Dennis was the son of psychologist Wayne Dennis, author of "The Hopi Child."[1] He attended Reed College for two years and served in Korea in the U.S. Army.[3] In 1971, he graduated from AFI Conservatory’s first class that began in 1969 and included Tom Rickman, Terrence Malick, David Lynch, and Caleb Deschanel. He later taught there as a master filmmaker-in-residence and conducted classes world-wide.[3][4][5] He and Tom Rickman started and directed the Community of Writers Screenwriting Program. He was the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Direction in Theatre.[6]
Personal life and death
His first wife was actress Elizabeth Hartman, whom he divorced in 1984. He died in Portland, Oregon, and was survived by his wife, Kristen Peckinpah Dennis, and two sons.
