Dennis Hopper finally died.
There’s no denying that the man had rough life. Many people wondered how Hopper lived as long as he did. Some thought he had died again, such was the tumultuous existence of this Holly-world and real-world rebel. When you consider all Hopper’s associated weirdness and drama, it’s a wonder the actor was able to cobble together a decent career.
Here are 5 Cool Ideas on the accidental marketing of Dennis Hopper, inspired by the New York Times obituary written by Edward Wyatt.
1. Adversity can be a trump card.
Dennis Hopper was born in Dodge City, Kansas, home of many a showdown between good guys and bad guys. During his life, Hopper had constant showdowns with alcohol, drugs, directors, wives (five marriages), nature (a fire claimed his Bel Air home in 1962) and finally, prostate cancer after a 10-year battle with the disease.
2. Dennis Hopper almost accidentally defined cinematic cool.
This guy starred in some of the coolest movies ever made including, Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, Rebel Without a Cause and Cool Hand Luke. The parts came to him sporadically and Hopper often fell into great roles despite a bad reputation. In many instances, he did well due to his proximity to greatness. For instance, Hopper credited Marlon Brando with the idea of having him portray a gonzo journalist in Apocalypse Now.
3. An early victory can make you a “success” for life.
Easy Rider won the prize for best first film at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, perhaps because it faced only one competitor. This victory put Hopper on everyone’s radar. He also shared an Oscar nomination for writing the movie, so the phrase “Oscar nominated” applied to Dennis for another, oh, 41 years.
4. When it comes to marketing, you get points for what might be true.
Hopper was romantically linked to Natalie Wood and Michelle Phillips. Extra points! Again, the proximity factor. These dalliances were never officially documented. Hopper got credit for possibly sleeping with both women. Note: When it comes to marketing, getting points for what might be true can work for you or against you.
5. Versatility is an excellent marketing device.
Paul Newman, photographed by Dennis Hopper
When acting gigs were slow, Hopper learned to paint and write poetry. He also became an accomplished photographer known for his “intimate and unguarded” images of Ike and Tina Turner, Andy Warhol and Jane Fonda.
Goodbye, Dennis
Dennis Hopper, like so many other talented people, succeeded in spite of himself. But for all his mistakes and missteps, the accidental marketing of Dennis Hopper was made easier thanks to his habit of breaking bad in real life as well as in front of the movie camera.
See ya, Dennis. Rest in peace, finally. Again.
