Jeff Dowd

Who is Jeff Dowd?

Jeff Dowd is an American film producer and political activist best known as a member of the "Seattle Seven," who went to jail 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.

He met the Coen Brothers while they were promoting their first film, Blood Simple. He is the basis for one of their most popular characters, Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski from The Big Lebowski. 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.

Radio host and comedian Phil Hendrie voices a character, Jeff Dowder, who is very similar to Jeff Dowd's inspired character "The Dude".