1 of 15 Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
Twister
Hoffman played Dustin "Dusty" Davis, a storm chaser who had been with Jo (Helen Hunt) and Bill (Bill Paxton) for years prior to their reunion in the film.
2 of 15 New Line Cinema/Everett Collection
Boogie Nights
He followed up Twister by playing Scotty J., a gay boom mic operator who was in love with porn star Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg). The film reunited Hoffman with Hard Eight director Paul Thomas Anderson. (The actor went on to appear in five out of six of the director's films to date.) The film was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for Best Ensemble Performance in a Motion Picture.
3 of 15 Gramercy Pictures/Everett Collection
The Big Lebowski
Hoffman starred in this cult classic as Brandt, the personal assistant to the "Big" Lebowski (David Huddleston). He acted as the liason between Lebowski and "The Dude" (Jeff Bridges).
4 of 15 Lionsgate Films/Everett Collection
Happiness
Hoffman's role in Happiness earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. He played Allen, a chronic masturbator who makes obscene phone calls to his neighbor Helen Jordan (Lara Flynn Boyle) and becomes depressed when she rejects him.
5 of 15 MGM/Everett Collection
Flawless
Hoffman co-starred as Rusty, a drag queen and pre-op transgender who befriends his neighbor, a cop named Walter (Robert De Niro), after he suffers a stroke. Rusty uses his musical skills to help Walter overcome his speech impediment. He earned a Screen Actors Guild award for Lead Film Actor for the performance.
6 of 15 New Line Cinema/Everett Collection
Magnolia
Hoffman starred in the critically acclaimed ensemble drama as Phil Parma, a nurse who is asked by a patient to find his estranged son (Tom Cruise). The cast was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for Best Ensemble.
7 of 15 Everett Collection
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Hoffman played Freddie, one of Dickie's (Jude Law) friends who is murdered by Ripley (Matt Damon) after hearing the landlady call Ripley by Dickie's name.
8 of 15 DreamWorks/Everett Collection
Almost Famous
Hoffman played rock journalist Lester Bangs, who assigns budding writer William (Patrick Fugit) to cover a Black Sabbath concert and warns him never to befriend rock stars. After William meets the band Stillwater backstage and joins them on the road, Lester mentors William as he lands a cover story about the band for Rolling Stone. Hoffman received a London Film Critics' Circle nomination for Actor of the Year, a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor and the film received a SAG nomination for Best Ensemble.
9 of 15 Sony Pictures Classics/Everett Collection
Capote
Hoffman won an Oscar for playing flamboyant author Truman Capote. The film details Capote's work on his famous book, In Cold Blood, including his investigative reporting with childhood friend Harper Lee (Catherine Keener) in the Kansas town rocked by a murder and the relationship Capote develops with one of the accused killers (Clifton Collins Jr.). Hoffman also received a Golden Globe, Satellite Award, SAG Award and a BAFTA Award for the role.
10 of 15 Stephen Vaughan/Paramount Pictures/Kobal Collection
Mission: Impossible III
He starred as Owen Davian, an infamous black market arms dealer who faces off against Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise).
11 of 15 Francois Duhamel/Universal Pictures/Kobal Collection
Charlie Wilson's War
Hoffman starred alongside Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts as CIA agent Gust Avrakotos, whom Charlie consults to help arm the Afghan people against the invading Soviet Union. He was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.
12 of 15 Miramax/Kobal Collection
Doubt
Hoffman received Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG nominations for his portrayal of Father Flynn, who is suspected of having an inappropriate relationship with an altar boy.
13 of 15 Scott Rudin Productions/Kobal Collection
Moneyball
Hoffman starred opposite Brad Pitt in the sports drama as Art Howe, the Oakland Athletics' manager who opposes Billy Beane's (Pitt) approach to scouting players.
14 of 15 Ghoulardi Film Company/The Kobal Collection
The Master
Hoffman earned his final Oscar nomination for his role as Lancaster Dodd, the leader of a religious movement who welcomes Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) into "The Cause."
15 of 15 Color Force/Kobal Collection
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Hoffman recently starred in the hit franchise as Plutarch Heavensbee, the newest gamemaker who secretly supports Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence).