Justin Long and Philip Seymour Hoffman.Photo: Mark Sagliocco/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Justin Longis rememberingPhilip Seymour Hoffmanon the anniversary of his untimely death.
On Thursday,theDodgeballactorpostedtwo throwback photoson Instagram along with a touching tribute to the late actor. Long’s post was on the ninth anniversary of Hoffman’sdeath from a drug overdoseat the age of 46.
“Thinking about Phil Hoffman today,” he wrote. ‘Can’t believe it’s been 9 years…"
Long recalled meeting Hoffman for the first time while working onGalaxy Questwith Hoffman’s buddy,Sam Rockwell.
Long, 44, also revealed just how influential Hoffman was to him as an actor.
“When I was the young eager actor you see in this picture, Phil was an acting god to me - my Meryl Streep or Marlon Brando. He still is. Whenever I’m stuck in a scene I often find myself thinking ‘What would Phil do?’ — it always grounds me in the truth,” Long shared.
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He continued: “When I think of him now I can also still hear his laugh. He’d laugh so hard he’d get a little wheezy and his eyes glistened with emerging tears — full and bold and lacking even a hint of self-consciousness. He laughed the way he acted. Today I’m missing both ❤️.”
Many of Long’s famous friends and followers sent messages of support too, including Jason Biggs, Maggie Q andJeremy Renner— the latter who wrote, “He’s the best ❤️❤️❤️.”
Also on Thursday,FrozenactorJosh Gadposted a tribute to Hoffman.
“Not an anniversary I ever want to remember,” he wrote. “I hate that this man is gone. He is indisputably in the top bracket of greatest Actors of all time. And what’s more, one of the sweetest humans I have ever met. His last words to me were “we need to play brothers.” If only…❤️💔🙏.”
“Miss him dearly,” commentedJosh Brolin. “Knew him since he first became an actor. I watched the whole trajectory. Amazing human being.”
Philip Seymour Hoffman.Jason Merritt/Getty
Hoffman, whose body was found lying on the bathroom floor of his New York City apartment on Feb. 2, 2014, died of an apparent drug overdose, a law enforcement officialconfirmed to PEOPLEat the time.
The actor earned praise throughout his 23-year career for his powerful portrayals of quirky, sometimes ruthless characters in films includingBoogie Nights,MagnoliaandBefore the Devil Knows You’re Dead.His title role in the 2005 filmCapote, as authorTruman Capote, earned him anAcademy Awardfor Best Actor.
Also among his accolades were three additional Oscar nominations in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in filmsDoubt,Charlie Wilson’s WarandThe Master, as well as threeTony Awardnominations.
source: people.com
