It has been revealed that Mimi O'Donnell, the mother of Philip Seymour Hoffman's three children, had recently split from the actor.

A New York Police Department source told MailOnline that the actor had recently split from his longtime girlfriend. "It is my understanding that Mr Hoffman and his girlfriend were separated."

Hoffman, who recently starred in the Hunger Games Catching Fire, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment yesterday after his friend went to check up on him.

O'Donnell had contacted friend David Bar Katz to check up on Hoffman after he failed to pick up his three children from her. However, when Katz and his assistant Isabella Wing-Davey went in, they discovered Hoffman's body in the bathroom of the property on 25 Bethune St.. A needle was still sticking out of his arm.

The actor had been renting the property on Bethune St. following the recent split from his partner.

O'Donnell told authorities that Hoffman sounded high when she met him at 8 p.m. on Saturday, the day before his fatal heroin overdose.

He last appeared publicly at the Sundance festival to promote his movie "God's Pocket" and "A Most Wanted Man." He had looked worn out and disheveled at the festival and had reportedly denied interviews.

The actor died of an apparent drug overdose and his body was removed at 7pm last night. An autopsy is underway to determine the official cause of death.

Cops are currently investigating the batch of heroin that the actor used. Investigators believe he may have injected a deadly type of heroin called "Ace of Spades" and "Ace of Hearts", which contain a mix of heroin and fentanyl. The lethal concoction is believed to be responsible for a number of recent heroin-related deaths across America.

The family of late actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has released a statement hours after his shocking death.

The statement says: "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 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."

The actor previously admitted to struggling with drug addiction and had checked himself into rehab last year for heroin use.

The 46-year-old was not married and is survived by his long-term partner costume designer Mimi O'Donnell and their young children - son Cooper Alexander, 10, and daughters Tallulah, 7, and Willa, 5.

A source told ShowBizSpy: "Mimi is inconsolable. He had his problems, but she thought he was on the road to recovery following his recent rehab stint."

Hoffman was an American actor and director. His latest movies include the Hunger Games: Catching Fire, in which he starred as Plutarch Heavensbee.

Hoffman won an Oscar for Best Actor in 2005 for film Capote and also received three Oscar-nominations for Best Supporting Actor.