Dennis Hopper's Divorce-Torn Daughter Missed Funeral

By PopEater Staff Posted Jun 7th 2010 05:30PM

Caught up in the messy divorce proceedings between Dennis Hopper and Victoria Duffy, 7-year-old Galen Grier Hopper was forced to miss her father's funeral last week. The battle for the actor's multimillion-dollar estate could rage for several years if both sides persist, but the immediate victim is, without question, young Galen.

"That's the thing that's just tragic," a friend of the couple tells The Daily Beast. "A 7-year-old girl has just lost her father, and she can't even go to his funeral."

Each side tells a different story, with Victoria's friends saying Galen was "disinvited," and Hopper's friends insisting Victoria used Galen "as a pawn." Read on for the full letter from Hopper's attorney to Duffy's camp.

A day prior to the funeral, Hopper's attorney, Joe Mannis, contacted Duffy's people with an amicable arrangement for the funeral. The transmission, obtained exclusively by The Daily Beast, reads as follows:

"As your client knows, the funeral for Mr. Hopper will be where he wanted to be buried in Taos, New Mexico. As your client also knows ... she is not invited to the funeral. It was Mr. Hopper's specific wish that Ms. Hopper not attend his funeral. Ms. Hopper has indicated that she is not going to allow Galen to attend the funeral unless she attends. Mr. Hopper's family (particularly after what was said about them in the press by Ms. Hopper) does not wish that Ms. Hopper attend the funeral. On the family's behalf, I request that [her nanny] be allowed to bring Galen to the funeral and return her thereafter. Please let me know whether your client will consent to do what I can only call the 'decent thing.'"

Though the letter seems well-intentioned, one of Victoria's friends says it arrived hours before the funeral. "It's insane. You don't send a 7-year-old on a private plane to her father's funeral without her mother," the source says.

The vicious he-said, she-said is nothing new for matters concerning Hopper and Duffy [pictured at right]. The 'Easy Rider' star married Victoria, his fifth wife, in 1996; they crumbled into dysfunction not long after. "She found him cruel and controlling, her friends say. He thought she was cold and materialistic, his friends say," The Daily Beast reports. Sources say the couple had not had sex in several years and that Hopper's eldest daughter, Marin (five years Victoria's senior), moved into their home.

Pile on tales of stolen paintings, prenuptial agreements, settlements and irreconcilable differences, and one simple fact remains: A young girl was unable to see her father laid to rest in what was by all accounts a touching service.

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Dennis Hopper Snapshots

The casket of Dennis Hopper is ushered out of the San Francisco de Asis chapel in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., after a memorial service Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Hopper, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star this year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died Saturday at age 74 at his home in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009.

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

People wait to enter the San Francisco de Asis chapel for a memorial service for Dennis Hopper in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Dozens of family members, friends and locals attended the service. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

Henry Lee Hopper, center right, the son of Dennis Hopper, gets a hug before a memorial service for his father in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Dozens of Dennis Hopper's family members, friends and Taos locals attended the service. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

Actor Jack Nicholson, right, talks with Taos residents about the iconic film "Easy Rider" after a memorial service for Dennis Hopper in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Hopper first came to New Mexico in 1969 to scout locations for "Easy Rider." Nicholson was among dozens of family members and friends who attended Hopper's memorial service. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

Actor Val Kilmer, right, talks with fellow mourners before a memorial service for Dennis Hopper in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Hopper, 74, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star this year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

The casket of Dennis Hopper is ushered in to the San Francisco de Asis chapel in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., after a memorial service Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Dozens of family members, friends and Taos locals attended the service. Hopper, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star this year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died Saturday at age 74 at his home in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

David Hopper, center, talks to friends before a memorial service for his brother, actor, director and artist Dennis Hopper, in Ranchos de Taos, N.M., on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Hopper,74, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star this year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

29: Actor Dennis Hopper seen here in 2004 at the Texas Film Hall Of Fame Awards held in Austin, Texas, died today in Venice CA. May 29, 2010. Dennis Hopper - File Photos Various Locations Los Angeles, CA United States May 30, 2010 Photo by Gary Miller/FilmMagic.com To license this image (17280419), contact FilmMagic.com

Dennis Hopper Snapshots

Tags: Dennis Hopper, Victoria Duffy

Comments

(310)

Monday 07 June

By Sue

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It's disgusting that a man Hopper's age, had a 7 year old daughter. Selfish, disgusting old geezers.

By David

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Sue, if you are fortunate, one day you will be old, and you may see things differently.

By lily

Sue, you are an intolerant closed minded moron. You are almost as bad as Hoppers ex who kept his child away from the funeral of her father. One day when that child is old enough she will resent her mom for doing that all because her mom wasnt wanted at the memorial. She wasnt wanted because shes a rotten human being...You Sue are a close second.

By Boston Blackie

WOW who stepped on your tail? Whats the matter sweets can't get a man of any age would be my guess. Guess what, I find your remarks disgusting as well. Grow up and find out what life is all about. Word of warning...you will be old and alone sometime and I hope that you remember this day.

By Vicki

Yep. you will get old someday unless you die young...Age has nothing to do with it...I'm sure he loved his 7 year old daughter just like he loved his other children...there is always enough love to go around no matter what the age. You my dear need to grow up!

By trmnatr2

Not really selfish,she couldnt exist without him.Imagine you not given the chance to live because your parent was elderly.

By djp

You obviously hate yourself to really believe that. Try a little love sometime....it works.

Tuesday 08 June

By Judy

I am female and 60 years old and I couldn't agree MORE. When you produce a baby at this stage in life it's very irresponsible to think you will be around when that baby even graduates from high school. I've know of Dennis Hopper for decades. Although I wish him peace in his afterlife, this man was a horrible man here on earth. Prior to his death his family and those he made movies with all said he was really nasty on the set. I also strongly believe his daughter shoved the wife out of the marriage once she found out daddy was terminal. I've seen this kind of thing before. It stinks. And finally, you don't send a small child to her daddy's funeral with a nanny. Victoria was long term married to this man. She should have been able to take the child and go. She was his wife.

By Sheila

If my 67 yr. old great grandfather hadn't gotten married again at 66 I wouldn't even be here. Altogether my great grandfather had 10 children and still fought in the civil war. You need to lighten up Sue. And don't even go there about oh that was a different time it was ok then. It's no different today.

By daddyo

Sue......your a fukin douchebag

By guinevere

just because he was an older Dad..didn't mean he wasn't capable of loving his child..which he did..know plenty of "younger" dads, who are too busy to give their kids much attention ..how old should a man be before they should cease having a child? I'ts really no one's business, but the two people having the child..I just wish Galen had been allowed to go to the funeral..btw the bulk of his estate is slated to go to his all his kids as it should be

By Jim

Sue, just because you cant get any doesnt mean you should condemn those that can. Congrats to Dennis for still be able to have an active love life

By Bubba

SHE IS DEAD ALREADY....

BRAIN DEAD

By muffinfluffer

nice. maybe, if you see the litle girl on the street, you can spit on her. sue, you are disgusting.

By Gary

Sue and Judy - Both of your are a couple of douche bags that most likely can't even get a guy to look at you twice, not matter how old they are....LMAO. Get a life. I'm 53 with a 4 year old, so I take what you two twats are saying as personal.

By Liz

Wow...Glad you are not in charge. Go back in your cave.

By goodoldrebel

He was generous enough to give life when he was 67. He didn't need that kind of responsibility. He could have just relaxed, played golf and enjoyed his golden years. I give him alot of credit for having a child at that age

By tonino63

As a woman I'm ashamed to say, women will do whatever to trap a man or hold on to wealth! Did you ever think the Bimbo got pregnant on purpose! We see it all the time, it's the only way they have to hang on to a rich man! Once they have his child, then the court will grant them everything! What should happen is they get nothing just because they allowed themselves to get pregnant! What in the world a woman of that age wants with a 60/70 year old man is one thing, well maybe two..... "MONEY" "FAME". When they are not in the public eye it's only #1! Happened to my brother in law, we tried to warn him! She used the oldest line in the book "I can't get pregnant anymore". Then it was a miracle only 2 months and she is pregnant! Now a 67 year old man is running after a beautiful little girl, that he loves to death, but looks as if it's going to kill him! Luckily he got custody as this women was lieing to DR's to medicate the child and we cought her! It's just a shame that men let their ego and (wrong head) think for them and don't see what these woman really want!

By sieben13

Your so so CHRISTIAN MINDED :-(Its surprising that you didn't have words of encouragement for the mother who kept his daughter from the his funeral

By RAY

IT IS DISGUSTING THAT A LADY HER AGE WOULD BED A MAN HOPPERS AGE...
BUT AS USUAL A YOUNG LADY THOUGHT SHE HIT THE JACKPOT

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