Dennis Hopper dies at age 74

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   JENNA WOLFE, co-host: Dennis Hopper was a lot of things in Hollywood -- an actor, a director, even an art collector -- but most of all he was known as Hollywood 's bad boy , a character he spent his life perfecting. On Saturday Dennis Hopper died at the age of 74 after a long battle with prostate cancer. NBC 's Lee Cowan looks back at his remarkable and at times controversial career.

   LEE COWAN reporting: He was a motorcycle-riding, pot-smoking hero of the counterculture, compliments all to Dennis Hopper , whose life was anything but an easy ride. It was that iconic film that rocketed Hopper to stardom, firmly entrenching him in the role of social outcast...

   COWAN: ...whether in the jungles of Vietnam or the freeways of Los Angeles .

   Mr. PETER BISKIND (Author): Hollywood always admired its bad boys . You know, whether it's Dennis Hopper or Jack Nicholson or Robert Evans . And I think he certainly falls into that category.

   COWAN: Hopper 's hero was another bad boy , James Dean .

   COWAN: He appeared with Dean twice, in " Rebel Without a Cause " and "Giant."

   COWAN: So while Dean was brooding, Hopper was brass and defiant, a trait that landed him his many roles as it lost him.

   Mr. PETER BART (Daily Variety): He was always just a brilliant, creative guy who tended to be his own worst enemy. I think that's the key to Dennis .

   COWAN: Born in 1936 in Kansas , a farm boy , he saw his first movie at age five. He was creative early with art and photography soon becoming passions. But Hopper 's personal life was painted with torment. Marriage after marriage, and then there were the drugs.

   Mr. DENNIS HOPPER: Alcohol and drugs caused me to hit bottom. I went -- I went insane, hearing voices, some classic stuff.

   Mr. BISKIND: He was essentially out of control, and it created a lot of problems for himself.

   COWAN: It earned him a reputation for being stubborn and uncooperative, and yet his performances rarely disappointed.

   COWAN: He was nominated twice for an Oscar , but it wasn't until this March that Hopper finally got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , one of this last public appearances.

   Mr. HOPPER: This has been my home and my schooling, and I love all of you.

   Offscreen Voice: Love you back.

   Mr. HOPPER: And...

   COWAN: He lived and died in two worlds, as much a pariah as a wonder boy , as much as a genius as a madman, all the makings of the true Hollywood cult figure. Lee Cowan, NBC News, Los Angeles .

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