Philip Seymour Hoffman Wins NBR and L.A. Film Critics Awards

Two-time Tony Award nominee and LAByrinth Theater Company co-founder Philip Seymour Hoffman has emerged as the front-runner for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role of Capote.

In the past few days, Hoffman, who plays author Truman Capote, was named Best Actor by both the National Board of Review (NBR) and the L.A. Film Critics Circle, and received nominations in that category from the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Washington Area Film Critics Circle.

These groups recognized many other film actors who are also known for their work in the theater. The NBR named Felicity Huffman as Best Actress for TransAmerica, while the L.A. critics gave their Best Supporting Actor honor to William Hurt (for A History of Violence) and named Tony winner Frank Langella as first runner-up (for Good Night, and Good Luck). The Broadcast Film Critics and the Washington group both nominated the cast of Rent for Best Ensemble, and the Broadcast group gave a nod to The Producers for Best Soundtrack. Also, the HBO version of Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s play Lackawanna Blues was named Best Film or Miniseries Made for Cable TV by the NBR.

Hoffman received Tony nominations for True West and Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and a Drama Desk nomination for his direction of Our Lady of 121st Street. He will next be seen on the big screen opposite Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III.