Philip Seymour Hoffman's body was removed from his New York apartment Sunday evening after he was found dead by a friend at 11:30am early in the day.

Hoffman, 46, was found with a syringe in his left forearm, at least two plastic envelopes of what appeared to be heroin near his body, and five empty plastic envelopes in a trash bin, according to law enforcement officials. A friend, David Bar Katz, found Hoffman's body in a Greenwich Village apartment the actor rented for use as an office.

Hoffman battled drug addiction -- he checked into a rehabilitation program last year for prescription pill dependence.

In a statement, Hoffman's family said: "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."

The actor is survived by his wife and three young children -- a son and two daughters.