Actor: Sean Penn

By Dennis Hopper

(TIME) -- Conflicted about his craft, eclectic in his roles and brilliant in his performances, he is a worthy heir to Brando and Dean

Sean Penn—
Never flubs a line.
Goes to where the action is.
Prepares...prepares...becomes.
Will throw a punch
at a photog
or anyone who provokes him.
Is a stand-up guy.
A man's man.
A trusted friend.
An actor's actor.
A wonderful poet, screenwriter, director.
Father of Dylan and Hopper Jack.
Even sober, the one to party with.
Enjoy the differences in each of his performances.
Dark energy exploding like a sun.
Shows up everyone with his brilliance.
Lives in a moment-to-moment reality.
Uses all his senses in his work.
Makes the accident work for him.
Sean Penn—He is an amazing actor, man, friend.

Dennis Hopper is an actor, writer and director. He and Penn collaborated in the Hopper-directed film "Colors" in 1988 and in Penn's directorial debut, "The Indian Runner," in 1991