Philip Seymour Hoffman's Sister Pens Heartfelt Tribute 10 Years After His Passing

Ten years after Philip Seymour Hoffman`s death, his sister Emily Barr reflected on her personal grief. Hoffman, who died from a drug overdose in his Manhattan apartment in February 2014, was fondly remembered by Barr as a loving and comforting presence in their childhood home. "My brother had loud laughter and annoying gestures," Barr wrote in a piece published in The Paris Review. "He would jump up and tease you, even after you asked him to stop. He just couldn't resist poking fun one last time." Despite knowing it was wrong, he still planned to do it and make you laugh.

Following her brother's death, Barr started searching her local library for any mention of him, a behavior she was no stranger to. "In my early twenties, I started saving every article or feature about Phil from magazines or newspapers, ones that I was aware of," she said, "I even kept all his interviews on VHS." The final magazine stories detailed his short life. As Barr collected, the purpose shifted. She initially sought to gather glowing obituaries on the talented young actor's life and unexpected death, but her interest quickly turned into an obsession. TV Guide included his name in the crossword: 15D, 20 letters, "Oscar overdose." I added it to my pile.

Barr said she didn't want to read the articles but didn't want them to fall into the wrong hands. She didn't want kids to cut them up in class next year. Barr checked out every magazine featuring her brother and got to work, as she didn't want her children to see their Uncle Phil in an art class. “I hid with stolen scissors in the small gap between my bed and dresser," she confessed, "then sat on the floor cutting out all Phil's pictures and articles from the magazines." I attempted to conceal the missing pages, but it was impossible to hide them, especially with him on the cover.

After returning the magazines to the library, Barr reflected on the librarian's reaction and her late brother. "I walked home in the snow, pondering the mystery I created for her and how Phil would find it absurd."