Dennis Hopper was a true American survivor, a Hollywood party boy, an artist, a genius character actor, and a human lineage in some of the coolest films of all time. Before there was the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, there was the Three Degrees of Dennis Hopper.

I first saw Dennis Hopper on “screen” when my movie-loving Dad sat me down as a young teen to show me Hopper’s incredible and most famous portrayal as the doomed hippie in 1969’s Easy Rider (side saddle with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson). Soon after that, I got into movies in a big way and started noticing Dennis Hopper popping up in some of the most iconic films of all time... his first major film role was along side the ill-fated trifecta of James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo in 1955’s Rebel Without A Cause. A year later he could be seen again with his buddy James Dean in the screen epic Giant with Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor.

After that Dennis Hopper’s filmography reads like a zeitgeist of the times… he showed up in classic westerns like Gunfight At The OK Corral, and John Wayne’s best movie ever, True Grit. Hopper had an uncanny knack of landing supporting roles in what would be the lead actor’s defining roles, such as Paul Newman’s Cool Hand Luke and Martin Sheen’s Apocalypse Now.

In later years Hopper took lead roles as dark and truly twisted villains in art-house films like Blue Velvet and Paris Trout, but paid the bills with lead roles in Speed, the bizarre hippie comedy Flashback opposite Keifer Sutherland (with the tag line “The 90’s are going to make the 60’s look like the 50’s”… or something like that), and his unforgettable monologue as Christian Slater‘s father, opposite Christopher Walken in True Romance. He was even in the Vancouver-shot Out Of The Blue, featuring legendary Vancouver pop-punk band The Pointed Sticks.

Dennis Hopper was thee Hollywood bad boy who lived through it all while many around him did not, be they Hollywood legends, Manson Family members, or Beach Boys, and today we raise the bong to the real Rebel Without A Cause.

Mojave desert mud bath.

Chimo! Just arrived back in Vancouver and sliding back into reality… my lovely new wife and I had a fantastic yin-yang honeymoon, the first half in luxurious Palm Springs, the second half in rough ‘n’ tumble Desolation Sound. Down in Palm Springs we got around in a convertible red Mustang. In Desolation Sound we got around in a convertible beat up blue speedboat named Big Buck$. Thanks very much to everyone who has overwhelmed us with warm wedding wishes, emails, tweets, and gifts. It’s truly humbling in many ways. I’m back to doing the daily live show on CBC Radio 3 and working on a few different Podcast Specials for June and July.

Don’t forget that this Friday night in Vancouver it’s the live event A Night At The MOV. Hope to see you there! I’ll be a guest and I’m looking forward to it!

Wow… well, it happened. I am officially a married man! My wife is the lovely Jill Barber, and together we want to thank everyone who has sent us such warm wishes. Our wedding was more than I ever thought it could be, filled with beautiful performances, words and sentiments. Plus some wild dancing. We are truly so lucky to have such wonderful and talented friends, and must thank those that performed and spoke: Rose Cousins, David Myles, Chris Kelly, Jian Ghomeshi, Amanda Putz, Rebecca Hunt, members of Jill’s band, and Jill’s big brother Matthew Barber. He performed a stunning rendition of his song “True Believer” to close our ceremony which was a magical moment that I’ll never forget. We taped it so hopefully I’ll be able to post some video soon. Above is a shot of Jill and I in the getaway car, my Dad’s 1968 Mercedes. This is the ONLY time I’ve ever been allowed to drive it! Now it’s time for the honeymoon…