The 3-Year Whirlwind: Inside Katherine LaNasa And Dennis Hopper's Age-Gap Marriage And Shared Legacy

The relationship between actress Katherine LaNasa and the legendary Hollywood rebel Dennis Hopper remains one of the industry's most intriguing, yet brief, unions. Their marriage, which began in 1989, was defined by a significant 31-year age difference and a whirlwind timeline that lasted just under three years, but its impact is still felt today through their shared son and LaNasa’s continued, recently celebrated, career success. This deep dive, current as of December 2025, explores the full story of the former couple, the context of their time together, and the lasting legacy they created. The union of the young, rising ballet dancer and the iconic, veteran filmmaker was a classic Hollywood tale of opposites attracting, a brief but intense chapter in both of their lives that produced a lasting connection: their son, Henry Hopper.

Complete Biographical Profiles: Katherine LaNasa and Dennis Hopper

The story of their marriage is best understood by looking at the distinct and impressive paths each had taken before they met. Dennis Hopper was already a titan of cinema, while Katherine LaNasa was a burgeoning talent.

Katherine LaNasa (Actress, Dancer, Choreographer)

• Born: December 1, 1966
• Full Name: Katherine Lee LaNasa
• Notable Career Highlights: Initially a professional ballet dancer and choreographer before transitioning to acting. Key roles include *The Campaign*, *The Frozen*, and the HBO Max medical drama *The Pitt*, for which she recently received acclaim, including a speculative 2025 Emmy nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
• Marriages:
  • Dennis Hopper (m. 1989; div. 1992)
  • French Stewart (m. 1998; div. 2009)
  • Grant Show (m. 2012–present)
• Children: Henry Lee Hopper (with Dennis Hopper), Eloise McCue Show (with Grant Show).

Dennis Hopper (Actor, Filmmaker, Artist)

• Born: May 17, 1936 (Dodge City, Kansas)
• Died: May 29, 2010 (Los Angeles, California)
• Notable Career Highlights: A key figure in the New Hollywood movement. Best known for directing and starring in the counterculture classic *Easy Rider* (1969). Other major films include *Blue Velvet*, *Speed*, *True Romance*, and *Apocalypse Now*. He was also a celebrated photographer and visual artist.
• Marriages: Hopper was married five times.
  • Brooke Hayward (m. 1961; div. 1969)
  • Michelle Phillips (m. 1970; div. 1970—8 days)
  • Daria Halprin (m. 1972; div. 1976)
  • Katherine LaNasa (m. 1989; div. 1992)
  • Victoria Duffy (m. 1996; div. 2010)
• Children: Marin Hopper, Ruthanna Hopper, Henry Lee Hopper, Galen Grier Hopper.

The 31-Year Age Gap and the Short-Lived Marriage Timeline

The relationship between Katherine LaNasa and Dennis Hopper began in 1987, when LaNasa was a 20-year-old dancer and Hopper was 51, a Hollywood "wild man" who had recently found sobriety and was experiencing a career resurgence. The 31-year age difference immediately made them a high-profile couple in the late 1980s celebrity circuit.

They dated for two years before officially tying the knot on June 17, 1989.

At the time of their wedding, LaNasa was 22 and Hopper was 53.

Their son, Henry Lee Hopper, was born in 1990, becoming a core part of their brief life together.

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The marriage, which was Hopper's fourth, lasted just under three years, ending in divorce in April 1992.

LaNasa later reflected on the period, referencing her younger self as the type of "chick" who would be drawn to such a high-intensity, older figure.

The marriage timeline is significant because it coincided with a notable professional moment for both: LaNasa made her feature film debut in Hopper’s 1990 directorial effort, *Catchfire*, which he also starred in.

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The Enduring Legacy: Henry Hopper and Continuing Careers

While the marriage itself was short, the connection between LaNasa and Hopper remains permanent through their son, Henry, and the subsequent arcs of their individual careers.

Henry Hopper: The Artistic Heir

Henry Lee Hopper, born in 1990, has followed both of his parents into the arts. He is an actor and is considered the artistic heir to his famous father and accomplished mother.

Henry’s acting career began while his father was still alive, a moment Dennis Hopper was reportedly proud to witness.

He is also the half-brother to Dennis Hopper's other children—Marin Hopper (from his marriage to Brooke Hayward), Ruthanna Hopper (from Daria Halprin), and Galen Grier Hopper (from Victoria Duffy)—maintaining a connection to the larger Hopper family legacy.

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Katherine LaNasa's Post-Hopper Success

Following her divorce from Dennis Hopper, Katherine LaNasa successfully established a long and varied acting career, moving beyond the shadow of being "Dennis Hopper's wife."

She went on to marry actor French Stewart and then, in 2012, married her current husband, *Melrose Place* star Grant Show, with whom she has a daughter.

Her work in recent years, particularly in prestige television like the 2025 medical drama *The Pitt*, highlights her evolution from a professional dancer and celebrity spouse to an accomplished actress in her own right.

Dennis Hopper's Final Years and Artistic Output

Dennis Hopper continued his prolific career in film, photography, and art until his death in 2010. His estate planning, which focused on providing for his four children, including Henry, underscored the importance of his family ties despite the tumultuous nature of his five marriages.

The marriage to Katherine LaNasa is often viewed as one of the quieter, more stable periods in the often-chaotic personal life of the *Easy Rider* star, bridging his early, turbulent years with his later, final marriage to Victoria Duffy. The legacy of their time together is not in its duration, but in the talented son they share and the professional paths they each forged after their separation.