Philip Seymour Hoffman died from drug cocktail

NEW YORK, USA – US actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died after taking a cocktail of drugs that included heroin, cocaine and amphetamines, the New York medical examiner’s office said Friday, February 28.

The Oscar-winning star – widely hailed as the finest character actor of his generation – was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on February 2 with a needle still stuck in his arm. He was 46.

The coroner’s office said the death appeared accidental, and that Hoffman had suffered “acute mixed drug intoxication, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine.”

Benzodiazepine, also known as “benzo” or BZD, is a sedative used to treat anxiety or insomnia, but also often improperly used in combination with alcohol and narcotics.

More than 50 sachets of the illegal opiate heroin were foun in Hoffman’s apartment at the time of his death, and he was known to have had problems with addiction in his past.

Hoffman won the Oscar for best actor in 2006 for his title role in Capote and was one of Hollywood’s most respected performers, in both art-house movies and blockbusters.

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 a father of 3 young children. – Rappler.com