Philip Seymour Hoffman's life will be honored in two public memorials celebrating the beloved actor in Rochester and New York City this spring, Democrat & Chronicle reports.
Hoffman's mother, Marilyn O'Connor, released a statement shortly after the actor's autopsy report was released to the public, but her words were not a response to the results. The actor died of a combination of cocaine, heroine amphetamines and benzodiazepines. His death was ruled an accidental overdose.
"It has been a devastating loss for us, but I know that you also feel a great sorrow," O'Connor said in a statement, read by Hoffman's friend Jack Garner, Democrat & Chronicle reports. "We miss and cry for the little boy and the man, the brother, the uncle, the husband, the father, the friend, and while we will miss seeing him, we will also miss his talent, his knowledge of his craft, and seeing results of his hard work. He was a gift to me for 46 years. I wanted more."
"My heart is broken and will never be the same again," O'Connor added. "I know many of you feel the same. We will find our way through this and hear his clear voice and laughter as we do, because he is cheering for all of us to go on, to shine, to be the best that we can be. Thank you all and especially, The Little Theatre, a place Phil loved to go and watch movies."
Good friend David Katz found Hoffman, 46, dead in his Manhattan apartment on Feb. 2. Shortly after the news of the actor's death broke, The National Enquirer ran a story claiming Katz told the publication he was his gay lover.
Katz filed a complaint against the Enquirer for libel, and the publication retracted the story, issued an apology and settled with Katz out of court for $45,000. The money will go toward a prize for the American Playwritting Foundation set up in honor of Hoffman, to help fund a play, The New York Times reports.
"The issue was never me being outraged at being accused of being gay - we're theater guys, who cares?" Katz told The New York Times. "The issue was lying about the drugs, that I would betray my friend by telling confidences."
