Philip Seymour Hoffman's rehab stint last year followed 23 years of being clean. The New York actor - who was found dead in his New York apartment on Sunday (February 2, 2013) - struggled with drink and drugs in his twenties though kicked the habit for over two decades before relapsing last year.

Philip Seymour Hoffman rehabPhilip Seymour Hoffman's Rehab Stint Came 23 Years After His Last

Hoffman - who won the Academy Award for best actor for Capote - admitted checking himself into rehab last year for 10 days after apparently spending a week taking heroin for the first time in over twenty years.

In 2006, Hoffman spoke candidly to the 60 Minutes programme about his past drug problems.

"It was all that [drugs and alcohol], yeah. It was anything I could get my hands on...I liked it all.I went [to rehab], I got sober when I was 22 years old.You get panicked.and I got panicked for my life."

As The Independent's Kaleem Aftab noted, Hoffman's behaviour began to become erratic while promoting The Master in mid-2012. Blaming jet lag, the actor began falling asleep while giving interviews at press junkets.

Philip Seymour Hoffman's rehab stay in 2013 concerned his relapse with, firstly, prescription drugs and then, heroin.  After leaving the detox facility on the East Coast, the actor credited what he called "a great group of friends and family" for helping him seek the treatment he needed to get better.

Initially, it seemed as though rehab had worked for a second time and Hoffman quickly got back to work on the set of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. However, in August, he dropped out of shooting the spy thriller Child 44 for "undisclosed reasons" and was replaced by the French actor Vincent Cassel. 

The last time Hoffman was seen in public at an official event was at the premiere of his latest movie A Most Wanted Man at the Sundance Film Festival in mid-January. In Anton Corbijn's adaptation of the John Le Carre novel, Hoffman plays the head of a German anti-terrorism unit. 

Philip Seymour HoffmanPhilip Seymour Hoffman Is One Of The Greatest Actors of His Generation

Hoffman's untimely death has hit Hollywood hard, with numerous stars of the stage and screen paying tribute to a man often considered one of the finest actors of his generation.

Ricky Gervais wrote on Twitter, "Such Shocking & sad news. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of the greatest actors of a generation and a sweet, funny and humble man."

Evan Rachel Wood wrote, "I am sad on so many levels about the loss of Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of the greats. Losing him this way is absolutely tragic."

"Love and prayers for Philip Seymour Hoffman's family. Addiction kills, I hope all who need it have access to abstinence based recovery," said Russell Brand.

Hoffman was the father of three children - Cooper, 10; Tallulah 7, and Willa, 5 - with the costume designer Mimi O'Donnell.

The actor's family released a statement on Sunday, which read, "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone. This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grieving. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers."

Watch a clip from Philip Seymour Hoffman's forthcoming movie, A Most Wanted Man: