An acclaimed actor and filmmaker with an iconic and distinctly American voice, Dennis Hopper was born in Dodge City, Kansas and grew up in San Diego, California. Following stage performances at the Old Globe Theatre and the La Jolla Playhouse as well as early television appearances, Hopper made a lasting, national impression with his performance in Nicholas Ray's classic "Rebel Without a Cause," opposite James Dean and Natalie Wood. He quickly followed this with equally revelatory performances in George Stevens' epic "Giant" and John Sturges' "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral." He expanded his range and career after relocating to New York City where he studied with one of the giants of the craft, Lee Strasberg; while in New York, Hopper starred in a myriad of television shows, including "The Rifleman," "Naked City," "The Defenders," "The Twilight Zone" and "Wagon Train."

Following a return to Hollywood and continued work in cutting-edge, independent films (as both an actor and second-unit director), Hopper changed the face of American cinema with the 1969 film "Easy Rider," which Hopper directed, co-wrote (with co-star Peter Fonda and Terry Southern) and headlined. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay, as did another of its stars, Jack Nicholson (for Best Supporting Actor). The film, made for $350,000, went on to gross in excess of $50 million and garnered Hopper the Best New Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Since "Easy Rider," Hopper has been a familiar presence both in front of and behind the camera for more than three decades. He has been in over 140 television shows and has starred in more than 150 films including "Apocalypse Now," "River's Edge," "Blue Velvet," "Hoosiers," "True Romance," "Speed," "Waterworld" and "EdTV."

Hopper received the prestigious CIDALC award at the Venice Film Festival for "The Last Movie" (1971), which he directed, co-wrote and starred in. He received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for his role in "Hoosiers." He also received a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Frank Booth in David Lynch's now-classic "Blue Velvet."

Hopper completed a starring role in zombie-genre father George A. Romero's "Land of the Dead." Other film projects for Hopper include: a starring role as legend Frank Sinatra in the independent film "The Night We Called It a Day"; and the films "10th & Wolf" (starring opposite James Marsden, Giovanni Ribisi and Brad Renfro), "Out of Season" (opposite Gina Gershon) and "The Keeper" (with Asia Argento). Hopper also played opposite outstanding cast members Joseph Fiennes, Sam Shepard, Elisabeth Shue and Debra Unger in the feature "Leo." He became Chairman of the CineVegas Film Festival in June 2004. Hopper has also appeared on NBC?s "Las Vegas" with James Caan, in the television movie "The Last Ride" and on the acclaimed series "24."

In addition to acting and directing, Hopper is a noted photographer and painter.