A Frail Dennis Hopper Accepts His Hollywood Star

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 26th 2010 02:29PM

A bandaged and visibly frail Dennis Hopper defied all odds today by attending the unveiling ceremony for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In recent days, reports have listed the actor as terminally ill and on his death bed, but he was all smiles when spotted Friday.

Court documents leaked this week reveal the 'Easy Rider' legend is too frail to even continue chemotherapy treatments for his advanced prostate cancer. The filing lists Hopper, 73, as weighing a little more than 100 pounds. In previous court filings, Hopper had expressed hope that chemo would improve his condition enough to work again.

Yet despite his failing condition and dwindling prospects for recovery, Hopper's doctors told CBS affiliate KCA that he was healthy enough to attend the event in Hollywood. Actor Viggo Mortensen and film producer Mark Canton were among those who praised Hopper and his career before the actor himself took the mic. "Everything I learned in life I learned from you," he said, referring to Hollywood. "This means so much to me. Thank you very much everyone, and Hollywood."

Many of Hopper's Hollywood friends were in attendance, including Jack Nicholson, director David Lynch and singer Johnny Mathis. Hopper received the 2,403rd star along Hollywood Boulevard at a midday celebration in front of the landmark Egyptian Theatre.

Hopper and his wife, Victoria, have been engaged in an increasingly nasty divorce battle in recent months. The actor was scheduled to make a deposition in the case, but his attorney, Joseph Mannis, has argued that because Hopper is so ill, he is unable to defend himself in divorce proceedings.

"It is doubtful that Mr. Hopper will ever recover sufficiently to be subject to a deposition," one of the actor's doctors declared.

Hopper filed for divorce in January. The divorce has also been tripped up by Hopper's requests for visits with the couple's six-year-old daughter.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which dishes out the stars, had this to say about Hopper on its Web site: "An acclaimed actor and filmmaker with an iconic and distinctly American voice, Hopper has been twice nominated for an Academy Award: as Best Supporting Actor for his role as an alcoholic father who gets sober to coach his son's basketball team in 'Hoosiers,' and for Best Original Screenplay of the counter-culture road movie 'Easy Rider,' a film he directed, starred in, and co-wrote with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern."

Tags: dennis hopper

Comments

(25)

Saturday 27 March

By Bob

Vote down Vote up Report this

There is an Egyptian Theater AND a Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

Friday 26 March

By George

I think the Chinese theater is still there, alright. They just have SO many stars on the sidewalk, it (the sidewalk with the stars) stretches for blocks and blocks and blocks. I was there in 1981 or so, and we thought we'd walk the entire path and read all the names. It was WAY long, even back then- almost 30 years ago! So...I think they named the Egyptian restaurant-thing just to let folks know where it was. There can BE no more in front of the theater unless they remove some that are already there, and they ain't gonna do that.

By carole del monte

Thank you, Dennis Hopper for your performances & your adventurous lifestyle that most of us could live vicariously. Hang in there. We're wishing the best for you.

By mintrubble71

Hard to believe this is just now happening. I always just assumed he had a star for years. I wish him the best, but he certainly doesn't look like he's long for this world. Too bad.

Wednesday 31 March

By GOLDCLAW

Dennis Hopper was in some of the greatest movies ever--From Rebel without a Cause,Giant,Easy Rider etc.--He deserves a Star on the Walk of Fame--So sad he has to get it just months before he rides that big chopper into the sky!

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