Dennis Hopper, Actor and Iconoclast, Has Died

Actor Dennis Hopper, the Hollywood elder statesman who appeared in such classic movies as Easy Rider and Apocalypse Now, has died.

A Reuters report says the 74-year-old performer died Saturday at his home in Venice, Calif. He had been suffering from prostate cancer.

Hopper appeared extremely frail and bone-thin in recent months.

The celebrated actor, Oscar-nominated filmmaker and noted visual artist rose to fame in mid-century Hollywood as a co-star and friend to rebel icon James Dean.

For decades Hopper's career was erratic due to his unpredictable and defiant behaviour, struggles with substance abuse and reputation as a hellion. However, he eventually settled down and earned a raft of kudos for both his film work as well as for his photos, paintings and sculptures.

His prolific movie credits ranged from early successes such as Rebel Without a Cause and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral to the 1960s classics Cool Hand Luke and Easy Rider (which Hopper starred in, directed and won wide acclaim for co-writing), to later hits like Apocalypse Now, Rumble Fish, Blue Velvet and Hoosiers.

Story Courtesy of CBC