What can we say about this 20th-century man of our times that hasn't been
said before, by either the growing legion of fans (viva Lebowski Fest!) or a
gruff-voiced cowboy narrator? A former political activist ("The Seattle
... moreSeven?
That was me ... along with six other guys ...") and roadie for Metallica, The Dude is a gent who self-admittedly adheres to
a very strict drug regimen "to keep my mind limber." Pot isn't his only vice —
Lebowski loves bowling and has been known to consume a White Russian or 12 — but
he shows a particular fondness for the pot, despite his consistent clumsiness
with the handling of a roach. Jeff Bridges turned what might have been just another goofy
Coen brothers character into the embodiment of Zen stoniness; the sibling
filmmakers have said that before each scene, the actor's sole question would be
if Lebowski had just burned one or not. (If the answer was yes, he'd proceed to
rub his fists against his eyes until the brothers called "Action!") He's a bona
fide stoner icon, and if you don't agree with us, well, that's, like, your
opinion, man. (Everett Collection)Close