Broadway's Lights Dimmed For Him

Philip Seymour Hoffman was a cherished and respected actor on Broadway, so he was lovingly remembered by the theater community, fans, and friends on Wednesday. At 7:45 p.m., as a tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman, Broadway's marquee lights dimmed for one minute to mourn his tragic death. A crowd of about 200 people also attended a candlelight vigil, held the same night, outside of the LAByrinth Theatre Company in the Village. Hoffman had been a longtime member.

Playwright and actor Eric Bogosian had collaborated with Hoffman at LAByrinth and said that the Capote actor defined excellence in the theater community.

Courage was his forte, always, says Bogosian. Phil set his bar on the highest rung, on a rung above the highest rung. He pushed himself relentlessly until finally his efforts virtually redefined the very endeavor we call acting. That's what he wanted. He wanted to rock the world.

Actress Daphne Rubin-Vega, who worked with Hoffman in the play Jack Goes Boating, was one of his friends who came to celebrate his life at the vigil.

We're just here to celebrate his life. It's a personal loss for some of us, but it's a real collective loss for many, says Rubin-Vega. The fact that he's just so brilliant, and that is shared by so many, is why we're here today.

Hoffman was nominated for seven Drama Desk Awards, three Tony Awards, and won a Theatre World Award. He appeared on Broadway three times in his career, as Lee/Austin in True West, as James Tyrone, Jr. in Long Day's Journey into Night, and as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. Hoffman directed and acted in many other plays off-Broadway throughout his career as well, such as Othello, The Long Red Road, and Unconditional.

You can watch Broadway's lights dim for Hoffman below: