What film was the directorial debut of the villain in "Speed"?

“Easy Rider” was the directorial debut of Dennis Hopper, who played villain Howard Payne in “Speed.” Hopper also starred in and co-wrote the film, making it a major turning point in his career as both an actor and filmmaker.

Released in 1969, “Easy Rider” follows two bikers, Wyatt and Billy, played by Peter Fonda and Hopper, as they travel across the United States after making money from a cocaine deal. Jack Nicholson appears as George Hanson, a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The film was made on a small budget of roughly $360,000 to $400,000 but became a major commercial success, earning about $60 million. Its counterculture themes, unconventional structure, rock soundtrack, and location filming helped make it a landmark of American cinema.

Hopper later directed films including “The Last Movie” and “Out of the Blue.” “Speed,” released in 1994, cast him as terrorist Howard Payne opposite Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.