Passed Away Resulting from Cancer: Poh Nikbar October

“What are they gonna say about him? What are they gonna say? That he was a kind man? That he was a wise man? That he had plans, man? That he had wisdom? Bullshit, man!” – Dennis Hopper, Apocalypse Now

Dennis Hopper

Man, I was shocked to hear the rumor that Dennis Hopper was stoned while filming Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, which is widely considered a top-50 film of all time. Man, he seemed so normal, man, with his long hair and wackjob rants, not to mention the film's trippy cinematography and plot.

Hopper’s acting career consisted of over 200 movies including the best sports film, Hoosiers, in which he was nominated for an Academy Award for playing a passionate drunk. He excelled as a villain. He was the bad guy in 24 (never cross Jack Bauer, man) and Speed, opposite the God of Acting Keanu Reeves and also one of my favorite movies. Of all his movies including Apocalypse and Easy Rider—also considered in the top 100—it is Speed that Hopper is best known for according to IMDB.com. Speed has taught me useful life knowledge. Always shoot the hostage. Cheap gold watches make for great bombs. And poor people are crazy but, man, Hopper is just eccentric.

Hopper divorced five times, including a real nasty one with his final wife soon before his death. In 2009 Hopper was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. The cancer reportedly spread to his bones, and he was considered terminal and unable to undergo chemo. Hopper passed away in his home on May 29, 2010, at age 74. Damn, man.