Biography
Following his screen debut alongside the original Hollywood bad boy, mentor James Dean, in "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), Hopper nearly shot his career in the foot because of his penchant for being difficult on set. When he returned to Los Angeles after a stint making television in New York, Hopper scored a critical and commercial success as the director, writer and one of the stars of "Easy Rider" (1969), perhaps one of the most culturally …
Latest Tv Credits
1 - 4 of 4
Dennis Hopper SlideShow
1 - 4 of 27
Career Milestones
| Acted in several low budget, independent films | ||
| After high school acted with the Pasadena Playhouse in California | ||
| Began career as photographer; appeared in Andy Warhol's "Tarzan and Jane Regained... Sort of" (1963) | ||
| Exhibited photography in USA, Tokyo and Europe | ||
| Raised on a farm in Dodge City, KS | ||
| Starred on Broadway in "Mandingo" with Franchot Tone | ||
1949 | Moved with family to San Diego, CA | |
1955 | Film acting debut in "Rebel Without a Cause" starring James Dean | |
1955 | Made TV debut on an episode of "Medic" (NBC) as a young epileptic | |
1956 | Again cast opposite Dean in "Giant" | |
1958 | Dropped from contract at Warner Bros.; left Hollywood for New York and studied acting with Lee Strasberg for five years | |
1958 | Involved in legendary conflict with director Henry Hathaway on the set of "From Hell to Texas"; reportedly did over 100 takes of a simple scene before giving the requested line reading | |
1963 | First feature starring role, "Night Tide"; written and directed by Curtis Harrington | |
1967 | First collaboration with Peter Fonda, "The Trip"; a low-budget cult film directed by Roger Corman | |
1969 | Feature directing and co-writing debut (also co-starred), "Easy Rider"; shared Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern | |
1971 | Credited as co-writer of documentary about himself, "The American Dreamer" | |
1971 | Made the financially and critically failed, "The Last Movie" with Peter Fonda and Michelle Phillips; film's only success was winning the Critics Prize at the Venice Film Festival | |
1979 | Won renewed attention for small but showy role in Francis Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" | |
1986 | Acted in the controversial role of Frank, a nitrous oxide sniffing thug, in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" | |
1986 | Earned Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his protrayal of an alcoholic basketball fan in "Hoosiers" | |
1988 | Directed the critically acclaimed feature "Colors" starring Robert Duvall and Sean Penn | |
1990 | Helmed (also co-starred) the noir romance "Catchfire"; removed his name after post-production trouble (credited under the fictional pseudonym Alan Smithee) | |
1991 | Acted in Sean Penn's feature directorial debut "The Indian Runner" | |
1991 | Earned an Emmy nomination for Showtime's "Paris Trout" | |
1994 | Had villainous role as a mad bomber in the hit film "Speed" | |
1995 | Played the villain, Deacon in "Waterworld" | |
1995 | Was the subject of the documentary "Dennis Hopper: L.A. Blues" | |
1996 | Displayed romantic side in a richly realized, change-of-pace characterization of a Midwestern farmer in "Carried Away" | |
1997 | Cast as Mickey Wayne in "The Blackout" | |
1998 | Portrayed Frank Slater in the comedy feature "Meet The Deedles" | |
1999 | Played Matthew McConaughey's father in "Edtv" | |
2001 | Portrayed villain Victor Drazen in the first season of the FOX series "24" | |
2002 | Cast in the crime comedy "Knockaround Guys" | |
2003 | Starred as Frank in Steve Balderson's thriller, "Firecracker" | |
2004 | Appeared on the NBC's "Las Vegas" as head of the Montecito Hotel and Casino's sister operation in Louisiana | |
2006 | Starred in "10th and Wolf" an indie film based on a story by Bobby Moresco and Chazz Palminteri | |
2007 | Cast opposite Billy Zane in the psychological thriller, "Memory" | |
2008 | Co-starred with Charlize Theron and Nick Stahl in the indie drama, "Sleepwalking" | |
2010 | Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | |
2010 | Voiced the character of Tony in the animated feature, "Alpha and Omega"; his final feature film project | |
Awards
1969 | Academy Award for Writing (Story and Screenplay--Based On Material Not Previously Published or Produced) in Easy Rider |
1969 | Cannes Film Festival for Prize for the first work in Easy Rider |
1969 | Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Easy Rider |
1969 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Special Award in Easy Rider |
1986 | Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Hoosiers |
1986 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in Blue Velvet |
1986 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Hoosiers |
1986 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in Blue Velvet |
1986 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in Hoosiers |
1986 | Montreal World Film Festival for Best Actor in Blue Velvet |
1986 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in Blue Velvet |
1987 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in Blue Velvet |
1988 | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film Series |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In a Miniseries or Special in Paris Trout |
1995 | MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in Speed |
2002 | San Sebastian International Film Festival for Donostia Award |