Dennis Hopper’s Addiction Past

He appeared alongside James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause and Giant, but Dennis Hopper’s big break came as a counterculture biker in 1969’s Easy Rider. After that, he made a career out of playing villains and misfits before passing away in May 2010 of prostate cancer at the age of 74.

Off screen, Hopper spent years battling alcohol and drugs.  

The Kansas native grew up in San Diego, California and was cast in Rebel while still in his teens. He continued to find roles and show promise, which was realized in Easy Rider, which he not only starred in but co-wrote.

His introduction to the counterculture wouldn’t continue to serve him well, though.Hopper descended into drug and alcohol abuse in the '70s.

"I was a terrible alcoholic. I'd start drinking in the morning. I'd drink all day long." Hopper told CBS' Charlie Rose, going on to explain that he only did drugs to feed his drinking.

A successful stint in rehab in the early '80s made it possible for Hopper to take on two career-reviving roles in 1986: that of creepy gas-sniffing Frank Booth in Blue Velvet and an alcoholic father in the basketball film Hoosiers.

A poster boy for the recovery movement, Hopper continued to find interesting roles and spoke out about his conservative political views until his death.

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