Dennis Hopper, Good-Bye Easy Rider

A moving service at the historic San Francisco de Asis Church was held for Easy Rider star Dennis Hopper yesterday in Taos, New Mexico, after he lost his battle with prostate cancer on May 29.

He died at the age of 74 at his home in Venice, Calif., with his family by his side. Hopper announced that he had advanced prostate cancer last October and by January, it was said to have spread to his bones.

Remembering Dennis Hopper

According to news reports, his casket was carried by a group of friends and family including his son Henry Lee. His “Easy Rider” co-star Jack Nicholson was reportedly present as was his “True Romance” co-star Val Kilmer.

Hopper, a veteran actor, not only directed the 1969 “Easy Rider” film (written by Hopper, Peter Fonda and Terry Southern) about two bikers (Fonda and Hopper) who travel the Southwest and South in search of freedom, but he also starred in what has become a Hollywood cult classic.

During his lengthy career, Hopper was also a two-time Oscar nominee and appeared in more than 100 movies.

Hopper earned his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March saying that he came to Hollywood from his native Kansas at 18, “so that was my college.” “Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from Hollywood,” he said. “This has been my home and my schooling.”

During his fight with cancer, he had also filed for divorce from his fifth wife Victoria Duffy.

Hopper is survived by four children.