A Delaware State University freshman is remembering the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, and his chance to work with the Academy Award winning actor.
Joseph Foster was in the 2008 movie Doubt with Hoffman. He played the role of Donald Miller, the first African-American student allowed in a Bronx Catholic school, alongside Hoffman, who portrayed the school’s priest Father Brendan Flynn. The relationship between the two characters was central to the film’s plot and Hoffman’s performance eared him a Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
When Foster heard the news of Hoffman’s death, he said that it was hard to believe.
“Especially the way that I heard [he died]. It just goes to show that everybody goes through something Everybody has their own demons, their own struggles, nobody is perfect," said Foster. "And really it shows the humanity of an actor, how mortal we really are.”
Foster said that although Hoffman was somewhat solitary during filming, he was always humble and very easy to work with. The Bronx native added Hoffman even took tips from him on how to improve the Bronx accent he used in the movie.
Foster says that Hoffman left the legacy of a hard working actor who was able to remain honest in almost any circumstance.
“He showed myself and I’m pretty sure a lot of other people that it’s okay to struggle sometimes, but don’t let that struggle become your reality," said Foster. "When we got a chance to speak, I was telling him about some things in my life and he told me a couple of things about his life. Everybody goes through their own things and don’t let that struggle become your reality.”
Doubt was nominated for 5 Oscars and 5 Golden Globes.
Foster, a Mass Communication major at DSU, plans to continue to act and has an aspiration to direct films.