Dennis Hopper 1937-2010

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From 'Easy Rider' to 'Blue Velvet,' Dennis Hopper expressed his zest for life in his work.

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jun. 1, 2010

Dennis Hopper gave many unforgettable performances in his long career.

I had the opportunity to meet Dennis Hopper in 1979 at the press junket for Apocalypse Now. He seemed to be playing the same crazy character he played in the movie, or maybe that was just Dennis being Dennis, playing head games with the reporters.

He died over the weekend from cancer. His indelible image from Easy Rider is the one most fans will remember, but I remember my surprise when I watched Rebel Without A Cause for the first time and saw Hopper in a small role.

He had a larger role in another James Dean film, Giant.

Hopper had a steady film career long before he hopped on that chopper in Easy Rider, and he had a fine career as a character actor after his signature role. He did a ton of television in the 1950s and ’60s, but after Easy Rider and in that same year, 1969, True Grit, Hopper became a popular supporting player in movies.

Dennis Hopper in Apocalypse Now:

Some of my favorites include the mad bomber in Speed, the drunken father turned coach in Hoosiers, the leader of the smokers in Waterworld, and of course the bizarre Frank Booth in Blue Velvet.

One of his best screen moments was in True Romance. He plays an amazing scene with Christopher Walken. Hopper is a father whose son (Christian Slater) has stolen something from the gangster played by Walken. Walken’s interrogation of Hopper and his defiance in not giving up his son’s whereabouts is a classic, unforgettable moment.

Dennis Hopper’s zest for life, which he expressed in his work, will be missed.