Dennis Hopper dies, aged 74

Actor Dennis Hopper has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

BBC News reports that Hopper passed away on Saturday morning surrounded by friends and family at his home in Venice, California.

The award-winning star, who was diagnosed with the illness last year, was last seen in public in March after being honoured on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

In a career spanning 55 years, the Kansas-born actor was best known for co-writing, directing and starring in cult movie Easy Rider in 1969, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for 'Best Original Screenplay'.

> Obituary: Dennis Hopper