Dennis Hopper Biography
Dennis Hopper (1936 – 2010) was an actor, artist and director known for his realistic portrayals of drug addicts and eccentric characters. As a young man he studied at the Actor's Studio in New York and at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego. Hopper's first film role was a small part in Rebel Without a Cause, starring James Dean. In 1955 he had an argument with director Henry Hathaway during the filming From Hell to Texas. Hathaway blacklisted him, and Hopper was unable to land another film role for seven years. During this period, the artist moved to New York and had a successful stage and television career before returning to film in 1961. Hopper thus studied acting with the Lee Strasberg method during his time in New York, and became known as a character actor. However, during the 1960s, he also developed a significant problem with drugs and alcohol, which negatively impacted his work. Although he occasionally had major or even starring roles, such as his iconic performances in Easy Rider (1968) and Apocalypse Now (1979), he was considered too unreliable for most leading roles. His skill allowed him to make a living acting in minor films or taking supporting roles in major films. In 1983 he entered a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program and remained sober for the rest of his life. During the latter part of his career, he became known as a prolific actor who prided himself on never turning down a role. His portrayal of drug addicts and deranged characters was particularly noteworthy, as was his role as Frank Booth in David Lynch's Blue Velvet (1986). Hopper was also a painter, poet and photographer. Unfortunately, much of his early work was destroyed when a fire burned down his home in Bel Air. He was best known for his photographs, particularly his intimate portraits of many of his famous friends. One of his most popular works was a portrait of Ike and Tina Turner, which was used as the cover for their 1966 single River Deep-Mountain High. Hopper's work was collected in the book Dennis Hopper: Photographs 1961–1967 (2011). His photography is still on display, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, CA; Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin, Germany; and the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden. Hopper died in 2010.
