Profile Text
Hoffman in 2008, photo by Prphotos
Date of Birth: July 23, 1967
Place of Birth: Fairport, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: February 2, 2014
Place of Death: West Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity: Irish, English, German, Dutch, as well as 1/1024th Polish
Philip Seymour Hoffman was an American actor, director, and producer. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Capote (2005). His roles also included the films Triple Bogey on a Par Five Hole , My New Gun , Leap of Faith , Scent of a Woman , Money for Nothing (1993), The Getaway , When a Man Loves a Woman , Nobody’s Fool (1994), Hard Eight , Twister (1996), Boogie Nights , Montana , Next Stop Wonderland , The Big Lebowski , Happiness (1998), Patch Adams , Flawless (1999), The Talented Mr. Ripley , Magnolia , State and Main , Almost Famous , Love Liza , Punch-Drunk Love , Red Dragon , 25th Hour , Owning Mahowny , Cold Mountain , Along Came Polly , Mission: Impossible III , The Savages , Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead , Charlie Wilson’s War , Synecdoche, New York ; Doubt (2008), Mary and Max , The Boat That Rocked , The Invention of Lying , Jack Goes Boating , which he also directed; The Ides of March (2011), Moneyball , The Master (2012), A Late Quartet , The Hunger Games: Catching Fire , God’s Pocket , A Most Wanted Man , and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and 2 ; the made-for-tv movie The Yearling (1994); and the series Liberty! and Empire Falls ; as well as stage performances. He was also billed as Phil Hoffman and Philip S. Hoffman.
Philip was the son of Marilyn O’Connor (née Loucks), a lawyer and family court judge, and Gordon Stowell Hoffman, who worked for Xerox. His brother, Gordy Hoffman, is a screenwriter and director. Philip had three children, including actor Cooper Hoffman , with his partner, costume designer Mimi O’Donnell.
Philip’s paternal grandfather was Gordon Orville Hoffman (the son of Orville Hoffman and Fannie M. Phillips). Philip’s grandfather Gordon was born in New York. Philip’s great-grandfather Orville was born in New York, to German immigrant parents, Johann Adam Hoffman and Barbara Kleinhans. Fannie was the daughter of John E. Phillips and Abbey/Abbie Hapeman.
Philip’s paternal grandmother Geraldine J. Stowell (the daughter of Charles Henry Stowell and Lulu Grant Humes). Geraldine was born in New York, and her ancestry included English and Dutch. Through Gerladine, Philip was also descended from a Polish immigrant named Albrecht Zabriskie, which means that Philip had 1/1024 Polish ancestry. Charles was the son of Charles N. V. Stowell and Lola Mildred Parmenter. Lulu was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Humes and Augusta Margaret Harrison.
Philip’s maternal grandfather was Seymour N. Loucks (the son of Avery Moses Loucks and Nellie E. Darling). Philip’s grandfather Seymour was born in New York. The Loucks family in New York appears to originate with either Dutch or German immigrants. Philip’s maternal grandfather also had English ancestry. Avery was the son of Moses Avery Loucks and Mary Ellen Laub. Nellie was the daughter of Frank Darling and Jennie/Jane A. Finch.
Philip’s maternal grandmother was Helen Louise O’Conner/O’Connor (the daughter of Patrick T. O’Conner/O’Connor and Anna McNicholas). Helen was born in New York. Patrick and Anna were both Irish immigrants. Patrick was the son of Thomas O’Connor and Bridget Lavell. Anna was the daughter of Patrick McNicholas and Mary O’Brien.
Sources: Genealogy of Philip Seymour Hoffman – http://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Philip Seymour Hoffman (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.wikitree.com
Philip’s paternal grandfather, Gordon Orville Hoffman, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Philip’s paternal great-grandfather, Orville Hoffman, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Philip’s paternal grandmother, Geraldine J. Stowell, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Philip’s maternal grandmother, Helen Louise O’Conner/O’Connor, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org