DENNIS HOPPER BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Dennis Hopper was born on May 17th, 1936 in Dodge City, Kansas with the birth name Dennis Lee Hopper to parents Marjorie Mae and Jay Millard Hopper.  He also had two brothers, Marvin and David.  After World War II, his family moved to Kansas City, Missouri and he went to art classes every Saturday at the Kansas City Art Institute.  When he turned thirteen, his family decided to move to San Diego, California where his mother worked as a lifeguard instructor and his father as a post office manager.   

Hopper attended high school at Helix High in La Mesa, California and went to study at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

Hopper made his film debut on two films, "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955) starring James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo and "Giant" (1956) featuring, Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Chill Wills and James Dean.  When James Dean passed away from a car accident in 1955, Hopper had a difficult time getting past the loss of his friend.

Hopper moved to New York in 1959 to study Method Acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio.  Dennis also had a run in with director, Henry Hathaway and was for the most part blackballed from working on major Hollywood feature films from 1958 through 1965.  He continued to work in the industry in small television roles and by the 1960's he was being cast in supporting roles on various films.

His first film lead role was in 1961 in, "Night Tide" followed by supporting roles on, "Cool Hand Luke" (1967) starring Paul Newman, George Kennedy, J.D. Cannon, Strother Martin and Ralph Waite, "The Sons of Katie Elder" (1965) starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman, Michael Anderson Jr., Martha Hyer, James Gregory and George Kennedy, "Hang 'Em High" (1968) starring Clint Eastwood and Pat Hingle and "True Grit" (1969) starring John Wayne, Glen Campbell and Kim Darby.  Hopper credits John Wayne for helping him get back into the industry.

Hoppers career was surely but slowly heading in the right direction, but his personal life was not as successful.  He had an addiction to drugs and alcohol and his marriage to his first wife, actress Brook Hayward whom he married on August 9th, 1961 was coming to an end.  By 1969 the couple was divorced and Hopper continued to proceed with his career.

Hopper directed and starred in the film, "Easy Rider" (1969) starring with Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda which won an award at the Canes Film Festival and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.  Just as he felt his career was becoming even more successful, no decent films or roles were being offered to him.

Hopper married his second wife, Michelle Phillips on October 31st, 1970 and they were together less then one month before filing for divorce.  He was somehow able to maintain the lifestyle he was used to be working on a couple low budget films with small supporting roles, but for the most part, his career and personal life were both suffering until in 1979, he received a feature role in, "Apocalypse Now" (1979) which brought the publics attention back on him.  

In 1983, Dennis Hopper finally realized how much his drug and alcohol addiction was hurting him and therefore checked himself into a rehab.  During his treatment he was cast in four quite successful films, "Rumble Fish" (1983), "The Osterman Weekend" (1983), "Blue Velvet" and "Hoosiers" (both 1986).  He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in "Hoosiers".  He also earned a decent amount of praise for directing and acting in "Out of the Blue" (1980).

Hopper's career was at an all time high with a credit as a director on, "Colors" (1988) followed by a role in, "Speed" (1994) starring Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock and Jeff Daniels, "Land of the Dead" (2005) and the lead role on a television series called, "Crash" (2008-2009).

Throughout his entire acting career, Hopper appeared on over 140 television show episodes in such series as, "Medic", "Zane Grey Theatre", "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza", "The Investigators", "The Defenders", "The Twilight Zone", "The Time Tunnel", "Sugarfoot","Petticoat Junction" and "Combat" amongst many others.  Hoper also worked with Nike on a variety of television commercials. 

Dennis Hopper was also a very talented photographer, painter and sculptor throughout his life.  He became interested in the profession in the 1960's and he was responsible for creating the cover art for Ike & Tina Turner's single, "River Deep-Mountain High".

Hopper's last film was shot right before he passed away, "The Last Film Festival" which is schedule for release in 2011.  Dennis Lee Hopper passed away on May 28th, 2010 in Venice Beach, California.  He was buried in Jesus Nazareno Cemetery in Ranchos de Taos. 

Hopper married a total of five times.  His third wife was Daria Halrpin from 1972 through 1976 having one child together, daughter Ruthanna Hopper.  Marriage number four was two Katherine LaNesa from June 17th, 1989 through 1992 and again having one child together, Henry Hopper.  Plus, he had one child with his first wife, a daughter, Marin Hopper with Hayward prior to their divorce.  His final marriage was to Victoria Duffy from April 12th, 1996 and the couple also had one child, another daughter, Galen Grier Hopper.  Dennis Hopper was actually in the process of divorcing Duffy when he passed away from prostate cancer.   

Despite his career and personal ups and downs, Hopper has received a variety of honors.  He was honored with the Rank of commander of France's National Order of Arts and Letters at a ceremony in Paris as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  He was also ranked number 87 in Empire magazine's, "Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" in October 1997.   
 

Filmography

2011   The Last Film Festival  
2010   Alpha and Omega 
2008-2009  Crash 
2009   Deadly Creatures (Video Game) (voice) 
2008   An American Carol 
2008   Palermo Shooting 
2008   Swing Vote 
2008   I Elegy 
2008   Sleepwalking 
2008   Hell Ride 
2007   Entourage 
2006   II Memory 
2005-2006  E-Ring 
2006   10th & Wolf 
2006   Hoboken Hollow  
2005   Land of the Dead 
2005   The Crow: Wicked Prayer 
2005   Americano 
2005   House of 9 
2004   The Last Ride
2004   Out of Season 
2004   The Keeper 
2004   Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits (video) 
2004   Las Vegas
2004   Legacy 
2003   The Night We Called It a Day 
2003   Suspense
2002   The Groovenians
2002   Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
2002   The Piano Player 
2002   Leo 
2002   24
2002   Unspeakable 
2002   Firestarter 2: Rekindled
2002   Flatland
2001   L.A.P.D.: To Protect and to Serve 
2001   Knockaround Guys 
2001   Choke 
2001   Ticker 
2000   Held for Ransom 
2000   The Prophet's Game 
2000   Tycus (video) 
2000   Jason and the Argonauts
2000   Luck of the Draw 
2000   The Spreading Ground 
2000   Michael Angel 
2000   Lured Innocence 
1999   Bad City Blues 
1999   The Venice Project 
1999   Jesus' Son 
1999   Straight Shooter 
1999   Edtv  
1999   II Justice
1999   American Masters Narrator 
1998   Meet the Deedles 
1997   Road Ends 
1997   II Top of the World 
1997   The Blackout 
1997   The Making of 'Super Mario Brothers'
1997   The Good Life 
1996   Samson and Delilah
1996   The Last Days of Frankie the Fly 
1996   Basquiat 
1996   Space Truckers 
1996   Carried Away
1995   Waterworld 
1995   Search and Destroy  
1994   Witch Hunt
1994   I Speed 
1994   Chasers 
1993   True Romance 
1993   Red Rock West 
1993   Super Mario Bros.  
1993   I Boiling Point 
1992   The Heart of Justice
1992   Sunset Heat 
1992   Nails 
1992   Rabbit Ears: Jonah and the Whale
1992   Rabbit Ears: Annie Oakley
1992   Rabbit Ears: Rip Van Winkle
1991   Eye of the Storm 
1991   Doublecrossed
1991   The Indian Runner 
1991   Paris Trout 
1991   Rabbit Ears: King Midas and the Golden Touch
1990   Catchfire 
1990   I Flashback  
1989   Chattahoochee  
1989   Blood Red 
1989   Rabbit Ears: How the Leopard Got His Spots  
1989   Black Leather Jacket
1989   Rabbit Ears: The Fisherman and His Wife
1989   Rabbit Ears: Thumbelina
1987   Santabear's High Flying Adventure
1987   The Pick-up Artist 
1987   Straight to Hell 
1987   Rabbit Ears: The Tale of Peter Rabbit
1987   Black Widow 
1987   Rabbit Ears: The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher
1987   Running Out of Luck 
1986   Hoosiers 
1986   Blue Velvet 
1986   River's Edge 
1986   The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 
1986   Stark: Mirror Image
1986   The American Way 
1985   My Science Project 
1985   Stark
1985   Rabbit Ears: The Ugly Duckling
1985   Rabbit Ears: The Steadfast Tin Soldier
1985   O.C. and Stiggs 
1985   A Hero of Our Time
1984   Slagskämpen 
1984   Jungle Warriors
1983   White Star 
1983   The Osterman Weekend
1983   Rumble Fish 
1982   Human Highway 
1981   King of the Mountain 
1981   Reborn 
1980   Out of the Blue 
1980   Wild Times
1979   Bloodbath 
1979   Apocalypse Now 
1978   Last In, First Out
1978   Flesh Color 
1977   The Sorceror's Apprentice 
1977   The American Friend 
1977   Tracks 
1976   Mad Dog Morgan 
1973   Kid Blue 
1972   The Other Side of the Wind 
1972   Crush Proof 
1971   The Last Movie 
1969   True Grit 
1969   Easy Rider 
1968   Head 
1968   Panic in the City 
1968   Hang 'Em High 
1968   The Glory Stompers 
1967   The Big Valley 
1967   The Guns of Will Sonnett 
1967   Cool Hand Luke 
1967   II The Trip 
1967   Combat! 
1966   The Time Tunnel
1966   Queen of Blood 
1966   The Legend of Jesse James  
1965   Convoy
1965   The Sons of Katie Elder
1965   Gunsmoke 
1964   Bonanza
1964   The Lieutenant
1964   Arrest and Trial
1964   Petticoat Junction
1964   Tarzan and Jane Regained... Sort of 
1964   The Thirteen Most Beautiful Boys 
1963   The Greatest Show on Earth
1963   Espionage  
1962-1963  The Defenders
1963   Wagon Train
1963   The Dakotas
1963   Twilight Zone 
1962   Surfside 6 
1962   G.E. True Theater 
1961   The Investigators 
1961   87th Precinct 
1961   Night Tide 
1961   Naked City
1960   The Barbara Stanwyck Show
1960   Key Witness 
1960   The Millionaire 
1960   The Betty Hutton Show
1959   The Lineup  
1959   The Young Land 
1958-1959  The Rifleman
1958-1959  Zane Grey Theatre 
1958   Pursuit
1958   Swiss Family Robinson
1958   Studio One in Hollywood 
1958   From Hell to Texas 
1957   Sayonara
1957   The Story of Mankind 
1957   Sugarfoot
1957   Gunfight at the O.K. Corral 
1957   Conflict
1956-1957  Cheyenne 
1956   Giant 
1956   The Kaiser Aluminum Hour
1956   Screen Directors Playhouse 
1956   Kings Row 
1955   I Died a Thousand Times 
1955   Rebel Without a Cause 
1955   The Loretta Young Show 
1955   The Public Defender
1955   Medic 
1954   Cavalcade of America