By Jason Apuzzo. Actor Dennis Hopper died earlier today at age 74. Hopper will be remembered for many things, but I wanted to say just a few brief words in his honor with respect to what seems to me to be his most singular achievement: his film Easy Rider. Every filmmaker today who turns to independent filmmaking to express a personal and uncompromising vision, every filmmaker who seeks to reach young people, every filmmaker who plays the role of David to Hollywood’s Goliath, owes Dennis Hopper thanks for Easy Rider. Easy Rider was genuinely the film that changed the entire landscape of Hollywood during the late 60s-early 70s, and allowed the New Hollywood generation to get its big chance. And it was Hopper – as Easy Rider’s director, writer and star – who was primarily responsible for the film getting made. Seen today, I think Easy Rider has stood the test of time, and has become its own genuine piece of Americana – a kind of wild, bacchic ode to freedom.
Hopper will be missed. He was an extraordinary performer on-camera; one thinks in particular of his electric appearances in Apocalypse Now and Blue Velvet, among many other films. We want to wish his family and friends our condolences.
