Philip Seymour Hoffman grew up a few blocks away from my family’s house, in Fairport, New York. He was a beautiful, beautiful actor. In high school, after he got injured wrestling, he took up drama, and performed the role of Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman,” astonishing everyone. The sweetness and courtesy he conveys in this clip from “Magnolia” is overwhelming, and leaves me with profound joy and real sadness.

A nice reminiscence from Buffalo News writer Jeff Simon.