So how do we say goodbye to the multi-talented and totally unforgettable Dennis Hopper? Flower power and the open-minded embrace of the 60s are long gone, and now there’s one less icon from that generation to remind us of what could have been. Yet Dennis survived and thrived in the decades that followed, and the man who wrote Easy Rider never failed to find opportunities to write, direct, and act, where he provided us with a legacy of performances that are decidedly unique. Beyond all that, though he was certainly a fine thespian and a very creative soul, it wasn’t just his artistic prowess that registered, but his personality. Some stars cultivate a persona, while others reach the top simply by being themselves on whatever stage presents itself. I would surely count the illustrious Mr. Hopper among the latter.
Whether he was playing a hero or a villain, and whether he was cast in a prominent role or a bit part, Dennis Hopper had a presence that always resonated. There was a certain candor in the way he approached even his most sincere roles that made it seem as if he was winking at the audience in some way. He didn’t take his craft lightly, and he didn’t devalue his parts or the films he toiled on, I don’t mean to suggest that, yet there was no mystery as to who the wizard was. No matter the part, there could be no doubt when Dennis was in charge of Oz, for no curtain could ever hope to conceal his unmistakable charm.
He was an actor who played terrific villains in films like Blue Velvet and Speed, a wild card who just made shit up for his part in Apocalypse Now, and a fellow who could be counted upon for a stirring performance in touching films like Hoosiers as well as total clunkers like Waterworld. He was a tireless worker, and he is credited with better than two hundred roles in films and television shows of varying quality and budget.
Here was a guy who once said “You want to hear about insanity? I was found running naked through the jungles in Mexico. At the Mexico City airport, I decided I was in the middle of a movie and walked out on the wing on takeoff. My body . . . my liver . . . okay, my brain . . . went.” He was equally well known for abusing drugs and alcohol and creating chaos on set, to such an extent that former friends like Peter Fonda referred to him as a “fascist” when he was working on a picture.
Later on Hopper became an outspoken Republican, readily admitting that he voted for both George Bush and the intellectual powerhouse we have come to know as W. This was a man who remained unpredictable at every turn and whose life was always marked by a devotion to his craft and a tumultuous personal life. He was criticized for roles he took (I imagine King Koopa from Super Mario Bros. sits at the top of that list) and roles he declined (Taxi Driver) but he was always busy, working right up to his demise on Saturday, May 29 at the age of 74.
I can think of no better way to pay tribute to this stellar actor, yet even as I present my Top 5 Dennis Hopper Performances, I feel it necessary to note that I always liked him just as much for his vibrant personality as I did for his electric performances. Dennis Hopper, you will be sorely missed.
So how do we say goodbye to the multi-talented and totally unforgettable Dennis Hopper? Flower power and the open-minded embrace of the 60s are long gone, and now there’s one less icon from that generation to remind us of what could have been. Yet Dennis survived and thrived in the decades that followed, and the man who wrote Easy Rider never failed to find opportunities to write, direct, and act, where he provided us with a legacy of performances that are decidedly unique. Beyond all that, though he was certainly a fine thespian and a very creative soul, it wasn’t just his artistic prowess that registered, but his personality. Some stars cultivate a persona, while others reach the top simply by being themselves on whatever stage presents itself. I would surely count the illustrious Mr. Hopper among the latter.
Whether he was playing a hero or a villain, and whether he was cast in a prominent role or a bit part, Dennis Hopper had a presence that always resonated. There was a certain candor in the way he approached even his most sincere roles that made it seem as if he was winking at the audience in some way. He didn’t take his craft lightly, and he didn’t devalue his parts or the films he toiled on, I don’t mean to suggest that, yet there was no mystery as to who the wizard was. No matter the part, there could be no doubt when Dennis was in charge of Oz, for no curtain could ever hope to conceal his unmistakable charm.
He was an actor who played terrific villains in films like Blue Velvet and Speed, a wild card who just made shit up for his part in Apocalypse Now, and a fellow who could be counted upon for a stirring performance in touching films like Hoosiers as well as total clunkers like Waterworld. He was a tireless worker, and he is credited with better than two hundred roles in films and television shows of varying quality and budget.
Here was a guy who once said “You want to hear about insanity? I was found running naked through the jungles in Mexico. At the Mexico City airport, I decided I was in the middle of a movie and walked out on the wing on takeoff. My body . . . my liver . . . okay, my brain . . . went.” He was equally well known for abusing drugs and alcohol and creating chaos on set, to such an extent that former friends like Peter Fonda referred to him as a “fascist” when he was working on a picture.
Later on Hopper became an outspoken Republican, readily admitting that he voted for both George Bush and the intellectual powerhouse we have come to know as W. This was a man who remained unpredictable at every turn and whose life was always marked by a devotion to his craft and a tumultuous personal life. He was criticized for roles he took (I imagine King Koopa from Super Mario Bros. sits at the top of that list) and roles he declined (Taxi Driver) but he was always busy, working right up to his demise on Saturday, May 29 at the age of 74.
I can think of no better way to pay tribute to this stellar actor, yet even as I present my Top 5 Dennis Hopper Performances, I feel it necessary to note that I always liked him just as much for his vibrant personality as I did for his electric performances. Dennis Hopper, you will be sorely missed.
Top 5 Dennis Hopper Performances
My comments here will be brief, as I really want this to stand as more of a retrospective, so you won’t find as much detail in the following rankings.
1) Shooter – Hoosiers (1986)
Easily my most favorite film featuring Hopper, and his wonderful turn as Shooter is one of the my favorite aspect of this epic sports film. Memorable, moving, and bolstered by Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper at their absolute best, Hoosiers is a great movie.
“Alright, boys, this is the last shot we got! We’re gonna run the picket fence at ’em! Jimmy, you’re solo right! Everett, Merle should be open on the other side of that fence! Now, boys, don’t get caught watchin’ the paint dry!”
2) Billy – Easy Rider (1969)
This should be fairly obvious, but there’s a detour coming up. This is where it truly began, and it should be noted that the film that allowed Hopper to declare his presence in the industry is a landmark in the history of American cinema. Easy Rider is a masterpiece the likes of which we’ll probably never see again.
“Hey, man. All we represent to them, man, is somebody who needs a haircut.”
3) Lyle from Dallas – Red Rock West (1993)
My second favorite Dennis Hopper film is my favorite Nick Cage picture, and director John Dahl uses their passion to enliven a great noir film that never got the attention it deserved. Hopper excels at playing a homicidal maniac, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“You must be Suzanne. You look pretty enough to eat.”
4) Huey Walker – Flashback (1990)
Did I imply that Red Rock West was underappreciated? That goes double for Flashback, which is perhaps Hopper’s warmest and most entertaining film. He and Kiefer Sutherland have terrific chemistry, and the movie itself is funny and moving.
“If you guys ever thought about brightening this place up, like, you know, a few plants, some flowers, you’d attract a better class of criminal. And man, if I can say one other thing, the room service sucks, and so do some of the customers.”
TONY’s #5) Frank Booth – Blue Velvet (1986)
Honestly, I don’t like the film or the performance, which is over-the-top even by Hopper’s zany standards. Yet I fully understand this picture’s place in cinema, and I know many of you would put it at the top of the list. I have it at 5 here, and I will readily admit that both the character and Hopper’s performance are truly memorable.
“Heineken? Fuck that shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon!”
MY #5) Clifford Worley – True Romance (1993)
The part of Clifford Worley belongs on this list for many reasons, not the least of which is the quality of the picture, but one scene in particular stands out. True Romance brought Hopper and Christopher Walken together for a fantastic scene that allows both actors to play to their strengths. Both the movie and the scene are exhilarating experiences that benefit from Hopper’s style and charisma.
“Well, then the Moors moved in there, and uh, well, they changed the whole country. They did so much fuckin’ with Sicilian women, huh? That they changed the whole bloodline forever.”
If you take a quick look at this screen legend’s amazing body of work, you’ll see how difficult this was. With that in mind, there are a plethora of worthy performances that didn’t make my list. I probably miss his particularly inspired contribution to Apocalypse Now and his Donald Rumsfeld impersonation in Land of the Dead the most, but I imagine any Hopper fan has their own personal favorites.
As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and I’m always interested in any ideas you might have for future Top 5 lists.
“We ain’t going to win every battle, but can win the war.” – Dennis Hopper
