Who was Dennis Hopper? (1936-2010)

This past weekend the iconic actor and member of the counter culture Dennis Hopper passed away. In 2006, Robert Weingarten had the opportunity to work with Hopper. Weingarten, a California based photographer interested in the line between biography and portraiture asks his famous subjects, “What makes you who you are?” Weingarten proposes that “who we are,” is not the physical self that changes over time, but our passions, mottos we live by, memories, experiences, and contributions. 

The resulting image, part of the museum's Photographic History Collection, is a translucent composite made with Weingarten’s digital photographs.

 

The images are based on the list Hopper made describing himself, which acknowledges his influence on American culture and his personal passions.

• The director’s chair with his name on it as a reference to the movies he has directed.
• The mural based on Hopper’s photograph, “Double Standard” and his camera indicate his work as a photographer.
• The painting of the woman is one made by Hopper, the artist.
• The Andy Warhol painting of Mao references his modern art collection. The two bullet holes in the painting were created when he “shot Mao” during a drug induced rage.
• There are his golf clubs and a cigar.
• And, of course, the iconic motorcycle, “Easy Rider.”

Over the next few weeks we will see many obituaries and remembrances written by others. Weingarten’s photograph gives us Hopper’s last word on how he defined himself.

Shannon Perich is Associate Curator for the Photographic History Collection at the National Museum of American History.

Comments

[annabelle]

Easy Rider surely was a great Movie and Dennis Hopper a star. Made back in the days before Hollywood decided all movies needed to be over exaggerated by unrealistic stunts and actors worth.

[Patricia Forbes]

Some have mentioned the many dimensions of Hopper's acting. I recall seeing him portray Richard II at The Shakespeare Theater in Washington, DC. I was mostly curious to see how he did, given the quality Michael Kahn had created there in repertoire theater. His portrayal was delicious! It's wonderful to see Weingarten's composite and read your commentary. It adds a number of other dimensions for me to this unique acting presence.

[Der Exilgolfer]

I really like the article, thanks a lot. The picture says a lot about the person, much more than all those obituaries written in a hurry. He will be missed.
P.S. as a Golfer I like the fact, he included his clubs in the picture. Makes total sense to me.

[chris]

That is great, a film that shaped the direction my life has taken

[Ken]

I was pretty sure I posted at your site before but perhaps it didn't go through. Any way that is a very cool picture & I appreciate the list of things in it. Dennis Hopper was a great actor & I believe a real person not plastic like so many stars.

[Douglas Horman]

A very appropriate image- hopefully Mr. Hopper would approve! He really was one of the greats.

[Retta]

I think this is the way everyone would like to be remembered and thought about. We are not what we look like or what we see in the mirror, we are our hopes and dreams, our thoughts and plans, our loves and hates. We are not perfect teeth or wrinkles.

[Metzeler ME880]

Easy Rider was the first movie I saw with Dennis Hopper in it and I've been a fan ever since. I agree with Mark's comment in regards to one dimensional actor's and having to judge them harshly. Dennis Hopper has definately owned most of the roles I've seen him in. Thanks for doing the research and filling us in on some things I may have never known about Dennis Hopper. Keep up the good posts.

[Movie Fan]

Great post. I liked his work but never really knew so much about him.

Seems like you did do a lot of research before posting this article about Mr.Hopper

Keep up the good work :)

[Mark]

I judge actors pretty harshly, having little time for those who can basically only play themselves.

The truly great actors seem to be few and far between, and my benchmark has always been Laurence Olivier, who could portray a wide array of characters and you may not even recognise him in the role (e.g. the Mahdi in Khartoum).

Robert de Niro would be another example, for me, and although I've barely scratched the surface of Dennis Hopper's movies, looking down the list of what he's been in on IMDB.com reminds me of quite a few that I hadn't even realised he'd been in at all (e.g. True Grit).

But whatever roles I saw him in, he was, to me at least, always convincing, and not some one-dimensional "actor" who always plays the same parts (i.e. themselves).

He will be missed.