOTE.
Really loved him in DOUBT with Meryl Streep. He was a Character Actor and such a successful non-pretty boy great actor.
Very sad. If it was drugs, what a tragedy that a great successful career and beautiful family could not overpower a snort for a high. What a waste.
My heart goes out to his beautiful children seen in this video:
This guy got what he wanted, had his own production company, was consistently getting work.
Was he bored?
Oh well. What matters is how we feel about ourselves on the inside. And only we can continue that, or change.
But looking for things outside ourselves to feel better is an unrelenting, ultimately pointless search.
So true and so sad. This one hits me a lot harder than a lot of other past ones because I was really looking forward to seeing what he does. His roles tend on the artsy side now but they are always engaging. Even though I didn't really like The Master the acting made it worth watching (and the gorgeous film they used).
This is tragic and so sad. I recall his quirky comedic role in Along Came Polly. My heart aches for his three young children and their mother. What a loss.
Really, really sad. Just yesterday I watched a news story about a very dangerous heroin hybrid mix that has hit the streets. Apparently Phillip had managed to stay 'clean' for a long time, until recently. He will be missed.
