The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman in February this year came as a huge shock for everyone. In a career spanning more than 20 years, Hoffman’s contribution to film is unmistakable and unforgettable. For many of us, the first time Hoffman really registered was in his Oscar winning role as Truman Capote in Capote. He was an actor who truly immersed himself in each character that he played, and one of few who could portray both like-able and despised characters with equal verve and believability. Whatever the first movie was that brought your attention to Hoffman, I feel as though I’m constantly coming across films that I’ve enjoyed in the past and remarking that ‘I never realised he was in this!’

Other than Capote, he was most well known for his supporting roles, just a small selection of which include:

Twister, 1996 – Hoffman plays the rather rough but totally lovable Dustin Davis in this fun action film, and it had a whole generation of kids wanting to become storm chasers.

Patch Adams, 1998 – This is one of my favorite of Hoffman’s roles – he plays sour stick-in-the-mud so well. If Patch practiced excessive happiness, then Hoffman’s Mitch practiced excessive taking-himself-too-seriously-ness. But even Mitch isn’t immune to Patch’s charms.

The Talented Mr Ripley, 1999 – Freddie Miles is the only character in this film that is smart enough to know not to trust Tom Ripley. Again, not an overly likable character, but he has you wishing people would just trust his instincts.

Charlie Wilson’s War, 2007 – Gust Avrakotos is a maverick CIA agent who helps Charlie Wilson recognize the plight of the Afghan people. Together they use somewhat unconventional methods to help Afghanistan defeat the Soviet Union.

Doubt, 2008 – This film is brilliant and disturbing – Hoffman plays a charismatic priest who wants to shake things up a bit at St Nicholas in the Bronx. Meryl Streep plays Sister Aloysious Beauvier who is very resistant to change – she will stop at nothing to keep things the same. This film leaves you in doubt even after it’s conclusion.

Mary & Max, 2009 – Hoffman provides fantastic voice work for this touching claymation about an unlikely friendship between an eight year old Melbourne girl named Mary and a 44 year old New Yorker with Aspergers named Max.

The Boat That Rocked (Pirate Radio), 2009 – Almost every Richard Curtis film has ‘the American’ – Four Weddings and a Funeral has Andie MacDowell, Notting Hill has Julia Roberts, and Love Actually has Laura Linney. Hoffman fills the role of ‘the American’ in this one, and he fills it well. This is one of my favorites – fabulous cast, fun story, and unbeatable soundtrack.

The Ides of March, 2011 – An intriguing political drama in which Hoffman plays the senior campaign manager for Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney).

The film industry has lost one of its brightest stars, in my opinion. Not a star for the sake of being a star, or famous for being famous – he was a genuine and charismatic talent who’s been lost far too soon.