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)

Tuesday 08 June

By g

Vote down Vote up Report this

@Sue...When I look at Dennis Hoppers 7 year old daughter, I do not see disgust. A child born at any age is a blessing. Who are you to judge.

Monday 07 June

By Griff

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Maybe people over the age of 50 should'nt have children.

By Irish Mist

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Better still perhaps we should just die and blow away? Remember this.....you will someday be old and alone......

By Vicki

So...what give you the right to say at what age people should stop having children? Ever heard of Sarah and Abraham from the Bible? perhaps you should read it!

By Mary

Maybe some people should never have babies period, regardless of age.

By Bubba

Hey Griff
iS IT OUR FAULT YOU CAN'T GET IT UP or ARE YOU A GAY BOY ??

By laurie

How is it selfish and disgusting that he had a 7yr old daughter? I'm sure he loved her alot,and she loved him.As for his wife-SHE is the one that is selfish and disgusting.She could have flown with her daughter and a nanny or other relative to Mexico-but just waited outside the service.Instead-she makes her daughter miss this "closure" in her life,out of spite.No one told her to make a 7yr old fly alone.For the wife to put Mr.Hopper thru all of this crap as he was dying,is pathetic.I hope he wrote her right out of his will,because that's what she deserves.Only his children should get money and possesions,with someone else in control of the 7yr olds part.Otherwise,this money grubbing loser will take it all.It appears,that's all she ever wanted from him in the first place.She's a sorry excuse for a human being.

By paradox2323

BTW, it's NEW Mexico -- an actual state of the United States of America. Check your map -- it's between Arizona and Texas.

By arthur lee davis

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You sure said a truthful mouthful. Frank,Blunt,Direct, And To The Point, Without Pulling Any Punches .

By Kirsten

Laurie youare absolutely right on! As much as anyone can't stand their ex. If you have a child with them you have to deal with them for the rest of your life thru your kids. That mother is the one that is making this hard on herself in the end...her daughter will remeber this.

By Bebe

I guess you knew them both personally. There are two sides to every story and it takes two to end a marriage. She did know him in life so she should have been allowed to attend the funeral with her daughter. Besides he was married 5 times so obviously he was not the greatest husband. Dennis was the selfish one and he will probably end up in hell if it exists.

By K

Its always the kids that suffer, and its all about the frickin money, the child should get the money when she is older, so sad

By judith

Anything for money as MJ say.

By Gail

I PERSONALLY THINK THIS WAS A HORRIBLE THING FOR THE MOTHER TO DO, AS IT SHOWS HOW VINDICTIVE SHE IS AND WHY HE DIDN'T WANT HER NEAR HIM. I PRAY FOR HIS LITTLE GIRL, AS SHE WILL NEED SOME HELP IN GROWING UP WITH SUCH A VINDICTIVE MOTHER. I AM DIVORCED AND I'D HAVE NEVER,EVER DONE SUCH A THING. VERY SAD.

By minnie

I don't know the rights or wrongs in this case ( and don't care, either) but I would not allow my seven year old child to fly out of state without me for any reasnon!

By Minnie

Sounds like she has some vindictive siblings!

By karen

What kind of people would expect a 7 year old to attend a funeral, especially her father's, without their mother? Stupid,selfish people that's who.

Dennis Hopper was a talented actor but not much of a humanbeing or a father if he wanted his 7 year old there without her mom. His older children are money sucking losers as well. What a fine job he did parenting that group, the 7 year old will be better off without him, he clearly wasn't thinking of her welfare anyway.

I think he was the one who filed and pushed for a divorce, not her

By Mmmm

Why would a 7 year old attend a funeral? I personally wouldn't want my children at a funeral until they are older.

By ms.r

mmmm well sure no need in some cases for a 7 year old to attend but this was her father.makes a big diffrence.being there may help her to under stand hes gone .i see mom has already put some trach on the table shame on her regardless dead alive he will still be her father . she is just bitter

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