- After Dean Martin's tragic death, it was often remarked that Hopper attempted to fill his friend's shoes by borrowing much of his persona, absorbing the late icon's famously defiant attitude and becoming so temperamental that his once-bright career quickly began to wane.
- Is set to climb aboard a motorbike once again - he's taking his Guggenheim Motorcycle Gang on a publicity ride.
- Hopper and Dean Martin became close friends during filming, and also worked together on 1956's GIANT.
- Long a pariah, Hopper was suddenly hailed as a major new filmmaker, and his success became so great that in 1971 he produced an autobiographical documentary, AMERICAN DREAMER, exploring his life and times.
- Several of the actors who were considered for the role of Frank in BLUE VELVET (1986) found the character too repulsive and intense. Hopper, by contrast, is reported to have exclaimed, I've got to play Frank. Because I am Frank!
- Robert Duvall and Hopper leave APOCALYPSE NOW (1979) the exact same way: by standing up from a squatting position and walking out of the frame to the right.
- In the scene of WATERWORLD (1995) where his character deacon takes aim at Kevin Costner with his rifle, he first licks his thumb and then wipes the rifle sight, just like Gary Cooper does with his Alvin York character in SERGEANT YORK.
- Originally cast as Christof in THE TRUMAN SHOW (1998), but walked off the set after his first day.
- When science teacher Bob Roberts (Hopper) returns from the 1960s in MY SCIENCE PROJECT (1985), he's wearing the same costume that Hopper wore when he played Billy in EASY RIDER (1969).
- BLUE VELVET (1986): The oxygen mask used by Dennis Hopper in the scenes at Dorothy Vallens' apartment was intended by Lynch to dispense helium. The resulting helium voice -given the profanity in those scenes- would have given them a different flavor indeed! Due to the danger of inhaling helium, however, Dennis Hopper refused to comply.
- BLUE VELVET (1986): A scene in which Dennis Hopper slaps Isabella Rossellini across the face was edited to just be heard off-screen to satisfy MPAA concerns about violence towards women. Lynch stated that in his opinion the change made the scene more disturbing.
- While making the circuit of talk shows to promote this movie, he stated WITCH HUNT (1994) (TV) was the strangest movie he had been in.
- In EASY RIDER, (1969) Peter Fonda, Hopper, and Jack Nicholson were actually smoking marijuana on camera.
- Required 85 retakes for one scene in FROM HELL TO TEXAS (1958), causing director Henry Hathaway to tell him you'll never work in this town again! It was ten years before Hopper obtained another major role.
- Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special at Emmy Awards for PARIS TROUT (1991)
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at Academy Awards for HOOSIERS (1987)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture at Golden Globe Awards for BLUE VELVET (1987)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture at Golden Globe Awards for HOOSIERS (1987)
- Nominated for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced at Academy Awards for EASY RIDER (1970)
Quotes- "You want to hear about insanity? I was found running naked through the jungles in Mexico. At the Mexico City airport, I decided I was in the middle of a movie and walked out on the wing on takeoff. My body... my liver... okay, my brain... went."
- On Marlon Brando: "He's simply the best, and if he wants to call acting merely a craft, then he's the greatest craftsman who ever lived."
Awards- CineVegas International Film Festival: Marquee Award (2003)
- Santa Monica Film Festival: Lifetime Achievement Award (2003)
- San Sebastián International Film Festival: Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award (2002)
- Young Hollywood Awards: Role Model Award (2001)
- Taos Talking Picture Festival: Maverick Award (1999)
- Brussels International Film Festival: Crystal Iris (1998)
- Empire Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award (1998)
- New York International Independent Film & Video Festival: Feature Film Award - Best Antagonist Actor, THE BLACKOUT (1998)
- Razzie Awards: Worst Supporting Actor, WATERWORLD (1996)
- MTV Movie Awards: Best Villain, SPEED (1995)
- Florida Film Festival: John M. Tiedtke Award for artistic vision (1994)
- Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Supporting Actor, BLUE VELVET (1987)
- National Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Supporting Actor, BLUE VELVET (1987)
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actor, BLUE VELVET (1986)
- Montréal World Film Festival: Best Actor, BLUE VELVET (1986)
- National Society of Film Critics Awards: Special Award, EASY RIDER (1970)
- Cannes Film Festival: Best First Work, EASY RIDER (1969)
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