Hollywood icon Dennis Hopper dies, was a leading official of CineVegas
LOS ANGELES -- Dennis Hopper, the high-flying Hollywood wild man whose memorable and erratic career included an early turn in "Rebel Without a Cause," an improbable smash with "Easy Rider" and a classic character role in "Blue Velvet," has died. He was 74.
Hopper died Saturday at his home in the Los Angeles beach community of Venice, surrounded by family and friends, family friend Alex Hitz said. Hopper's manager announced in October 2009 that the actor-director had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The success of "Easy Rider" and the spectacular failure of his next film, "The Last Movie," fit the pattern for the talented but sometimes uncontrollable Hopper, who also had parts in such favorites as "Apocalypse Now" and "Hoosiers." He was a two-time Academy Award nominee, and in March 2010, was honored with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
Hopper also chaired CineVegas' creative advisory board.
He took the job after he was awarded the film festival's highest honor, the Marquee Award, in 2003. The award recognized Hopper for the amazing cinematic career he has led, spanning more than fifty years.
Hopper's involvement in the festival was a draw for other cinematic legends. In 2004, he invited a few friends to join him at CineVegas. Those friends include actors Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, Holly Hunter, Dean Stockwell and Robin Wright Penn, and directors David Lynch, Julian Schnabel and Bruce Conner.
Their collective presence signaled a growing acceptance of CineVegas among Hollywood-based professionals.
"If anyplace can be cool, Vegas can be cool," Hopper told the Review-Journal's Carol Cling in a 2004 interview.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
