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Dennis Hopper (born May 17, 1936) is an American actor and film-maker.
Born in Dodge City, Kansas, Hopper was voted most likely to succeed by his high school class (Helix High School, La Mesa, California) and it was there he developed an interest in acting. He was especially fond of the plays of William Shakespeare. Hopper made his acting debut on an episode of the Richard Boone television show Medic in 1955 playing a young epileptic. Hopper was then cast in two roles with James Dean (whom he admired immensely) Rebel Without A Cause (1955) and Giant (1956).
Dean's death in a 1955 car accident affected the young Hopper deeply and it was shortly afterwards that he got into a confrontation with veteran director Henry Hathaway on the film From Hell To Texas. Hopper refused directions for 80 takes over several days. This infamous incident resulted in his being blacklisted from films for several years.
In his book Last Train to Memphis, American popular music historian Peter Guralnick says that in 1956 when Elvis Presley was making his first film in Hollywood, Dennis Hopper was roomates with fellow actor Nick Adams and the three became friends and hung out together.
Hopper moved to New York and studied at the famous Lee Strasberg acting school. He appeared in over 140 episodes of television shows such as Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, The Defenders, The Big Valley, The Time Tunnel and Combat. Hopper also became an accomplished professional photographer (he has had many exhibitions of his work). He also was very talented as a painter and a poet.
Hopper had a supporting role as "Babalugats" the bet-taker in "Cool Hand Luke" (1967).
Although Hopper was able to resume acting in mainstream films including The Sons Of Katie Elder (1965) and True Grit (1969), in both of these films he had death scenes with John Wayne, it was not until he teamed with Peter Fonda and made Easy Rider that he really shook up the Hollywood establishment. This film became an anthem of sorts to the lost generation of the Vietnam war and to this day is one of the most successful independent films ever made. Hopper won wide acclaim as the director of the film for his improvisational methods and stop action photography.
Hopper wrote and directed another film that was released in 1971 called The Last Movie that was a box office failure and derailed his career for years. Hopper had long been an alcoholic and drug abuser and it was at this point his addiction began to dominate his life. However, Hopper did act in several films during this period such as Mad Dog Morgan (1976), Tracks (1976), The American Friend (1977), Apocalypse Now (1979) and he won acclaim for directing and acting in Out of the Blue (1980).
In the early 1980s, Hopper entered a drug rehabilitation program and cured himself of his addictions. He gave powerful performances in Rumble Fish (1983) and The Osterman Weekend (1983). However, it was not until he portrayed the alkyl nitrites-huffing, obscenity-screaming Frank Booth in David Lynch's film Blue Velvet (1986) that his career truly revived. After reading the script, Hopper called Lynch and told him "You have to let me play Frank Booth. Because I am Frank Booth!" Hopper won critical acclaim and a slew of awards for this role and the same year won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Hoosiers.
In 1988, Hopper directed a critically acclaimed film about Los Angeles gangs called Colors. He has continued to be an important actor, photographer and director. He was nominated for an Emmy award for the 1991 HBO films Paris Trout and Doublecrossed (in which he played real life drug smuggler and DEA informant Barry Seal). He also co-starred in the 1994 blockbuster Speed with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. He recently contributed to the film 1 Giant Leap with provocative anecdotes on spirituality, unity and culture.
One of the top collectors of modern American art, Hopper's collection could collect millions at auction.
In 2001, Hopper joined the cast of 24 for the last five episodes of Season 1. He is currently starring in the NBC television series E-Ring, a drama set at The Pentagon.
On the 2005 Gorillaz album Demon Days, Hopper performs the spoken word track "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head."
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Alpha Numeric (2006) (pre-production)
America (2006) (pre-production)
Hoboken Hollow (2005) (post-production) .... Sheriff Greer
10th & Wolf (2005) .... Matello
Mem-o-re (2005) .... Max Lichtenstein
"E-Ring" (2005) TV Series .... Col. Eli McNulty
Land of the Dead (2005) .... Kaufman
... aka George A. Romero's Land of the Dead (USA: complete title)
... aka George Romero's Land of the Dead (USA: complete title)
The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005) .... El Niño
Americano (2005) .... Riccardo
House of 9 (2005) .... Father Duffy
The Last Ride (2004/I) (TV) .... Ronnie Purnell
Out of Season (2004) .... Harry Barlow
The Keeper (2004) .... Krebs
Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits (2004) (V) .... (segment "Victory")
Legacy (2004/I)
The Night We Called It a Day (2003) .... Frank Sinatra
Suspense (2003) (TV) .... Narrator
The Groovenians (2002) (TV) (voice) .... Dad/King Normans
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (VG) (voice) .... Steve Scott
... aka Vice City (USA: short title)
The Piano Player (2002) .... Robert Nile
... aka The Target (Canada: English title) (USA: video title)
... aka The Piano Player - Brennende Seelen vergessen nie (Germany: DVD title)
Leo (2002) .... Horace
Unspeakable (2002) .... Warden Blakely
Firestarter 2: Rekindled (2002) (TV) .... James Richardson
... aka Firestarter: Rekindled (USA: cable TV title)
"Flatland" (2002) TV Series .... Smith
Knockaround Guys (2001) .... Benny Chains
L.A.P.D.: To Protect and to Serve (2001) .... Captain Elsworth
Choke (2001) .... Henry Clark
Ticker (2001) .... Alex Swan
Held for Ransom (2000) .... JD
Jason and the Argonauts (2000) (TV) .... Pelias
Luck of the Draw (2000) .... Giani Ponti
The Spreading Ground (2000) .... Det. Ed Delongpre
Bad City Blues (1999) .... Cleveland Carter
The Venice Project (1999) .... Roland/Salvatore
Jesus' Son (1999) .... Bill
Straight Shooter (1999) .... Frank Hector
Edtv (1999) .... Henry 'Hank' Pekurny
... aka Ed TV (USA: poster title)
Justice (1999/III) (TV) (uncredited)
Lured Innocence (1999) .... Rick Chambers
The Prophet's Game (1999) .... Vincent Swan
Meet the Deedles (1998) .... Frank Slater
... aka The Deedles
Black Dahlia (1998) (VG) .... Walter Pensky
Michael Angel (1998) .... Lewis Garou
... aka The Apostate (USA: cable TV title)
Tycus (1998) (V) .... Peter Crawford
Road Ends (1997) .... Sheriff Ben Gilchrist
... aka Safe House (UK: DVD title)
The Blackout (1997) .... Mickey Wayne
... aka The Blackout (France)
The Last Days of Frankie the Fly (1997) .... Frankie
... aka Frankie the Fly (UK: video title)
The Good Life (1997)
Top of the World (1997/I) .... Charles Atlas
... aka Cold Cash
... aka Showdown
Samson and Delilah (1996) (TV) .... Generale Tariq
... aka Bibel: Samson und Delila, Die (Germany)
... aka Sansone e Dalila
Space Truckers (1996) .... John Canyon
... aka Star Truckers
Basquiat (1996) .... Bruno Bischofberger
... aka Build a Fort, Set It on Fire
Carried Away (1996) .... Joseph Svenden
... aka Acts of Love (UK)
Waterworld (1995) .... Deacon
Search and Destroy (1995) .... Dr. Luther Waxling
... aka The Four Rules (Australia: video title)
Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller (1995) (VG) (voice) .... Mr. Beautiful
L.A. Blues (1995) (TV) .... Host
Witch Hunt (1994) (TV) .... H. Phillip Lovecraft
Speed (1994) .... Howard Payne
Chasers (1994) .... Doggie
True Romance (1993) .... Clifford Worley
... aka Breakaway (Philippines: English title)
Super Mario Bros. (1993) .... King Koopa
Boiling Point (1993/I) .... Rudolph 'Red' Diamond
... aka Extrême limite, L' (France)
The Heart of Justice (1993) (TV) .... Austin Blair
Rabbit Ears: Aladdin and the Magic Lamp (1993) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Nails (1992) (TV) .... Harry 'Nails' Niles
Rabbit Ears: Annie Oakley (1992) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Rabbit Ears: Jonah and the Whale (1992) (V) (voice)
Rabbit Ears: Rip Van Winkle (1992) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Red Rock West (1992) .... Lyle from Dallas
Eye of the Storm (1991) .... Marvin Gladstone
The Indian Runner (1991) .... Caesar
Doublecrossed (1991) (TV) .... Barry Seal
Paris Trout (1991) (TV) .... Paris Trout
Rabbit Ears: King Midas and the Golden Touch (1991) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Rabbit Ears: The Fool and the Flying Ship (1991) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Sunset Heat (1991) .... Carl Madson
... aka Midnight Heat
Flashback (1990) .... Huey Walker
Catchfire (1990) .... Milo
... aka Backtrack (USA: TV title (director's cut))
... aka Catchfire (Australia)
... aka Do It the Hard Way
Rabbit Ears: Paul Bunyan (1990) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Chattahoochee (1989) .... Walker Benson
Blood Red (1989) .... William Bradford Berrigan
Rabbit Ears: How the Leopard Got His Spots (1989) (V) (voice)
... aka Apple Rabbit Ears
... aka Rabbit Ears: How the Leopard Got His Spots (USA)
Rabbit Ears: The Fisherman and His Wife (1989) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Rabbit Ears: Thumbelina (1989) (V) (voice) (uncredited) .... Storyteller
Black Leather Jacket (1988) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator
Santabear's High Flying Adventure (1987) (TV) (voice)
The Pick-up Artist (1987) .... Flash Jensen
O.C. and Stiggs (1987) .... Sponson
Straight to Hell (1987) .... I.G. Farben
Black Widow (1987) .... Ben Dumers
Rabbit Ears: The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1987) (V) (voice) .... Storyteller
Rabbit Ears: The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1987) (V) (voice) .... Storyteller
Running Out of Luck (1987) .... Video Director
Hoosiers (1986) .... Shooter
... aka Best Shot
Blue Velvet (1986) .... Frank Booth
River's Edge (1986) .... Feck
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) .... Lieutenant 'Lefty' Enright
... aka The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (USA: video box title)
Stark: Mirror Image (1986) (TV) .... Lieutenant Ron Bliss
... aka Stark II
Riders of the Storm (1986) .... The Captain
... aka The American Way (Australia)
My Science Project (1985) .... Bob Roberts
Stark (1985) (TV) .... Lieutenant Ron Bliss
A Hero of Our Time (1985) (uncredited)
Rabbit Ears: The Steadfast Tin Soldier (1985) (V) (voice) .... Storyteller
Rabbit Ears: The Ugly Duckling (1985) (V) (voice) .... Storyteller
Slagskämpen (1984) .... Miller
... aka The Inside Man
Euer Weg führt durch die Hölle (1984) (uncredited)
... aka Jungle Warriors (USA)
Little Ears: The Velveteen Rabbit (1984) (V) (voice) .... Storyteller
White Star (1983) .... Kenneth Barlow
... aka Let It Rock
The Osterman Weekend (1983) .... Richard Tremayne
Rumble Fish (1983) .... Father
Neil Young: Human Highway (1982) .... Cracker
King of the Mountain (1981) .... Cal
Reborn (1981) .... Reverent Tom Hartley
... aka Renacer (Spain)
Out of the Blue (1980) .... Don Barnes
... aka No Looking Back (USA: TV title)
... aka Plus rien à perdre (Canada: French title)
Wild Times (1980) (TV) .... Doc Holliday
Flores del vicio, Las (1979) .... Chicken
... aka Bloodbath (USA)
... aka Cielo se cae, El (Spain)
... aka Flores del vicio (El cepo), Las (Spain)
... aka The Sky Is Falling
Apocalypse Now (1979) .... Photojournalist
... aka Apocalypse Now Redux (International: English title: longer version)
Couleur chair (1979) .... Mel
... aka Flesh Color (International: English title)
Ordre et la sécurité du monde, L' (1978) .... Medford
... aka Concorde Affair (International: English title)
... aka Last In, First Out (USA)
Apprentis sorciers, Les (1977) .... A spy
... aka The Sorceror's Apprentice (International: English title)
Amerikanische Freund, Der (1977) .... Tom Ripley
... aka Ami américain, L' (France)
... aka The American Friend (USA)
Mad Dog Morgan (1976) .... Daniel Morgan
... aka Mad Dog
... aka Mad Dog Morgan (USA)
I'm a Fool (1976) (TV)
Tracks (1976) .... 1st Sgt. Jack Falen
Kid Blue (1973) .... Bickford Waner
Crush Proof (1972)
The Other Side of the Wind (1972)
The Last Movie (1971) .... Kansas
... aka Chinchero
True Grit (1969) .... Moon
Easy Rider (1969) .... Billy
Panic in the City (1968) .... Goff
Hang 'Em High (1968) .... The Prophet
The Glory Stompers (1968) .... Chino
Cool Hand Luke (1967) .... Babalugats
The Trip (1967/II) .... Max
Queen of Blood (1966) .... Paul Grant
... aka Planet of Blood
... aka Planet of Terror
... aka Planet of Vampires
... aka The Green Woman
The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) .... Dave Hastings
Tarzan and Jane Regained... Sort of (1964) .... Unbilled double for Tarzan
Night Tide (1961) .... Johnny Drake
Key Witness (1960) .... William 'Cowboy' Tomkins
The Young Land (1959) .... Hatfield Carnes
From Hell to Texas (1958) .... Tom Boyd
... aka Manhunt (UK)
Sayonara (1957) (voice) (uncredited) .... Airman interviewing Maj. Gruver
The Story of Mankind (1957) .... Napoleon Bonaparte
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) .... Billy Clanton
Giant (1956) .... Jordan 'Jordy' Benedict III
I Died a Thousand Times (1955) .... Joe
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) .... Goon
Johnny Guitar (1954) (uncredited)