Dennis Hopper is praised by his peers for being compassionate and unconventional. (Ron Heflin/File/Associated Press)

Accolades are beginning to pour in for actor and director Dennis Hopper, who died Saturday in Venice, Calif., from prostate cancer complications.

The 74-year-old Oscar-nominated filmmaker and noted visual artist and art collector was remembered for his passion and dedication to movies and to his friends.

"Dennis introduced me to the world of Pop Art and 'lost' films," longtime buddy Peter Fonda said in a release late Saturday.

Fonda co-starred in the iconic anti-establishment film, Easy Rider (1969), which nabbed Hopper an Oscar nomination for writing. He was also the director.

"We rode the highways of America and changed the way movies were made in Hollywood," Fonda said. "I was blessed by his passion and friendship."

Gene Hackman called Hopper an "iconoclast." Hackman co-starred with him in 1986's Hoosiers, which netted Hopper another Oscar nod for playing an alcoholic basketball coach.

"Dennis was an artist and I will always treasure having worked with him," Hackman said. "He will be missed."

"When I first met Dennis on the set of Blue Velvet, he had just come out of rehab," recalled actress Isabella Rosellini.

"I was afraid of him, but Dennis turned out to be infinitely kind, compassionate and understanding. He had gone to hell and came back from it with great wisdom. It will take me a while to realize and accept he isn't with us any longer."

Actress Marlee Matlin called Hopper a "maverick, a wonderful actor."

"You always got something unexpected from him."