The real 'Dude' to appear at Lebowski Fest

Fans of "The Big Lebowski" may need to sit down for this: Former Seattle resident Jeff "The Dude" Dowd, the inspiration for the bathrobe wearing, perpetually stoned slacker in the Coen brothers' 1998 movie, actually gets up before noon and has things to do.

Of course that won't stop fans from wearing pajamas at the two-day Lebowski Fest, starting today in Fremont.

A box-office flop when it opened, the stoner comedy has become a cult phenomenon similar to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," drawing thousands to Lebowski Fests worldwide, usually at bowling alleys, the character's hangout.

Filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen based the role, played by Jeff Bridges, on Dowd, who once worked at Seattle International Film Festival and met the Coens just after they had wrapped up "Blood Simple."

The Lebowski Fest "is just a surreal experience," said Dowd, who will watch the movie with fans in Fremont tonight and party tomorrow at Tukwila's ACME bowling alley.

Like Star Trek conventions, Lebowski Fests are filled with fans (called achievers in Lebowski speak) and their in-jokes. Expect to see German nihilists with marmots running around the bowling lanes and folks in inflatable globes with Band-Aids (a reference to the line, "You are entering a world of pain").

In some cities, fans have downed so many White Russians — the Dude's favorite drink, made from Kahlúa, vodka and cream or milk — that milk has been sold out at convenience stores within a mile radius of the Fest.

The Fest started in 2002, after fans Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt held a gathering at a bowling alley in their hometown of Louisville, Ky., expecting 30 fans but ending up hosting 150. Their Lebowski Fest now extends to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Edinburgh. Seattle's first Fest in 2007 sold out in advance, drawing 2,000 fans.

In the movie, Lebowski is a former member of the famed "Seattle Seven," Vietnam War protesters, just like Dowd was in real life. Two muscles, looking to collect a debt, beat Lebowski up and one guy urinates on his rug before realizing they got the wrong Lebowski. While trying to get his rug replaced, — "It tied the whole room together" — Lebowski stumbles into a kidnapping plot.

The quotable dialogue, eccentric characters and comic absurdity helped fuel a cult hit. But on a deeper level, some see the Dude as an eastern philosophy figure who is fine with, well, just being.

"The Dude is not your traditional hero," said Russell. "He is not gainfully employed, does not have a nice car, a girlfriend or a job. Most people would call him a slacker. But he is content and happy with his life and genuinely a good person."

The real Dude is more career oriented. Dowd has been involved in Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival and produces and promotes independent films out of his office in Santa Monica.

The Coen brothers "froze me in time, around the post Watergate era," said the 59-year-old Dowd, who was driving a taxi in Seattle then, downing beers at the Blue Moon Tavern and living in Fremont, Capitol Hill, University District and Beacon Hill for 11 years.

Dowd still visits, since his girlfriend lives here.

During the Fest, Dowd will greet and answer fan questions. (Yes, Bridges got his body language right. No, he isn't obsessed about some rug nor ever been involved in such a crazy caper.)

He attends only two to three fests a year but gains weight after each one because fans always want to buy him White Russians. He prefers Maker's Mark and dark rum. The Dude, though, doesn't take money to attend the Fests. "That would be very undude-like."

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com