Actor Dennis Hopper died last week after a protracted battle with prostate cancer. The divorce he filed against estranged wife Victoria Duffy Hopper in January, though, was not final at the time of his death.

Victoria now reportedly plans to fight for a share of his estate. The couple’s prenuptial agreement provides for Victoria to have a bequest only if the couple was married and living together at the time of Hopper’s death.

As the divorce was never finalized, they were still legally married (although separated for quite some time). Victoria will apparently argue that they were still “living together” because the house she was living in was on his property.

If Victoria is successful in her argument, she will be entitled to 25% of her late husband’s estate and $250,000 in life insurance money.

Dennis Hopper’s attorney, Joe Mannis, commented that, “[s]he said she would challenge it, and I fully expect her to do so.” Mannis most recently represented Larry King’s wife, Shawn Southwick King, in their now-abandoned divorce proceeding.

As dead people cannot be divorced, the divorce action will be officially closed. And the battle will shift to probate court.

Hopper and Victoria were married in April of 1996 and have a six-year-old daughter.

Library Topics: divorce, marriage, prenuptial agreement

See Also:

• Dennis Hopper Files for Divorce