Dennis Hopper 1936-2010

While traveling overseas I heard the news that Dennis Hopper lost his battle against prostate cancer. I immediately thought of Easy Rider, his landmark directorial debut that ushered in the wave we now name as American Independent Cinema. Whether it was the fringe of his coat, the length of his sideburns, or the power of the chopper, Dennis Hopper made the counterculture revolution look and sound like a new America.

I probably first encountered Hopper in the 1956 film Giant. I say probably because his prolific career spanned television and film for over 50 years. Who knows, I may have become a Dennis Hopper fan with a late afternoon rerun of Petticoat Junction when I was a small girl. No matter when I first encountered him, I came to respect him with his performances from Hoosiers to Elegy. He was a film icon and we are better for it.

Get your motor runnin’….

About Amy L. Darnell

Teacher, scholar, student, wonderer, wanderer, fan, foe, friend, acquaintance, all of these and more, but ultimately just an Ohio daughter.
This entry was posted in In General and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *