Jeff Dowd
American film producer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
He 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
- 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)