LOS ANGELES, May 29 (Reuters) – Hollywood actor Dennis Hopper, best known for directing and starring in the 1969 cult classic "Easy Rider," died on Saturday at his home in Venice, California, from complications of prostate cancer, a friend told Reuters.Hopper was 74.

The hard-living screen icon died at 8:15 a.m. PDT (1515 GMT), surrounded by family and friends, said the friend, Alex Hitz.

In a wildly varied career spanning more than 50 years, Hopper appeared alongside his mentor James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant" in the 1950s and played maniacs in such films as "Apocalypse Now," "Blue Velvet" and "Speed."