Private Funeral for Hoffman in New York
Friends and relatives of Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman gathered in New York for his private funeral Friday, five days after he was found dead of a suspected overdose.
The mass was closed to the public and press at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue, which also held the 1994 funeral of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the wife of assassinated U.S. president John F. Kennedy.
Hoffman, 46, who was hailed by many as the finest character actor of his generation, was found dead on Sunday of an apparent heroin overdose at his rented Manhattan apartment.
He leaves behind his estranged partner, Mimi O'Donnell, and three young children.
In a career spanning more than 20 years and 50 films, Hoffman mesmerized filmgoers with his portrayal of some of the most repellent and yet electrifying characters of the silver screen.
He won as Oscar for his portrayal of author Truman Capote in the 2006 film "Capote" and won three further Academy Award nominations as best supporting actor in 2008, 2009 and 2013.
Police and dozens of cameramen and photographers gathered outside the church hours before the funeral was to begin.
But only those on the guest list were authorized to enter the imposing bronze doors of the Jesuit church founded in 1898.
The church service comes the morning after a private wake for the family, joined by film stars Cate Blanchett, Amy Adams, Joaquin Phoenix and Justin Theroux.
A public memorial service is expected at the end of the month.
The results of an autopsy on Hoffman's body on Monday were inconclusive and medical examiners are awaiting the results of further tests to determine the precise cause of his death.
Police, who suspect a drug overdose as the cause of death, said Hoffman was found with a needle in his arm, and there were 50 envelopes of heroin, syringes and other pills in the apartment.
Three people have been arrested and charged as part of the investigation into Hoffman's death.
The actor, who struggled with fame and addiction, admitted to falling off the wagon in 2012, after two decades of sobriety, starting with prescription pills and escalating to heroin use.
He was last seen on Saturday and O'Donnell raised the alarm when he failed to show up to see his children as planned early Sunday.
She was quoted by U.S. media as saying he was high when she last saw him and spoke with him on Saturday.
Source: Agence France Presse
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