Happy Birthday, Dennis Hopper! Born today in 1936 as Dennis Lee Hopper, this American artist, photographer, actor and filmmaker is regarded by many as one of the true "enfants terribles" of Hollywood.
Hopper began his film acting by appearing alongside James Dean in American film director Nicholas Ray's 1955 American WarnerColor drama/coming-of-age story film 'Rebel Without a Cause'. Hopper was credited as Goon.
The following year, Hopper co-starred in American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer George Stevens' 1956 American WarnerColor drama/epic Western film 'Giant' as Jordan Benedict III.
One year later, Hopper co-starred in John Sturges' 1957 American Technicolor Western/drama film 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' as the young Billy Clanton.
In the late 1960s, Hopper appeared in American film and television director Stuart Rosenberg's 1967 American Technicolor prison drama/crime film 'Cool Hand Luke' as the bet-taker Babalugats.
Two years later, Hopper made his feature debut. He co-wrote, co-starred and directed the 1969 American Technicolor/black and white independent drama/road film 'Easy Rider'. Hopper co-starred (as Billy) alongside Peter Fonda (Wyatt), who also co-wrote and produced.
A landmark counterculture film, and a "touchstone for a generation" that "captured the national imagination," 'Easy Rider' explored the societal landscape, issues, and tensions in the United States during the 1960s.
On a budget of $360,000–$400,000, 'Easy Rider' went on to gross $60 million at the box office. The success of the film helped spark the New Hollywood era of filmmaking during the early 1970s.
Critics have also praised the performances, directing, writing, soundtrack, visuals, and atmosphere.
Critics have also praised the performances, directing, writing, soundtrack, visuals, and atmosphere.
In the early 1970s, Hopper married his third wife. This was American somatic/expressive arts therapist, author, teacher dancer, and former actress Daria Halprin. They had been married from 1972–1976.
She is best known for co-starring as Daria in Italian film director, screenwriter, editor, painter, and short story author Michelangelo Antonioni's 1970 American drama film 'Zabriskie Point'.
In the late 1970s, Hopper appeared as career criminal Tom Ripley in German filmmaker, playwright, author, and photographer Wim Wenders' 1977 West German/French neo-nor thriller/crime film 'Der amerikanische Freund' ('The American Friend').
Two years later, Hopper had a bit part in American film director, producer, screenwriter, film composer, and vintner Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 American epic war/drama film 'Apocalypse Now'. Hopper was credited credited as Photojournalist.
As an actor, Hopper is best known for portraying Frank Booth; the masochistic, sexually depraved, obscenity-spewing noxious fume-inhaling (possibly amyl nitrate) psychopath of whom performs bizarre sexual proclivities on lounge singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rosselini).
This was in American filmmaker, painter, musician, singer, sound designer, photographer, and actor David Lynch's 1986 American neo-noir mystery/drama film 'Blue Velvet'.
Upon reading the script, Hopper said to Lynch: "You have to let me play Frank Booth. Because I am Frank Booth!"
Upon reading the script, Hopper said to Lynch: "You have to let me play Frank Booth. Because I am Frank Booth!"
In 1998, American cultural critic, film historian, journalist and former executive editor of Premiere magazine Peter Biskind wrote his biographical film criticism reference work book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N Roll Generation Saved Hollywood.
In it, he says that in 'Easy Rider', Hopper's "...cocaine intake had reached three grams a day by this time, complemented by thirty beers, and some marijuana and Cuba libres."
Hopper had been active from 1954–2010.
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