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Full Name: Dennis Hopper
Date of Birth: May 17, 1936
Place of Birth: Dodge City, Kansas, U.S.A.
When Dennis Hopper graduated from high school, he was voted most likely to be succeed. From then on, he devoted to his acting career. He was said to be esepcially fond of Shakespean plays. In 1954, he got his first job on film with director Nicholas Ray, as an uncredited character in Johnny Guitar. in 1955, Ray and Hopper reunited for another film Rebel Without A Cause. Hopper became close friends with James Dean, Natalie Wood, Nick Adams and others. They hang out together throughout the filming. Like the Buzz Gunderson gang in the film, the group often stormed the streets and restaurants nearby late at night. In the same year, Hopper joined Dean in the rebellious star's last film Giant, playing Rock Hudson's son. Dean's death on September 30, 1955 also left a great impact on young Hopper. His infamous confrontation with director Henry Hathaway shortly after Dean's accident resulted in him being blacklisted from films for several years. For the next decade, he was often typecasted as troubled teens on television shows and films. He was always the bridemaid, never the bride, playing bit parts in these shows and seldom got the chance to express his acting talent. During that time, he had developed interest in photography, painting and writing poems.
1969 marked a turning point to Hopper's career. That year, the actor directed, co-wrote and acted in road-film Easy Rider, co-starring Peter Fonda. The film was hailed as an anthem to the lost generation of Vietnam War. It was (and still is) one of the most independent film ever made to this day. Hopper's stop photography and improvisational methods earned him wide acclaims as an actor-director.
Although Hopper was gone through many troubles in personal lives (i.e. alcohol, drugs, etc.), he was undoubtedly one of the most influential filmmakers in the film history. After the suceess of Easy Rider, he had made many major films which earned him great fame and numerous awards as both an actor and a director. Other important films he had participated in include: Apocalypse Now (1979), Blue Velvet (1986), Hoosiers (1986), Colors (1988), Paris Trout (1991) and Speed (1994). To this day, Dennis Hopper is still a very active filmmaker. He is also an internationally accomplished photographer and one of the top collectors of modern art.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) - Goon
Easy Rider (1969) - Billy, Director
Apocalypse Now (1979) - Photojournalist
Blue Velvet (1986) - Frank Booth
Hoosiers (1986) - Shooter
Paris Trout (1991) (TV) - Paris Trout
Speed (1994) - Howard Payne
1969
- Cannes Film Festival - Easy Rider (1969) - Best First Work (won!)
- Cannes Film Festival - Easy Rider (1969) - Golden Palm (nominated)
1970
- Academy Awards - Easy Rider (1969) - Best Writing, Story and Screenplay based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced (shared with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern) (nominated)
- Directors Guild of America Award - Easy Rider (1969) - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (nominated)
- Kinema Junpo Award - Easy Rider (1969) - Best Foreign Language Film (won!)
- Golden Laurel - Easy Rider (1969) - Male New Face (nominated; 5th place)
- Writers Guild of America Award (Screen) - Easy Rider (1969) - Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen (shared with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern) (nominated)
- National Society Film Critics Award - Easy Rider (1969) - Special Award (for the director, co-writer and co-star) (won!)
1980
- Cannes Film Festival - Out of the Blue (1980) - Golden Palm (nominated)
1986
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award - Blue Velvet (1986) - Best Supporting Actor (won!)
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award - Hoosiers (1986) - Best Supporting Actor (won!)
- Montreal World Film Festival - Blue Velvet (1986) - Best Actor (won!)
1987
- Academy Awards - Hoosiers (1986) - Best Actor in a Supporting Role (nominated)
- Boston Society of Film Critics Award - Blue Velvet (1986) - Best Supporting Actor (won!)
- Golden Globe - Blue Velvet (1986) - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (nominated)
- Golden Globe - Hoosiers (1986) - Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (nominated)
- Independent Spirit Award - Blue Velvet (1986) - Best Male Lead (nominated)
- National Society Film Critics Award - Blue Velvet (1986) - Best Supporting Actor (won!)
1991
- Emmy Award - Paris Trout (1991) (TV) - Outstanding Lead Actor in Miniseries or a Speical (nominated)
1994
- Florida Film Festival - John M. Tiedtke Award (for artistic vision) (won!)
1995
- MTV Movie Award - Speed (1994) - Best Villain (won!)
1996
- Razzie Award - Waterworld (1995) - Worst Supporting Actor (won!)
1998
- Brussels International Film Festival - Crystal Iris (won!)
- Empire Award - Lifetime Achievement Award
- New York International Independent Film & Video Festival - Feature Film Award (Spring) - The Blackout (1997) - Best Antagonist Actor (won!)
1999
- Taos Talking Picture Festival - Maverick Award
2001
- DVD Exclusive Awards - Video Premiere Award - L.A.P.D.: To Protect and to Serve - Best Supporting Actor (nominated)
- Young Hollywood Awards - Role Model Award (won!)
2002
- San Sebastian International Film Festival - Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award
2003
- CineVegas International Film Festival - Marquee Award
- Santa Monica Film Fesival - Lifetime Achievement Award
2004
- Method Fest - Lifetime Achievement Award
Dennis-Hopper.com
Dennis Hopper Page
Dennis Hopper at IMDB.com
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