Dennis Hopper Is 'Terminally Ill,' His Lawyer Tells Judge
Actor continues divorce fight with wife Victoria Duffy-Hopper from his sickbed.
Mar. 25, 2010— -- Actor Dennis Hopper is dying and too weak to testify in his own contentious divorce from wife Victoria Duffy-Hopper, according to his lawyer.
"Mr. Hopper is terminally ill and is not strong enough to proceed with further chemotherapy," his attorney Joe Mannis stated in recent court documents obtained by ABCNews.com
Mannis said his client was "too ill" for a scheduled March 25 desposition in the case.
As evidence, Mannis included statements from Hopper's doctor and personal assistant. According to Dr. David Agus, Hopper weighs less than 100 pounds and being questioned by his wife's lawyers "could actually threaten his ability to survive the current health crisis."
Assistant Emily Davis stated that Hopper was "extremely weak" and unable to talk for more than a few minutes at a time because "he's not able to concentrate and tires quickly."
Hopper, 73, who is battling advanced prostate cancer, has been conducting his bitter divorce from his sickbed.
In a statement, Hopper claimed his estranged wife stole valuable artwork and other property, including silver flatware, Egyptian cotton linens, Venetian glass pieces and wood furniture from Africa, with a total worth of more than $1.5 million.
He listed dozens of missing pieces of art, including some by Stephen Aldrich, Roy Lichenstein and actor Viggo Mortenson, that he accuses Duffy-Hopper, 42, of taking during "art raids" last November and December.
Hopper said in the court documents that a premarital agreement stated that any artwork created or collected during their marriage was his sole property.
Also in the documents, Hopper objected to changing the provisions of his $1 million life insurance policy as requested by Duffy-Hopper. Currently, she will receive $250,000 and the balance will go to his estate, which Hopper said he has already set up to for their six-year-old daughter Galen and his three other adult children to receive a "substantial portion."
For now, though, the "Easy Rider" star is nearly broke.
