It seems beyond belief, but today marks a decade since the world of film lost the brilliant Philip Seymour Hoffman. He was only 46.

We do think one of the biggest losses for Hollywood in recent memory is his death. As he was capable of taking any film and making it memorable, even if the film wasn’t particularly great.

A real shame, but there’s no hiding from the incredible talent of the man. That means we’re taking a look at some of our favourite performances from him.

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Very Best Performances

The below films are all excellent, highlighting the status of Hoffman across most of his career. He was essential to many major productions and many top directors.

We must note, we’ve left off a huge batch of other roles he had (such as his run as the villain Owen Davian in Mission Impossible III from 2006). A real talent! And one to remember as one of the best actors from his generation.

Capote

This 2005 biographical drama film was about Truman Capote. Specifically, about his decision to write classic crime work In Cold Blood (1966).

For the role, Hoffman lost a bunch of weight and mastered Capote’s mannerisms. The film was critically acclaimed worldwide, especially for Hoffman’s performance. Cripes, he really immersed himself into that one. Amazing stuff.

An excellent film, too, that ended up being a surprise decent hit. The performance also bagged Hoffman an Oscar for Best Actor. That ensured he could branch out into bigger projects afterward.

Doubt

Set alongside co-star Meryl Streep, Doubt (2008) is a riveting time of it. Really, a fantastic film and we think it doesn’t get enough praise.

It isn’t showy. There are few major locations, it just comes down to Streep’s Sister Aloysius Beauvier and Hoffman’s Father Brendan Flynn duking it out for supremacy.

Hoffman’s task was to intelligently portray this man, whom Sister Beauvier has convinced herself he’s a sexual deviant. She goes about a personal crusade against him, despite having no evidence.

Streep and Hoffman were both brilliant here (no big surprise). And that’s what makes Doubt special! Two generational actors squaring off against each other.

The Master

One of Hoffman’s last films, this was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (the pair worked together on several occasions).

Hoffman starred as Lancaster Dodd, a charismatic cult leader. Many viewers saw an unmistakable connection with Hoffman’s character and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Although the film was a box office flop (surprisingly, given the all-star cast), once again Hoffman was just amazing in it.

As Dodd he had all the charisma of a cult leader, plus the personality flaws. Including exploding into rages when probed too far with prying questions.

Mary and Max

During a rare foray into voiceover work, Hoffman provided brilliant vocal skills to Max in Mary and Max (2009).

This excellent, and very clever, Australian independent production is about two misfits. They strike up a pen pal friendship, with Hoffman portraying the autistic and vulnerable Max Jerry Horowitz.

Using a lethargic vocal style, it’s entirely convincing. Many people could watch the film and have no idea it was Hoffman! But it was. And he was brilliant—this time in understated fashion.

Along Came Polly

Although he was famous for his dramatic performances, Hoffman could also handle comedy with cool aplomb. In 2004’s Along Came Polly (starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston in the lead roles), Hoffman kind of stole the show.

Here he played Sandford “Sandy” Lyle, a spoiled and exuberant dimwit former child actor. Now clinging to his former successes, he’s a pain in the arse… but a loyal friend to Ben Stiller’s character.

Not the best film ever, but notable for Hoffman’s trip into the world of slapstick.

Punch-Drunk Love

Hoffman had a brilliant, but small, role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s excellent Punch-Drunk Love (2002). This film also includes a quite fantastic performance from Adam Sandler.

Hoffman played sleazy conman Dean “Mattress Man” Trumbell.

Trumbell runs a small mattress business, but also a black market sex phone line he uses to defraud the poor bastards who make the mistake of ringing it.

When things go a little wrong he resorts to shouting, swearing, and other threats to try and intimidate his victims. Lovely fella!

Boogie Nights

Hoffman was brilliant at playing desperate and flawed characters. Here in Boogie Nights (1997), as one of his breakout roles, he had a minor part as Scotty J.

He could portray these people in sympathetic fashion, shifting Scotty from drunk and pathetic to the point you feel sorry for him.

A Few Notes on Hoffman’s Sad Passing

During his formative years, Hoffman had struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism. He was able to curb both and remain abstinent for 23 years after a 1989 spell in rehab.

This was revealed in a 2006 interview with 60 Minutes.

He attributed his successful acting career to controlling his addictions from age 22 onward.

Despite being often a very private individual, he did provide quite a few interviews. The above was recorded in December 2012, although it was rare for him to discuss his personal life. Normally, he talked about whichever film he was starring in. As he put it in 2011:

“The less you know about me the more interesting it will be to watch me do what I do.”

Hoffman’s relapse into drug use began in 2012. The reason why is unclear, with some media sources suggesting it was due to the breakup of his marriage.

However, his wife (Mimi O’Donnell) has said they were set to continue their relationship. Hoffman had just moved out of their home for the time being due to his relapse.

It seems Hoffman was set on getting it under control again. And an apparent period of depression had triggered it off.

In another interview we’ve seen of him he was self-critical, annoyed that press coverage always noted he was a “chubby” actor. And that no one commented that he was cute, merely the “chubby Hoffman”.

These issues can burn away at people, which is always very sad to see. As the reactions to them can be highly self-destructive.

Less than six months after the loss of Hoffman, Robin Williams passed due to suicide. And in June before that, comedy legend Rik Mayall also died suddenly. Prior to that, in December 2013, Michael Schumacher had suffered a serious head injury.

That six-month period was very unpleasant. To lose such talent—a real reminder of the fragility of life.

But it does highlight, behind the talent and celebrity of even the most vaunted individuals, there are vulnerabilities we all experience.