Jack Nicholson Sends Off "Soul Mate" Dennis Hopper

Former Easy Rider mate joins family and close friends in Taos for Hopper's funeral

By Josh Grossberg Jun 02, 2010 10:40 PMTags
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Fittingly enough, Jack Nicholson was there today in Taos, N.M., to send off former wingman Dennis Hopper on his final ride.

Nicholson, who got his big break cruising alongside Hopper in Easy Rider, joined with Hopper's family and close friends to pay final respects to the iconoclastic star at a funeral in the town he loved.

Hopper died Saturday after losing a yearlong battle with prostate cancer. He was 74.

Among the dozens attending the memorial and burial were actors Dean Stockwell and Val Kilmer.

All hopped aboard private jets in Los Angeles and traveled to the historic San Francisco de Asis church in Ranchos de Taos, where Hopper lived during the early '80s

"It was a very singular relationship I had with him, like nobody else. We were soul mates in a way. I really miss him," Nicholson said.

Hopper's brothers and son, Henry Lee, acted as pallbearers, carrying the simple wooden coffin to and from the church. His body was interred at a private burial service.

Aside from his son, Hopper was survived by three daughters, Marin, Ruthanna and Galen Grier.

Hopper and Galen's mother, Victoria Duffy, had been involved in a nasty divorce at the time of his death, and she has vowed to continue to fight for a sizable portion of his estate.

(Originally published June 2, 2010, at 1:59 p.m. PT)

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Remember all the Hollywood rebel's great roles with E! Online's Dennis Hopper: A Life in Pictures gallery.