Dennis Hopper Dies

Entertainment Tonight, Saturday, May 29, 2010, 10:28am (PDT)

Film star Dennis Hopper has passed away. He was 74.

Hopper died in his Venice, Calif. home on Saturday, a friend of the two-time Oscar nominee tells the Associated Press, adding that the 'Easy Rider' star was surrounded by family and friends.

The actor announced his prostate cancer diagnosis in October 2009 and his condition has been on the decline in recent months. Unable to be treated with chemotherapy, he allowed the disease to run its course.

Hopper was born on May 17, 1936 in Dodge City, Kansas and took up acting while in high school in San Diego, CA. He made his television debut in 1955 and successfully boasted longevity in the biz. His calendar remained consistently busy until the day of his death, being billed in such films as ‘Rebel Without a Cause' and ‘Giant' with the late James Dean. He was recently a series regular on Starz's “Crash.”

On March 26, 2010, Hopper was forever emblazoned in Hollywood history by being honored with the 2,403rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was healthy enough to attend the ceremony and told guests, including Jack Nicholson, David Lynch and Dwight Yoakam, "Everything I learned in my life I learned from you and the wonderful world that I traveled and saw.”

A much decorated actor, Hopper's work was acknowledged with accolades from leading entertainment industry organizations. He was a two-time Oscar nominee for ‘Easy Rider' (Best Original Screenplay) and ‘Hoosiers' (Best Supporting Actor), two-time Golden Globe nominee for ‘Hoosiers' and ‘Blue Velvet' in the Best Supporting Actor category. ‘Paris Tout' earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie.

Leading up to his death, Hopper was in the midst of divorce proceedings with his fifth wife, Victoria Duffy, who he married on April 12, 1996. The couple shares a six year old daughter. His previous ex-wives are Brooke Hayward (1961–1969), Michelle Phillips (1970), Daria Halprin (1972–1976), and Katherine LaNasa (1989–1992). The actor is survived by four children, daughters Marin, Ruthanna, and Galen Grier and son Henry Lee.

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