Vanity Fair Publishes Dennis Hopper's Final Interview

By PopEater Staff Posted Jul 1st 2010 04:45PM

Mere months before his May 29 death from prostate cancer, Dennis Hopper, 74, gave what would be his last interview, an art-centric conversation with Vanity Fair. Though he introduced himself with a mild "I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well," the terminally ill actor soon dove into depth with the magazine, discussing his upcoming exhibit at LA's Museum of Contemporary Art.

The article includes a striking full-page photo (above left) of a ghastly thin, introspective Hopper with his four children at his side.

The interview gives a glimpse into Hopper's final days, laden with both retrospect and currency, even in the center of the 'Easy Rider' star and director's flagging health and legal drama with his fifth wife. After the jump, hear what Hopper had to say about his messy divorce from Victoria Duffy, his finest achievements and his pride surrounding the first LA exhibition showcasing his life's art and photography.

During writer Bob Colacello's walk through Hopper's home, the actor's art collection was slightly askew. This forced Hopper's first of two brief allusions to the tumultuous divorce from his fifth wife, Victoria Duffy, who was still living on Hopper's property: "We've been rearranging."

The second mention of the untimely split, which Hopper filed for in January: "Who would have ever thought I'd be getting a divorce in this state? It was a big shock."

On the upcoming art exhibit: "I was around when MOCA first started. But I never thought I'd end up there. I mean, to at last have a show in LA."

Greatest acting achievement? "I think 'Blue Velvet,' probably. But I've been in such incredible movies. I think at one point I'd been in the five most expensive movies ever made -- not that I had large parts in them. 'Apocalypse Now' was one."

Greatest achievement in cinema overall? " 'Easy Rider.' 'Easy Rider' and 'The Last Movie' were the only films that I made totally on my own."

On not going to college: "People sit around the Riviera Country Club and say, 'What school did you go to?' And I say, 'Warner Bros.' It's true. I signed a contract when I was 18."

Did he consider himself an actor or director or artist or...? "I made my living as an actor, and I love acting, so I'm an actor. But that gets you in a lot of trouble in the art world. I tell you who's got it: Viggo Mortensen. He's a terrific writer. He's a good photographer. He paints. And he makes music."

Visit Vanity Fair for the article preview or read the entire feature in this month's issue, on newsstands now.

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Tags: Dennis Hopper, Vanity Fair

Comments

(43)

Thursday 01 July

By Lori

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What a horrible picture, his two older daughters are looking at him like they can't stand the sight of him. RIP Mr. Hopper

By bernadette

I was thinking the same thing...Sad.

By Sandy

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Maybe after soooooooooooooooo many wives, he wasn't such a good dad.

Friday 02 July

By coolfl33

Who could stand the sight of their father in his last days?

Sunday 04 July

By Mei

Must be nice to be a mind reader. Having lost both of my parents to cancer what I see when I look at the children is sorrow that he is going to die and that he looks so poorly. Do you really think that it is wise to be so judgemental of someone that you did not know and could not have hoped to know? As someone is often quoted as saying...all I know I read in the papers...well that is a lot of the posters here. My sympathies to your families that they have to live with you.

By jbrock

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how do you know? do you know his daughters?

By Heather

Funny, but Blue Velvet is what made me dislike watching Hopper as an actor.

By Say What

Do I understand you correctly? by your post you state that you watched a movie that he made for pay, that was his occupation after all, and the role he played made you dislike him? WOW How very shallow of you. What do you do for a living? Perhaps people should dislike you because of your occupation.

By What?!

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Cancer ... they haven't found a cure yet. Must be very difficult to achieve this medical breakthrough.

By pnut166

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Wow, that`s really profound. Think of that all by yourself, did you ?

By Anna

How many "last" interviews are there going to be? First Interview with their two-parter and now Vanity Fair?

By Marco Gerardo

I agree about the Blue Velvet movie. He played a horrible criminal with horrible language and filthy statements. But he liked that.

By demomom44

Oh, I loved "Hoosiers". Dennise, rest in peace.

By Ric Rivera

Little has been said about it but Dennis Hopper had a home in Taos, New Mexico. For years he paid for the Saturday matinee for all the local kids. He shot pool with the locals and was always just "one of the guys". I salute the man.

By fymr5

RIP Dennis...a click of the remote is all I need to see ya.......FLASHBACK...... Peace Brother!!

By wfc252

Good god people. Such vitriol. Unhappy are we?? For godsakes, let the man rest in peace. He produced and created, achieved probably more in his lifetime than anyone of you could ever hope to do; if Hopper is guilty of anything, it is that he was terribly hard on himself. Not others. Unlike the behaviorally challenged Chris Brown's and the egotistical Charlie Sheens. Bye Frank. Keep that middle finger raised and ready!!! RIP.

By jimbo

Stop trying to make heros out of vermin.

By cash

did u know him?ur justifying calling him vermin on what evidence?a character he might have played in a movie?you ignorant,pathetic piece of crap.what have u contributed to the arts or society in general?go back to sittin in ur lazyboy with ur beer and doritos.you wouldn't want to miss an episode of spongebob.friggin MORON.

By John Bundy

Hate to see him go, I have seen him in many movies, usually as a bad guy, but he was good. Sorry to see him go.

By jerrysizzle

F--K THEM ALL .......YOU DID WHAT YOU WANTED, WHEN YOU WANTED, AND THATS ALL THAT COUNTS...............R.I.P,......BRO............

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