Served with the US Army in the late 1950s

Acting roles in several productions of the Desilu Playhouse led to his getting an agent, and consequently an audition with director Sam Peckinpah

Made film acting debut in Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch"; was also the first of three films for director Peckinpah

Earliest TV appearances included a Western-comedy series pilot, "Cat Ballou", based on the hit film of 1965

First feature lead and first top billing, "The Only Way Home"

TV series debut, as Eldred McCoy on the ABC drama series, "Doc Elliot", starring James Franciscus; the pilot film for the series also marked Hopkins's TV-movie debut

First non-US film, "Tentacoli/Tentacles", an Italian production with a primarily American cast also made available in an English-language version

Acted in first TV miniseries, "Aspen"

Had featured role in "Midnight Express"

Played Matthew Blaisdel on the ABC primetime serial drama, "Dynasty"; later reprised the role several times during the course of the show's nine-season run

Last TV-movie for five years, "A Smoky Mountain Christmas"

Journeyed to South Africa to make a feature, "The Final Alliance", starring David Hasselhoff

First TV-movie in five years, "Blood Ties"

Co-starred in "The Ballad of Little Jo"

Appeared in Oliver Stone's "U-Turn"

Had supporting role in Richard Linklater's "The Newton Boys"

Cast as Scarne in the drama "Shade," set in the world of L.A. poker hustlers