--- description: The actor's death was ruled an accident after examiners determined he took a deadly cocktail of drugs that included heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamines. Hoffman reportedly had a relapse after remaining clean for 23 years title: Philip Seymour Hoffman Cause of Death: Toxic Drug Mix image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt63f45fd8c7ed2674/69868358e53abadc7e4d1396/hoffman-autopsy_lim.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [celebrities](/tag/celebrities/) ## celebrities Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Philip Seymour Hoffman Died of Toxic Drug Mix, Medical Examiner Says by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 28, 2014 10:16 PM CUT  In this Jan. 19, 2014 file photo, Philip Seymour Hoffman poses for a portrait at The Collective and Gibson Lounge Powered by CEG, during the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah. In this Jan. 19, 2014 file photo, Philip Seymour Hoffman poses for a portrait at The Collective and Gibson Lounge Powered by CEG, during the Sundance Film Festival, in Park City, Utah.Victoria Will / Invision / AP by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 28, 2014 10:16 PM CUT The actor and director Philip Seymour Hoffman died from a toxic mix of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamines, the New York City medical examiner said Friday. His death was ruled an accident, a spokesperson for the office said, [according](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US%5FHOFFMAN%5FAUTOPSY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT "undefined") to the Associated Press. Hoffman, who struggled with addiction early in his life and spoke candidly about his substance abuse, was [found dead ](http://entertainment.time.com/2014/02/02/report-actor-philip-seymour-hoffman-dead-at-46/ "undefined")in his New York City apartment with a syringe in his arm on Feb. 2. He reportedly relapsed after remaining clean for 23 years and checked himself into rehab for ten days last year. Hoffman won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 2005 film _Capote_ and earned three nominations for Best Supporting Actor throughout his career, which included roles in _The Big Lebowski_, _Boogie Nights_, _Charlie Wilson’s War_, and _The Master_. \[[_AP_](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US%5FHOFFMAN%5FAUTOPSY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/10836/philip-seymour-hoffman-died-of-toxic-drug-mix-medical-examiner-says/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/10836/philip-seymour-hoffman-died-of-toxic-drug-mix-medical-examiner-says/"},"headline":"Philip Seymour Hoffman Died of Toxic Drug Mix, Medical Examiner Says","datePublished":"2014-02-28T22:16:47.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-21T06:31:38.259Z","description":"The actor's death was ruled an accident after examiners determined he took a deadly cocktail of drugs that included heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamines. 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