Cancer-stricken Dennis Hopper files for divorce

Herald online

18 Jan, 2010 11:00 PM4 mins to read

Cancer-stricken actor Dennis Hopper has filed for divorce from his wife of nearly 14 years. Photo / Supplied

Movie legend

Dennis Hopper

has filed for divorce from his fifth wife while reportedly on his deathbed.

The 73-year-old

Easy Rider

star is battling prostate cancer, and is reported to have less than a month to live after the disease spread to his bones.

He announced in October that he had cancer, which is believed to have been diagnosed way back in 2002.

Irreconcilable differences

Ailing Hopper filed divorce papers against

Victoria Duffy

, his wife of 14 years, last Thursday, citing "irreconcilable differences."

Word at the water cooler suggests the star filed for divorce in a bid to keep his wife from contesting his will - which is rumoured to leave her only a quarter of his estate.

Court papers show Hopper has also applied for joint legal and physical custody of their six-year-old daughter

Galen

, and states he has offered to pay his wife spousal support.

Duffy is said to be incensed by the drastic divorce move, and that her inheritance will be exactly what she had agreed to under the couple's pre-nuptial agreement, and no more, says the

New York Post

Yep, she's spat the dummy and reportedly "barricaded herself" in the couple's Californian home, while he lies in hospital.

A snitch close to the pair said: "It's truly a tragedy, and sadly it's all about the money and who inherits what.

"This is about getting Victoria out of the will, nothing more, nothing less."

Valiant effort

Several reports claim Hopper's condition has deteriorated considerably over the past few days, quoting sources close to the star as saying he is "mentally incapacitated from the enormous amounts of medication he is on".

The source added: "He has come to grips with fact that the end is near. Doctors have told him that they can't contain the disease and his condition has worsened severely."

Whereas his spokesperson, Alex Hitz, says the star is "fully conscious" and fighting "a valiant battle" against the cancer.

Of Hopper's divorce petition, Hitz added: "They've been having trouble and he wants peace and quiet."

The actor himself was also quoted as saying: "I wish Victoria the best, but only want to spend these difficult days surrounded by my children and close friends," reports Reuters.

Any separation is a plate of hate, but imagine going through all that emotional chow-chow on your deathbed? Strength and honour to you, Hopper.

Everyone's talking about...

Mariah Carey

mobile globes

on the red carpet (actually, we think they looked more like two bald convicts trying to escape form a prison cell),

Ricky Gervais

' apparent thumbs down as a host (nice humour, but we don't get it, say the Yanks), and...

Julia Roberts

pulling a mini-Mariah on the red carpet. Take a butchers at this:

Aye, a little feral around the eyes there, Roberts. But we've

seen a lot worse, haven't we Mimi

Ooh, and lips are also smacking about

Demi Moore

's lame excuse for not standing by her boytoy

Ashton Kutcher

as he dished out an award at the Globes. Apparently she had a "bad hair day". Lame. Details

here

Pants on the ground...gains ground

Would-be

American Idol

contestant

'General' Larry Platt

's eye-poppingly brilliant audition on the show last week has turned into an internet sensation.

Not heard of him? You soon will.

The 62-year-old civil rights activist from Atlanta belted out his self-penned song,

Pants On The Ground

, on the ninth season of the show.

The song, seemingly the General's social commentary on slovenly teenagers "looking like fools" with their sagging pants and hats turned sideways, packs a punch with the lyric: "Pants on the ground, pants on the ground, lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground."

And the inevitable remix

here

Cowell's right on the money. This isn't the last we've heard of Pants man. Give the guy a record deal, guys.

Susan Boyle

, your shift is over, love.

Blogger's briefs

Hankies at the ready.

Boyzone

release their video tribute to late star

Stephen Gately

. Nice job, boys. Watch the video

here