Dennis Hopper was a multi-talented and unconventional actor/director, widely regarded as one of the true "enfant terribles" of Hollywood. Born on May 17, 1936, in Dodge City, Kansas, Hopper's interest in acting began at a young age.
He made his television debut in the 1950s, appearing in shows such as Medic, Cheyenne, and Sugarfoot. His first film role was in Rebel Without a Cause in 1955, followed by Giant in 1956 and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1957.
Hopper became good friends with James Dean and was deeply affected by Dean's tragic death in a car crash in September 1955.
In the 1960s, Hopper continued to appear on screen, often in undemanding parts, such as villains in westerns like True Grit and Hang 'Em High. However, in 1969, he co-wrote and directed the counterculture road movie Easy Rider, which became a phenomenal box-office success and changed the Hollywood landscape.
Despite the success of Easy Rider, Hopper's next directorial effort, The Last Movie, was a critical and financial failure. He struggled with substance abuse in the 1970s, which affected the quality of his work.
However, Hopper's career experienced a renaissance in the 1980s, with notable performances in Apocalypse Now, Out of the Blue, Rumble Fish, and Blue Velvet.
He also provided the voice of "The StoryTeller" in the animated series Rabbit Ears, based on the works of Hans Christian Andersen.
Hopper returned to film direction in the late 1980s with the controversial gang film Colors, and continued to act in films throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including Super Mario Bros., True Romance, Speed, and Waterworld.
In addition to his acting and directing talents, Hopper was a skilled photographer and painter, with his works displayed in galleries in the United States and overseas. He was also a dedicated collector of modern art, with one of the most extensive collections in the United States.
Dennis Hopper passed away on May 29, 2010, at the age of 74, due to complications from prostate cancer.
