Hollywood star Hopper dies of cancer aged 74

DENNIS Hopper, who brought the counter culture to Hollywood with Easy Rider and led a career marked by successes, failures and comebacks, has died at the age of 74.

Hopper, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star this year on the Walk of Fame, died on Saturday at his home in the Venice neighbourhood of Los Angeles, family friend Alex Hitz said. Hopper was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009.

“We rode the highways of America and changed the way movies were made in Hollywood,” Peter Fonda, his Easy Rider co-star, said in comments carried by several news outlets. “I was blessed by his passion and friendship.”