Introduction

Henry Hopper is an American actor and artist whose career has developed under the long shadow of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable names: his father, actor and filmmaker Dennis Hopper. Born in Los Angeles in 1990, Henry grew up surrounded by film, art, and creative influences, but he did not immediately pursue a conventional Hollywood career. His eventual breakthrough came with Gus Van Sant’s Restless, where he played Enoch Brae opposite Mia Wasikowska. The role introduced him to international audiences and demonstrated an interest in unconventional, emotionally complex characters.

Over the years, Hopper has appeared in films including The Color of Time, The Fly Room, Yosemite, Don’t Come Back from the Moon, and Street Punx. He has also pursued visual art, making his career broader than acting alone.

Who Is Henry Hopper?

Henry Hopper is an American actor and visual artist best known for his performance as Enoch Brae in the 2011 film Restless. He was born Henry Lee Hopper on September 11, 1990, in Los Angeles, California. His parents are actor-director Dennis Hopper and actress Katherine LaNasa.

Although his family name gave him an immediate connection to Hollywood history, Henry’s career has not been limited to mainstream acting. His professional interests have included painting, mixed-media art, modeling, music-video appearances, and independent cinema.

His career is particularly interesting because he entered the entertainment world with an established family legacy but pursued projects that were often outside conventional commercial Hollywood formulas.

A useful way to understand Henry Hopper is to see him as a multidisciplinary creative, rather than simply “Dennis Hopper’s son.”

Henry Hopper at a Glance

Biographical and film databases identify September 11, 1990, as Hopper’s birth date and Los Angeles as his birthplace.

Early Life and Childhood

Henry Hopper was born into a family deeply connected to the arts.

His father, Dennis Hopper, was an influential actor, filmmaker, photographer, and artist whose career stretched across several decades. His mother, Katherine LaNasa, is also an actress, giving Henry exposure to professional performance from an early age.

Growing up in Los Angeles naturally placed Henry close to the American entertainment industry. However, his early interests extended beyond acting.

This distinction is important.

Rather than treating Hollywood as his only possible career path, Hopper developed an interest in visual art and creative experimentation. A 2008 exhibition at Frank Pictures Gallery in Santa Monica documented his early work as a painter and mixed-media artist.

A Creative Environment

For a young person growing up around artists, creative work can become a normal part of everyday life rather than simply a career choice.

In Hopper’s case, that environment appears to have encouraged multiple forms of expression.

His early artistic work included:

• Acrylic painting
• Spray-paint techniques
• Mixed-media pieces
• Collage
• Sculpture
• Abstract compositions

This background later helped distinguish him from actors whose careers are focused exclusively on film and television.

Henry Hopper’s Family Background

Family is an important part of any Henry Hopper biography because his surname carries considerable Hollywood history.

Henry is the son of Dennis Hopper and Katherine LaNasa. He also has half-siblings from his father’s other relationships, including Marin Hopper, Ruthanna Hopper, and Galen Grier Hopper.

His family connections placed him within several generations of creative and entertainment professionals.

However, family connections and professional achievement are not the same thing. Henry still had to establish his own identity as an actor and artist.

Henry Hopper and Dennis Hopper

The connection between Henry and Dennis Hopper naturally attracts significant public interest.

Dennis Hopper was known for landmark films such as Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, and Apocalypse Now. He was also an accomplished photographer and visual artist. His career crossed acting, directing, writing, photography, and painting.

That creative range provides an interesting context for Henry’s own interests.

Both father and son have been associated with more than one artistic discipline.

His Father, Dennis Hopper

To understand Henry Hopper’s career, it helps to understand the legacy he inherited.

Dennis Hopper became internationally famous through a career that included acting, directing, writing, and photography.

His breakthrough as a filmmaker came with Easy Rider in 1969, which he directed and co-wrote while also starring in the film. Later performances in movies such as Blue Velvet and True Romance further established his reputation.

Dennis Hopper died on May 29, 2010, at age 74.

Interestingly, Henry was already working on Restless around the time his father became seriously ill and died.

That coincidence had a profound effect on how Henry later discussed the film.

Henry Hopper and His Mother Katherine LaNasa

Katherine LaNasa is Henry Hopper’s mother.

LaNasa has maintained a career in television and film and has spoken publicly about motherhood and her two children. Henry was born during her marriage to Dennis Hopper. She later married actor Grant Show, with whom she has a daughter, Eloise.

This means Henry belongs to a family with several connections to the entertainment industry.

His mother’s career also provided another professional example of acting, separate from the legacy of his father.

Education and Interest in Art

Henry Hopper’s creative development was not limited to film sets.

He studied at the California Institute of the Arts, commonly known as CalArts, where he explored visual art. Sources documenting his early career describe his interest in painting and sculpture during this period.

This artistic education helps explain why interviews and profiles from the beginning of his career often presented him as an artist as much as an actor.

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His 2008 Art Exhibition

One of the clearest examples of Henry’s early visual-art career came in 2008, when Frank Pictures Gallery presented his debut solo exhibition, “People Are Other People.”

The exhibition ran from November 7 to December 3, 2008, in Santa Monica. The gallery records works created using acrylic, spray paint, collage, and mixed media.

This is significant because the exhibition took place before his best-known acting role in Restless.

In other words, Henry Hopper was already developing an artistic identity before becoming widely recognized as an actor.

Henry Hopper’s Acting Career

Henry Hopper’s acting career has been relatively selective compared with the enormous number of projects associated with his father.

His early screen appearance came in the 1990s, followed by a substantial break from acting before his major role in Restless. Entertainment databases list his film work across the 2010s and into the 2020s.

Some notable projects include:

Film databases document these credits, although release dates can differ depending on festival screenings and commercial distribution.

Restless and His Breakthrough Role

For most people searching for Henry Hopper, Restless is the most important title to know.

Directed by Gus Van Sant, Restless centers on Enoch Brae, played by Hopper, and Annabel Cotton, played by Mia Wasikowska.

Enoch is a withdrawn young man with an unusual fascination with death. His life changes when he meets Annabel, a young woman living with a terminal illness.

The film combines:

• Romance
• Coming-of-age drama
• Grief
• Mortality
• Isolation
• Young adulthood
• Emotional connection

Hopper’s performance placed him at the center of an emotionally demanding story.

The film was selected for the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where it appeared in the Un Certain Regard section. Contemporary Cannes material described Enoch as the central character whose emotional journey drives the story.

Why Restless Mattered

The role was particularly significant because Henry had spent years resisting the idea of simply following the family profession.

In a 2011 interview with TheWrap, Hopper explained that he had resisted acting for years and described acting as helping him process his father’s death. He had filmed Restless before Dennis Hopper died from cancer in May 2010.

This created an unusual overlap between the fictional story and his personal experience.

The movie dealt heavily with mortality, while Henry was simultaneously experiencing the real loss of his father.

Henry Hopper Movies and Filmography

1. Kiss & Tell

Kiss & Tell represents one of Henry Hopper’s earliest screen credits.

The 1996 film predates his major acting career by many years. After this early appearance, he did not immediately become a regular Hollywood performer.

This long gap is one of the more unusual aspects of his career.

2. Restless — 2011

Restless is arguably the project most closely associated with Henry Hopper.

He played Enoch Brae alongside Mia Wasikowska and Ryo Kase.

The film gave him international exposure and established him as a serious young performer rather than merely a celebrity’s son.

3. The Color of Time — 2012

Hopper appeared in The Color of Time, an experimental biographical drama inspired by the life and poetry of C. K. Williams.

The film used multiple actors to portray Williams at different ages and stages of his life. Hopper was credited as C.K. Williams in the project.

This type of unconventional project fits the broader pattern of Hopper’s film choices.

4. The Fly Room — 2014

Hopper appeared in The Fly Room as Arthur.

The film continued his association with independent productions rather than positioning him primarily within large commercial franchises.

5. Yosemite — 2015

In Yosemite, Hopper played the character Henry.

The film is adapted from stories by James Franco and follows interconnected young characters in California. Hopper’s participation further expanded his work in independent cinema.

Entertainment listings identify Yosemite as one of his notable acting credits.

6. Don’t Come Back from the Moon — 2017

Hopper played Ray in Don’t Come Back from the Moon.

The film focuses on a California community affected when several fathers disappear, leaving their families to deal with the consequences.

It is another example of Hopper gravitating toward character-focused independent filmmaking.

Rotten Tomatoes currently lists the film with an 88% Tomatometer score, although review scores can change as additional reviews are added.

7. Street Punx

More recently, Hopper appeared as Sidhu in Street Punx, a comedy-drama directed by Maja Holzinger.

The film follows an aspiring filmmaker who becomes involved with an underground punk scene in Yangon, Myanmar. Apple TV lists Henry Hopper among the principal cast.

The film was released in the United States in 2024 after being identified as a 2022 production.

Henry Hopper as a Visual Artist

Acting is only one part of Henry Hopper’s creative history.

His work as a visual artist began receiving professional attention while he was still a teenager.

The Frank Pictures Gallery exhibition People Are Other People provides documented evidence of his early artistic activity. The gallery lists paintings and mixed-media pieces created with acrylic, spray paint, pastel, and other materials.

Examples of His Early Art

The gallery archive includes works such as:

• Untitled I
• Untitled II
• Untitled III
• Kevin
• Chris
• Grace
• Sarah
• Dennis
• Tree
• Blue
• Chair

Many of these pieces used abstract or semi-abstract approaches rather than traditional portraiture.

This matters when examining Hopper’s career because it shows that his artistic identity was not created solely as an extension of his acting work.

His Creative Style

Descriptions of Hopper’s early art emphasize experimentation and emotional expression.

The gallery’s documentation describes his work as involving “emotional landscapes” inspired by relationships and personal experiences.

His early works frequently used strong contrasts and layered materials.

Materials Associated With His Work

His documented exhibition included:

• Acrylic paint
• Spray paint
• Pastel
• Canvas
• Mixed-media materials
• Assemblage techniques

Rather than relying entirely on realistic representation, these works explored texture, color, shape, and emotional association.

That approach is interesting when compared with his acting career.

His best-known performance in Restless also depends heavily on atmosphere, emotion, isolation, and internal experience.

Living Outside His Father’s Shadow

One of the biggest challenges for any actor born into a famous entertainment family is comparison.

For Henry Hopper, the comparison was particularly strong because his father was not simply a successful actor. Dennis Hopper was a major figure in American film history.

Henry therefore entered an industry where audiences already knew his surname.

The Advantages

Having a famous parent can provide certain advantages, such as:

• Early exposure to professional filmmaking
• Familiarity with creative environments
• Industry connections
• Understanding of entertainment culture
• Access to artistic education and opportunities

The Challenges

There can also be significant challenges:

• Constant comparisons with a famous parent
• Public expectations
• Difficulty establishing an independent identity
• Media focus on family relationships
• Assumptions about privilege or career motivation

Henry’s career choices suggest an interest in establishing an identity through unconventional films and visual art rather than attempting to reproduce his father’s career exactly.

A 2011 W profile noted that Henry was already conscious of the danger of being treated as a commodity in Hollywood.

Henry Hopper and the Meaning of Restless

The significance of Restless goes beyond its position as a film credit.

For Hopper personally, the project became intertwined with grief.

He filmed the movie before his father’s death, but its story involved illness, mortality, and emotional loss. According to his interview with TheWrap, the experience of working through those themes influenced how he processed what happened in his own life.

This does not mean the film was literally about his father.

Rather, the timing created an unexpected emotional parallel between the fictional world and Hopper’s personal experience.

For audiences researching Henry Hopper’s biography, this context helps explain why Restless remains such an important milestone.

Henry Hopper’s Approach to Fame

Hopper’s public profile has generally been more understated than that of many Hollywood actors.

He has not built his career primarily around celebrity publicity or a large volume of commercial projects.

Instead, his credits show a preference for:

• Independent films
• Character-driven stories
• Experimental projects
• Artistic collaborations
• Creative work outside conventional acting

His early interest in painting also suggests that he sees creativity as something broader than acting alone.

This distinction is useful for understanding why his filmography is relatively selective.

Henry Hopper’s Career Today

As of 2026, Henry Hopper remains associated with acting and creative work, with his documented screen credits extending into the 2020s.

His recent filmography includes Street Punx, where he played Sidhu.

Public information about his current personal life and future projects is comparatively limited, so it is better to avoid assuming that every unverified online claim represents his present circumstances.

For readers searching for “Henry Hopper now,” the most reliable approach is to focus on confirmed professional credits and reputable interviews rather than social-media speculation.

What Makes Henry Hopper Different From Other Hollywood Actors?

Henry Hopper’s career stands out for several reasons.

1. He Comes From a Major Film Family

His father was Dennis Hopper, one of the most distinctive figures in American cinema.

2. He Developed an Independent Artistic Identity

His visual-art exhibition history demonstrates that painting and mixed media were serious interests before his acting breakthrough.

3. His Breakthrough Came Through Independent Cinema

Restless was not a conventional blockbuster. It was an emotionally unusual film directed by Gus Van Sant and presented at Cannes.

4. His Filmography Is Selective

Rather than appearing in dozens of major commercial productions, Hopper has worked primarily in smaller and independent projects.

5. His Career Crosses Multiple Creative Fields

He has been associated with acting, painting, mixed media, modeling, and music-related visual work.

Henry Hopper’s Place in the Hopper Family Legacy

The Hopper name has an unusual place in American culture.

Dennis Hopper’s legacy includes cinema, photography, and visual art. Henry’s career also crosses film and visual art, although their professional paths are not identical.

That distinction is important.

A family legacy can provide inspiration, but it does not automatically determine an individual’s artistic voice.

Henry Hopper’s documented career shows someone exploring his own creative interests while inevitably being connected to his father’s history.

His work in independent film and visual art provides a separate chapter in the broader Hopper family story.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Henry Hopper?

Henry Hopper is an American actor and visual artist born in Los Angeles on September 11, 1990. He is the son of actor and filmmaker Dennis Hopper and actress Katherine LaNasa.

2. How old is Henry Hopper?

Henry Hopper was born on September 11, 1990. As of September 30, 2026, he is 36 years old.

3. Who are Henry Hopper’s parents?

His parents are Dennis Hopper and Katherine LaNasa. Dennis Hopper was a prominent actor, filmmaker, photographer, and artist, while LaNasa is an actress.

4. What movie made Henry Hopper famous?

His best-known breakthrough role was Enoch Brae in Gus Van Sant’s Restless, released in 2011. He starred opposite Mia Wasikowska.

5. Was Henry Hopper in Yosemite?

Yes. Henry Hopper played the character Henry in Yosemite, a 2015 film.

6. What other Henry Hopper movies are notable?

His filmography includes Restless, The Color of Time, The Fly Room, Yosemite, Don’t Come Back from the Moon, and Street Punx.

7. Is Henry Hopper an artist?

Yes. Henry Hopper has also worked as a visual artist. His early professional exhibition, People Are Other People, was held at Frank Pictures Gallery in Santa Monica in 2008.

8. Did Henry Hopper attend art school?

Available biographical sources identify him as having studied at the California Institute of the Arts, where he explored visual art.

9. Is Henry Hopper related to Dennis Hopper?

Yes. Dennis Hopper was Henry Hopper’s father. Dennis died in 2010 at the age of 74.

10. What is Henry Hopper doing now?

His publicly documented career includes acting and creative work, with Street Punx among his more recent credited film projects. Information about his current private activities is limited, so claims beyond confirmed professional records should be treated cautiously.

Conclusion

Henry Hopper represents an interesting example of a second-generation Hollywood creative who has pursued an identity beyond his famous family name. Born to Dennis Hopper and Katherine LaNasa, he grew up in an environment where acting and visual art were already part of everyday life. Yet his career has followed its own direction.

His performance as Enoch Brae in Restless remains his defining acting milestone, particularly because of the film’s appearance at Cannes and its deeply personal timing in relation to his father’s death.

At the same time, his work as a visual artist demonstrates that his creative interests extend beyond cinema. His 2008 solo exhibition, People Are Other People, offers documented evidence of an artistic path that began before his best-known film role.

Today, Henry Hopper’s story is best understood not simply as the story of Dennis Hopper’s son, but as the career of an artist who has explored acting, painting, and independent filmmaking on his own terms. His relatively selective filmography and multidisciplinary interests make him a distinctive figure within the next generation of Hollywood’s creative families.