One of Hoffman's earliest major roles in a 1990 episode of the television series Law & Order.
He made his film breakthrough in 1992 when he appeared in four feature films, with the most successful film being Scent of a Woman.

Hoffman has established a successful and respected film career playing diverse and idiosyncratic characters in supporting roles.

He appeared in Last Party 2000, a documentary about the 2000 elections. In 2003, he played the lead role in Owning Mahowny. He has continued to play juicy supporting parts in such films as Cold Mountain, Along Came Polly, and Mission Impossible III.

He has distinguished himself by playing a wide contrast of characters including gay characters (Boogie Nights, Flawless and Capote), lonely losers (Happiness), spoiled rich brats (Scent of a Woman and Talented Mr. Ripley), caring and nurturing figures (Patch Adams, Magnolia and Almost Famous), vicious thugs (Punch-Drunk Love and Mission Impossible III), sensitive artists (State and Main).

Public Name: Philip Hoffman
Birth Name: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Date of Birth: July 23, 1967
Place of Birth: Fairport, New York

Filmography

• Synecdoche, New York (2007)
• Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
• Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)
• The Savages (2007)
• Mission Action: Inside the Action Unit (2006)
• Mission: Impossible III (2006)
• Capote (2005)
• Empire Falls (2005)
• Strangers with Candy (2005)
• Along Came Polly (2004)
• Cold Mountain (2003)
• Mattress Man Commercial (2003)
• Owning Mahowny (2003)
• 25th Hour (2002)
• Red Dragon (2002)
• Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
• Love Liza (2002)
• Almost Famous (2000)
• State and Main (2000)
• The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• Magnolia (1999)
• Flawless (1999)
• Patch Adams (1998)
• Happiness (1998)
• The Big Lebowski (1998)
• Next Stop Wonderland (1998)
• Montana (1998)
• Culture (1998)
• Boogie Nights (1997)
• Twister (1996)
• Sydney (1996)
• The Fifteen Minute Hamlet (1995)
• Nobody's Fool (1994)
• When a Man Loves a Woman (1994)
• The Yearling (1994)
• The Getaway (1994)
• Money for Nothing (1993)
• My Boyfriend's Back (1993)
• Joey Breaker (1993)
• Scent of a Woman (1992)
• Leap of Faith (1992)
• My New Gun (1992)
• Szuler (1992)
• Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole (1991)
• "Law & Order" (1 episode, 1991)

 Awards

• BAFTA Best Actor "Capote" 2006
• Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Best Actor "Capote" 2006
• Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) "Capote" 2006
• Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead "Capote" 2006
• National Society of Film Critics Best Actor "Capote" 2006
• Oscar Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role "Capote" 2006
• Screen Actors Guild Outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role "Capote" 2006
• Boston Film Critics Best Actor "Capote" 2005
• Los Angeles Film Critics Best Actor "Capote" 2005
• The National Board of Review Best Actor "Capote" 2005
• Toronto Film Critics Best Actor "Capote" 2005
• Florida Film Critics Circle Best Ensemble "State and Main" 2000
• Online Film Critics Society Best Supporting Actor "Almost Famous" 2000
• Online Film Critics Society Best Ensemble "Almost Famous" 2000
• Online Film Critics Society Best Ensemble "State and Main" 2000
• Special Outer Critics Circle "True West" 2000
• Golden Satellite Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "Flawless" 1999
• National Board of Review Best Supporting Actor "Magnolia" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" 1999
• Theatre World "True West" 1999
• National Board of Review Best Ensemble Performance "Happiness" 1998