No matter how many years pass, the loss of a talent like Philip Seymour Hoffman is always a hard experience. It’s not just thoughts of the people they’ve left behind that prove haunting, but the knowledge that more from them might have been possible, in a different (better) world. Over the course of his career, though, Hoffman still delivered an incredible range of performances, playing heroes, villains, tragic figures, wise mentors, and complicated celebrities — and he did so across a wide spectrum of film, from the biggest blockbusters of the time to tiny independent films given a wider audience thanks to his presence.

“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you’re uncool.”

Even today, his legacy remains a powerful one. To pay tribute, let’s look back at just 15 of his incredible roles. Many of these aren’t leads — three of his four Oscar nominations were for his work as a supporting actor — but it’s undeniable that his presence in these movies was essential to their power.

— Liz Shannon Miller
Senior Entertainment Editor