Ian McKellen’s moving tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman goes viral

Philip Seymour Hoffman had a reputation as an “actor’s actor”. And Sir Ian McKellen agrees.

In a moving tribute on his Facebook page, ‘Hobbit’ star McKellen posted a lengthy response to Hoffman’s death – praising his 2001 performance of Chekov play ‘The Seagull’, in which the late actor had co-starred with Natalie Portman and Meryl Streep.

[Philip Seymour Hoffman Dead 'After Overdose']

“He was without doubt one of the most accomplished screen actors of our time,” McKellen wrote, “with so many more performances waiting to enchant us with.”

The tribute has since gone viral, quickly circulating amongst fans online.

McKellen lauded the talent of the future-Oscar winner, explaining: “The open-air venue was not conducive to the delicacy and intimacy of the play, yet Hoffman amazingly shrank the space between him and the audience and made us feel we were spying on his insides.”

[Hollywood Mourns Philip Seymour Hoffman]

The clearly upset 74-year-old thesp, who’s current starring in two Broadway plays with pal Patrick Stewart, then revealed how Hoffman had come to see their own shows just last month.

“I wish, now more than ever, we had met afterwards,” McKellen sadly admitted, “so I could have told him of my admiration.”

Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his New York apartment on Sunday, the victim of a suspected drug overdose. He was 46-years-old.

You can watch one of Hoffman's final ever interviews, just weeks before his death, below...