Dennis Hopper Dead At 74, Loses Battle With Cancer

Dennis Hopper, legendary Hollywood figure of Easy Rider fame and iconic visionary director, died of cancer today at 74.
Dennis Hopper Dead At 74, Loses Battle With Cancer
5/29/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/dennis_hopper_98239450.jpg" alt="Dennis Hopper poses with his daughter Galen after being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood in March of this year. Hopper succumbed to cancer today. He starred in such cinematic classics as 'Easy Rider' and 'Apocalypse Now.' (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)" title="Dennis Hopper poses with his daughter Galen after being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood in March of this year. Hopper succumbed to cancer today. He starred in such cinematic classics as 'Easy Rider' and 'Apocalypse Now.' (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1819303"/></a>
Dennis Hopper poses with his daughter Galen after being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood in March of this year. Hopper succumbed to cancer today. He starred in such cinematic classics as 'Easy Rider' and 'Apocalypse Now.' (Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)
Dennis Hopper, legendary Hollywood figure of Easy Rider fame and iconic visionary director, died Saturday May 29 following a drawn out fight against cancer.

Hopper was 74 when prostate cancer claimed his life, following a lengthy and successful career. Hopper died at home with his family in Los Angeles. The cancer made him ill for months before spreading to multiple organs and finally taking his life. At the time of writing, his family has not announced specific dates for a funeral or memorial service.

Hopper had a multitude of memorable roles through out his career that spanned multiple decades giving him the opportunity to work with a long list of high profile colleagues. Hopper started out his career with influential actor James Dean in the 1950’s with roles in Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. Hopper usually gravitated towards abstract characters in his career and had a contract with Warner Brothers in his early years as a performer.

Hopper made a name for himself as director with 1969’s Easyrider, where he also played one of the lead characters. The film won an award at the Cannes Film Festival and became a cult classic for counter culture minded citizens around the world.

In the 1970’s and 80’s Hopper grew the list remarkable movies attached to his name, with films including Apocalypse Now, Rumble Fish, The Osterman Weekend, Blue Velvet, and Hoosiers. Hoppers role in Hoosiers earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Hopper directed the epic 80’s police drama Colors starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall. In 1994 Hopper played a twisted villain in the summer blockbuster Speed alongside Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.

Hopper stepped away from the spotlight later in his life but gained some attention for some of his art work in multiple countries. Hopper had sculptures and photos featured in galleries in the United States as well as Europe.

Hopper was born in 1936 in Dodge City, Kansas. He was involved in Hollywood films as a teen and was close friends with Vincent price who he met after studying at New York’s Actors Studio.