Jeff Dowd (born November 20, 1949) is an American film producer and political activist.
Jeff Dowd | |
|---|---|
 Dowd in 2009 | |
| Born | November 20, 1949 |
| Occupation | Film producer |
Biography
editHe was a member of the "Seattle Seven",[1] who were jailed for contempt of court following a violent protest against the Vietnam War. He later moved to Los Angeles and became an independent movie producer and promoter, producing such films as Zebrahead.[2] He met the Coen brothers while they were promoting their first film, Blood Simple, and was a key (though not the only) inspiration for their character Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski from The Big Lebowski.[3]
In 2009, Dowd was involved in an altercation with movie critic John Anderson at the Sundance Film Festival, after Anderson panned Dirt! The Movie (Dowd was the film's sales agent).[4] Anderson was eating breakfast when Dowd reportedly confronted him, and then incited a food fight and brief melee at the Yarrow Hotel Restaurant. Dowd did not press charges.[5]
In 2011, Dowd was the subject of an 18-minute documentary-short directed by Jeff Feuerzeig and broadcast on the USA Network as part of its "Character" series.[6]
Filmography
edit- FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992) (co-executive producer)
- Zebrahead (1992) (producer)
- Cement (1999) (co-executive producer)
- The Last Game (2002) (TV) (executive producer)
- Ocean of Pearls (2008) (executive producer)
References
edit- ^ Raz, Guy (May 25, 2008). "The Dude: A Little Lebowski, Alive in All of Us". All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 8, 1992). "Zebrahead (1992) Review/Film Festival: Zebrahead; A Racial Chameleon In a Hidebound World". The New York Times.
- ^ Sullivan, Jennifer (July 21, 2009). ""The Dude" abides on light rail". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
- ^ Ramos, Steve (January 21, 2009). "Critic Hits Dude at Sundance". Vulture. www.vulture.com.
- ^ Thompson, Anne (January 21, 2009). "Sundance Watch". Indiewire. www.Indiewire.com.
- ^ Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg, Kasia (August 28, 2012). "The Dude Who Inspired 'The Dude' in the Coen Brothers' 'The Big Lebowski'". The Atlantic. Retrieved September 2, 2012.