The best performance of his career. Drifting through the mediocre and the downright bleeding awful (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, anyone), Hopper jumped at the chance to play gas snorting psycho Frank for David Lynch.

“I've got to play Frank because I am Frank!” he's said to have told Lynch. He certainly knew what the character needed.

The original script called for him to inhale helium in the scene with Isabella Rossellini. It was Hopper, who had a much greater knowledge of recreational pharmaceuticals, who suggested that it be changed to amyl nitrate.

Hop Triv – Ironically, Hopper had finally cleaned up his act just before making the film. “I had just gotten out of rehab," he laughed. "I wasn't even sober like a month and a half."