Easy Come Easy Gaughin

Dennis Hopper

I saw an interesting documentary on David Lynch over the weekend called Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch. Dean Stockwell told a few interesting stories about his encounters with Lynch in the late 60’s (Lynch remembers them fondly, Stockwell not at all.) Stockwell says that when he got the script for Blue Velvet, he liked every role except the one Lynch wanted him for. When Stockwell learned that Hopper had been cast as the fearsome Frank Booth, he thought “I know Dennis pretty well, and I knew how Dennis would play him.”

So that was only partly an act. Which may be all you need to know to not try to make Dennis Hopper your pal.

He’s an iconic figure, and though his career’s spotty at best, his very best work rivals almost anyones, as you can see from his ten best roles.

Ten best roles

Note; while his role in Apocalypse Now really revved up the anxiety count, it’s so small that it doesn’t measure here. Still, there’s

10) Straight Shooter 9) Hoosiers 8) Double-Crossed 7) Carried Away 6) Out of Season 5) Red Rock West 4) The American Friend 3) Speed 2) Blue Velvet 1) Easy Rider

Percentile rating

97.44