By Joe Brown

Published Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008 | 3:25 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.

It's kind of hard to believe that countercultural icon and movie maverick Dennis Hopper is a longtime Republican (one of the few in Hollywood). But it's true. Hopper has supported both generations of Bush presidents, donates to the RNC and currently stars in "An American Carol," a conservative spoof on Michael Moore.

And Hopper, 72, recently told reporters in France that he's praying for an Obama victory.

"I voted for Bush, father and son, but this time I'll vote for Obama," the actor-director told journalists at the opening of a show on his life and work.

"I was the first person in my family to have been Republican," he added. "For most of my life I wasn't on the left."

"I pray God, Barack Obama is elected," he said, calling the current administration's many "lies."

French Culture minister Christine Albanel also named Dennis Hopper as Commander of the 'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres' medal on Monday night. Hopper is chair of the Creative Advisory Board of the annual Cinevegas independent film festival in Las Vegas.