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Dennis Hooper is interviewed by James Lipton on Inside the Actor's Studio. A look into one of the most interesting and amazing of the long-time Hollywood legends. Dennis Hopper was there at the very beginning of a new era in films that has now come to a close as the paradigm shifts to a world of computer generated movies that go beyond the scope of reality. Dennis Hopper is/was one of the real ones. Dennis Hopper appeared 199 times in onscreen acting roles in movies and television, directed 8 movies, and wrote 4 movies.

A master of so many characters and so many emotions. He could portrait a very small weak man or a big tough man. He was sometimes a true psycho and sometimes he had an other world sort of centered calm and power. He went out on the edge of it more that many of the 'straight' actors. He always seemed to be beyond it.

On James Dean: "He said, 'You've got to start doing things and not showing them.' And I said what do you mean'Do them and not show them?" He said, 'Well, if you're smoking a cigarette, smoke the cigarette. Don't act smoking the cigarette. Ya know? If you're drinking, drink the drink. Don't act drinking.'"

Dennis experienced "The Sixties" and he helped create "The Sixties". Anyone who was hip knew that Dennis Hopper is one of the most 'out there' actors and filmakers of them all. But in the long run, the path of the amazing Dennis Hopper was through his craft in a most excellent way. He brough something out from way deep inside himself that we all liked to watch. If you liked "The Sixties", you probably like Dennis Hopper.

There are many stories that are told be the old timers in Taos about the early days of Dennis' scene here, including the time that Dennis reportedly "shot up the plaza' with two 45s because he said he "wasn't getting enough respect". After that he got respect, because "they thought he was nuts."

These two interesting videos feature Dennis talking about his career.

Part 1 (10min 5sec)

Part 2 (10min 10sec)