Dennis Hopper Dead at Age 74

As a result of complications from prostate cancer, Dennis Hopper died today, Saturday, May 29, 2010, at the age of 74 shortly after 8 a.m. local time. He was at his home in Venice, California, and surrounded by his family and friends when he passed.

Dennis Hopper will be remembered for his many films, perhaps the biggest of which was the counterculture classic Easy Rider, which he directed, co-wrote, and co-starred in with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson in 1969. He received an Oscar nomination for the screenplay of Easy Rider.

Just two months before his death, Dennis Hopper received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, honoring him for his acting, directing, and screen writing talents. He first appeared as a "bad boy" in Rebel Without a Cause, starring James Dean, in 1955. Dennis Hopper's 115 film credits also include Giant, Cool Hand Luke, Apocalypse Now, True Grit, Blue Velvet, Speed, and Hoosiers, for which he received an Oscar nomination. He also directed Colors in 1988, starring Sean Penn.

Besides acting, directing, and writing screenplays, Dennis Hopper was also a talented photographer, sculptor, and painter whose works were critically acclaimed worldwide. He was an avid collector of modern art and accumulated an extensive collection of some of the world's greatest modern art.

Dennis Hopper did have his struggles, however. Recently he was going through a bitter divorce with his wife of 14 years. He was married five times. He struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout his middle years, frequently checking himself into rehab. He eventually sobered up and after years of being blacklisted by Hollywood, Dennis Hopper made his comeback in 1986 with his Oscar-nominated role in Hoosiers.

Dennis Hopper embodied much of the rebelliousness, unrest, and counterculture of the '60's. Mr. Hopper will be remembered for his great contributions to the Boomer generation and to the generations to come.