By Frank Worth

Young Dennis Hopper waiting for his lunch in a Hollywood bistro circa 1955.

Dennis Lee Hopper (1936) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and film-maker.

He made his acting debut in an episode of the television show Medic in 1955 playing a young epileptic. Dennis Hopper was then cast in two roles with James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) and Giant (1956).

He appeared in over 140 episodes of television shows such as Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, The Defenders, The Big Valley, The Time Tunnel, The Rifleman and Combat.

Other films include The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) and True Grit (1969) with John Wayne, and Easy Rider with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson.

Other notable roles were Frank Booth in Blue Velvet, King Koopa in Super Mario Bros and Victor Drazen in 24.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Hoosiers.