"For me, acting is torturous, and it's torturous because you know it's a beautiful thing. I was young once, and I said, That's beautiful and I want that. Wanting it is easy, but trying to be great — well, that's absolutely torturous."

That's Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was found dead in his apartment earlier today, talking to Lynn Hirschberg in a 2008 New York Times Magazine profile. The actor was known for the depth of his characters as well as his range.

Here are some of my favorite Hoffman performances. Share your favorites below.

Almost Famous (2000):

Synechdoche, New York (2008):

The Master (2012):