An autopsy of Philip Seymour Hoffman has proved inconclusive, the chief medical examiner in charge of the procedure revealed yesterday (5th February). Further tests are currently underway which the New York authorities hope will lead to a ruling on the cause of the Capote actor's untimely death.

Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman was discovered on Sunday 2nd February and pronounced dead at the scene.

Hoffman was discovered on Sunday 2nd February in his New York apartment. A friend discovered him, as reports claim, in his bathroom with a needle in his arm. When the emergency services arrived he was pronounced dead at the scene. It is thought that, owing to Hoffman's previous struggles with addiction and evidence found at the scene, that the actor had overdosed on heroin. As The Guardian reports, police discovered and traces of heroin, drug paraphernalia and prescription medication to combat heroin addiction in Hoffman's Manhattan apartment. The autopsy was expected to reflect this, however it has proved inconclusive and a final ruling is dependent upon test results, expected to return next week. 

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The Talented Mr Ripley actor was 46 when he died and had discussed his addiction problems in media outlets in the last few years. He admitted that he had relapsed last year and had been admitted to rehab. The NYPD are attempting to trace where the Academy Award winning actor acquired the drugs and four arrests have been made in connection with Hoffman's death, as the NY Daily News reports. 

Hoffman's death surprised and deeply saddened many in the acting community. Tributes have poured in whether on Twitter or on messages left outside Hoffman's apartment in Manhattan. Amongst them was his former co-star Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he appeared in The Talented Mr Ripley, who posted an Instagram photograph of the two together with Jude Law. She added the caption "Philip was a true genius."

The cast of Hoffman's last film, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire in which he played Plutarch Heavensbee, also released a statement expressing their sadness. MTV obtained the statement which, on before of the whole Hunger Games cast and crew, read: "Words cannot convey the devastating loss we are all feeling right now. Philip was a wonderful person and an exceptional talent, and our hearts are breaking. Our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to his family." Hoffman was in the process of filming the last two films in The Hunger Games series: Mockingjay Part 1 and 2. Hoffman had only a week of filming left to complete before his untimely death. However, Hoffman's scenes will remain but may, according to reports in The Mirror, have to be completed by a CGI version of the late actor. 

Hunger Games Catching Fire
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire cast (from L-R): Elizabeth Banks, Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Francis Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Stanley Tucci.