No Fortune To Spouse: Terminally Ill Dennis Hopper Filed For Divorce From His Then-Wife To Make Sure She Won't Get Anything After His Passing

November 28, 2019

Hollywood legend Dennis Hopper passed away in May 2010 after a 10-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 74.

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According to The Guardian, he had fallen ill a few months prior after which it was discovered that his cancer had spread to other parts of his body.

Ending his marriage

Before the Easy Rider star passed away, he filed for divorce from his then-wife Victoria Duffy-Hopper.

ABC reported that Victoria was expected to get 25% of the actor's estate if they were married at the time of his death based on a prenuptial agreement. However, if they were divorced, this won't be the case.

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After Dennis filed for divorce, Victoria became upset and filed a suit where she claimed that Dennis was not capable of making good decisions for himself and he wasn't considering the best interests of their 6-year-old daughter Galen.

Victoria, who was the actor's fifth wife, also claimed that Dennis was pressured by his advisors and his adult children from previous relationships to divorce her. She alleged that friends and family who were desperate to get a piece of Dennis' fortune had brainwashed the ailing man.

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On the other hand, divorce papers filed by Dennis a few months before his death portrayed Victoria as the villain. She was described as "extremely volatile" and "inhuman."

Dennis claimed, in the documents, that Victoria kept their daughter away from him for long periods of time. He made mention of her decision to take the child on a trip to Boston rather than spend Christmas with her father.

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The court papers obtained by Reuters reportedly said:

This malevolent act ... has caused me to miss what may very well be my last Christmas with my daughter Galen.

How his fortune was shared

In 2012 ABC reported that Galen was to receive 40% of her father's estate which her mother wouldn't have access to. The actor's three adult children would split 60%.

Even though their divorce wasn't officially finalized at the time of his death, Dennis succeeded in making sure his estranged wife didn't receive a dime.

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There's no doubt that Dennis and Victoria's marriage was complicated. But it sounds like the actor made sure his daughter was taken care of regardless.