At age 74, after a chronicled history of prostate cancer, Dennis Hopper died in his California home this morning. Hopper’s illness made headlines recently when Jack Nicholson, David Lynch, and other stars all turned out – with Hopper – to honor Hopper with a star on the Walk of Fame. At the time, most correctly assumed this would be Hopper’s last public appearance.
Hopper was truly a generational great. Easy Rider lives strongly as one of the few biker films to gain mainstream critical acclaim, and was indicative of a lifelong passion of motorcycles Hopper had. As recently as last year’s Hellride, Hopper got back in touch with his biking routes for an on-screen role. (Read our interview with Larry Bishop talking about working with Dennis Hopper on Hellride.) And of course, biker movies weren’t the only cult films Hopper made legendary.
From the incomparable Blue Velvet to Apocalypse Now, or from scene-stealing roles in True Romance or Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, to the screwball levity he brought to villains in Waterworld or Speed or hell, Super Mario Brothers, there’s not a single thing about his career that doesn’t resonate with fringe culture. Most remarkable, in a series of movies that are usually “so bad they’re good,” Hopper never turned in amateur performances, but rather was usually the talent that saved the film. Oh Dennis Hopper. Goddammit. We’ll miss you. You were just always an actor to get excited about.
Watch some clips.
