Surrounded by family and friends, Dennis Hopper died from complications of metastatic prostate cancer on Saturday morning at his Venice, Calif. home, his manager confirms to UsMagazine.com. The edgy, Oscar-nominated actor and sometime writer-director — known for his roles in Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Speed and over 100 other films — was 74.
Hopper became ill in fall of 2009, but continued to work (on the TV series Crash and a photography book) until the end. Although he appeared frail and gaunt, the icon showed up in March to receive his star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
“Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from Hollywood,” he said at the ceremony. The Kansas native arrived in Hollywood at age 18. “This has been my home and my schooling.”
Hopper’s final days were marred by a caustic divorce battle with his fifth wife, Victoria Duffy. One of his ex-wives included Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, to whom he was married for a mere eight days.
The screen legend is survived by four children: daughters Marin, Ruthana and Galen, and son Henry.