This Real-Life SoCal Stoner Inspired ‘The Dude’ In ‘The Big Lebowski’

There are only three things I truly believe are gospel in this world: The timelessness of the Grateful Dead’s music, the razor-sharp power of Hunter S. Thompson’s journalism, and the cultural throne that The Big Lebowski sits on as The Great Movie Of All Time™. Those three transcendental cultural forces have shaped my worldview more than any ancient screed dictated to whoever by whatever.

Then again…

The Dude takes it easy for all of us sinners, reminding us that aggression will not stand and abiding as the man for his time and place. Like other Books of the Gospel, his iconic character is actually inspired by a real-life human: Jeff Dowd, a LA-based hippie, film marketing guru, and once-upon-a-time member of the Seattle Seven.

Our friends at UPROXX made a video about Dowd, the real-life His Dudeness, or uh Duder, or El Duderino…. if you’re not into the whole brevity thing. Throw back a White Russian, lit up a J, and check out a documentary about a man who knows a thing or two about a rug that really ties the room together.

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Brandon Wenerd is BroBible's publisher, writing on this site since 2009. He writes about sports, music, men's fashion, outdoor gear, traveling, skiing, and epic adventures. Based in Los Angeles, he also enjoys interviewing athletes and entertainers. Proud Penn State alum, former New Yorker. Email: brandon@brobible.com