The Real People Who Inspired Timeless Fictional Characters

Jeff Dowd Abides

Photo Credits: Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for Roger Ebert’s Film Festival

If you couldn’t tell by his appearance, this man named Jeff Dowd is the direct inspiration behind the Coen Brother’s “The Dude” from The Big Lebowski. Although “The Dude’s” antics, lifestyle, and attitude on life may seem nothing short of fictional, they aren’t entirely made up.

Jeff Dowd is a producer and political activist who met the Coen brothers when they were promoting their first film Blood Simple. The two brothers were so captivated by Dowd that they ended up basing their character Jeffery Lebowski or “The Dude” for both his looks and personality traits. Dowd even goes by the name “The Dude” since sixth grade, when he was given the nickname.