Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman mourned at funeral in New York

Academy Award winner was found dead at his home in Manhattan

The casket carrying actor Philip Seymour Hoffman leaves the funeral service (Getty Images)

Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett and Joaquin Phoenix were all among the mourners present to pay their respects to celebrated actor Philip Seymour Hoffman on Friday, as his funeral was held in New York.

The service began at around midday at the Church of St Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue, which has previously held funerals for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lena Horne and the singer Aaliyah.

Among Hoffman’s friends from the acting fraternity to attend were Ethan Hawke, with whom he starred in Sidney Lumet’s 2007 drama Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead; Amy Adams, who appeared alongside Hoffman and Phoenix in The Master (2012); and Michelle Williams, who acted with him in Synecdoche, New York in 2008. Others arriving at the church included Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Ellen Burstyn, Brian Dennehy, John Slattery, Louis CK and Spike Lee.

Hoffman, who was 46, was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 2006 for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote in the biopic, Capote. He also earned three Tony nominations for his stage work, including the 2012 Broadway production of Arthur Miller’s Death of A Salesman, in which he played the titular salesman, Willy Loman. Mike Nichols, who directed that production, arrived at the funeral with his wife, ABC news anchor Diane Sawyer.

Hoffman was open about his struggle with drug addiction, a habit he was thought to have kicked for 23 years until he reportedly admitted himself to rehab in 2012. He was found dead in his Greenwich Village apartment on Sunday of an apparent heroin overdose. Playwright David Bar Katz, who discovered Hoffman’s body, appeared overcome with emotion as he entered the church.

Three people were arrested this week on drug charges related to the investigation into Hoffman’s death, including session musician Robert Vineberg, 57, who was charged with possessing heroin with intent to sell. Vineberg’s lawyer insists he had nothing to do with Hoffman’s death.

The actor leaves behind his long-term partner Mimi O’Donnell and their three children. A larger memorial service is expected to take place later this month.

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